Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Also Stafford farmers market always seems rather crap compared to others, I know of a few vendors that tried Stafford a few times but quickly gave up whereas they are at Stone every time. Do any local farmers actually sell at our farmers market? Always seems to be jams and chutneys.
 

andy w

Well-Known Forumite
Is the Farmers Market run by the Borough council or has it been "farmed" out to an operator? Also I wonder how the rents compare to other local markets?

In the modern day retailing world markets, fairs etc. face the same difficulties to compete with the internet and out of town retail parks that other traditional retailers face. But that doesn't mean they can't flourish and cut themselves a niche. To do this they need proactive management who are prepared to try out new things and are media savvy. Look at how the operators of the Penkridge market site promote special days such as the Children's market and get press releases into the local papers.
I suggested on here a few months ago that an antiques and vintage market might attract people into the town and as I agree that the Farmer's market seems to be on the wane that such a market could be held on the same day and fill up Market Square.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Also Stafford farmers market always seems rather crap compared to others, I know of a few vendors that tried Stafford a few times but quickly gave up whereas they are at Stone every time. Do any local farmers actually sell at our farmers market? Always seems to be jams and chutneys.

I got some cherry jam there a few weeks back. Most watery shite I’ve ever bought, went back to the posher stuff from the supermarket after that.

I’m upset I missed the hospital fruit and veg market, used to life right by the hospital and it hasn’t popped up again still. My dad often sends photos of his haul from Guildford comprising of about 15-20 punnets of various fruits for bugger all because he gets it all as they’re closing up. Can’t pull that off here it seems.
 

Mikinton

Well-Known Forumite
If I visit another town I do not search around for local independents at all, I usually go to whatever shop/business I am visiting the town for or if I am a "tourist" I wander around to see sights or to visit a specific event or building.
Local independents are probably the main reason why I enjoy visiting other towns. One of us usually comes back with something you can't get or haven't seen in Stafford, and it's always nice to have a mooch round.
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Local independents are probably the main reason why I enjoy visiting other towns. One of us usually comes back with something you can't get or haven't seen in Stafford, and it's always nice to have a mooch round.

I enjoy visiting local independents in other towns too, it's just not the reason I visit a particular town and I don't necessarily go out of my way to seek them out e.g. when I was in Yorkshire a few weeks ago I needed some shampoo for the dogs and the nearest shop selling it was Leyburn some 10 or so miles away. We incorporated a shopping trip into a tour and long walk of the next dale to our one.

Also found a fantastic independent shop called Campbell's selling all things game, local cakes, cheeses and beers. We only found this because I parked outside it and didn't go looking for it.
 

andy w

Well-Known Forumite
Thinking how I gem up on pubs, restaurants, places of interest before I holiday somewhere on Tripadvisor, shops haven't much online recommendations unless they on forums. I'd imagine delving deeper into search engines gives you information but shops aren't as easy gem up on compared to hotels, pubs etc.
 

andy w

Well-Known Forumite
Further to my comment above, does Stafford have a "go to" guide to what shops, pubs, events etc. that are in the town that a visitor can access (other than the national directories such as Yell, Google etc)?

Edit. To answer my question I found this site http://www.visitstafford.org/attractions which has got a lot of information for visitors
 
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Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
This website doesn't do much. Shopping centres listed are guildhall and market, no mention of the waterfront.......probably the towns most popular area...fail 1.

Food and drink lists the bear grill for Stafford town centre and that is it, nothing for retail.....big fail 2.

Far from brilliant and looking at the number it is SBC run.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
This website doesn't do much. Shopping centres listed are guildhall and market, no mention of the waterfront.......probably the towns most popular area...fail 1.

Then ask them to update it?

Food and drink lists the bear grill for Stafford town centre and that is it, nothing for retail.....big fail 2.

But retail would be under shopping, not food and drink? Plus I never visit towns to shop, I visit for the actual attractions.

Far from brilliant and looking at the number it is SBC run.

Makes sense now, cutbacks innit. Can't expect spending on stuff like this from a Tory government unless it's outsourced, then they'll throw as much as they can at it assuming it's a mate doing the job.

As someone with a vested interest in filling Staffords shops* what do you do about it?

* At least I think so, you deal in leases for retail don't you?
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Then ask them to update it?



But retail would be under shopping, not food and drink? Plus I never visit towns to shop, I visit for the actual attractions.



Makes sense now, cutbacks innit. Can't expect spending on stuff like this from a Tory government unless it's outsourced, then they'll throw as much as they can at it assuming it's a mate doing the job.

As someone with a vested interest in filling Staffords shops* what do you do about it?

* At least I think so, you deal in leases for retail don't you?

I don't if the site is updated, merely pointing it out, if you want it updating feel free to let them know.

No I don't work in leasing not that it would make a difference as letting agents are after the best deal for the client as well as themselves. What I do about it is spending shed loads of cash on local shops and restaurants and taking folk with me even if they are kicking and screaming.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I don't if the site is updated, merely pointing it out, if you want it updating feel free to let them know.

No I don't work in leasing not that it would make a difference as letting agents are after the best deal for the client as well as themselves. What I do about it is spending shed loads of cash on local shops and restaurants and taking folk with me even if they are kicking and screaming.

How nice that you have shed loads of cash, the vast majority of locals don't. Also why support a business that doesn't cater to your tastes? I spend with a few local independents but TBH there is little in Stafford that interests me. A few pubs, even fewer restaurants and virtually no shops. The new development hasn't exactly brought the town anything new other than a place that sells chicken, pretty much everything else just moved from elsewhere. Hopefully once the cinema opens we'll have more food choice, but they all seem to be along a very similar theme. In fact if it wasn't for the fact I work in town and the few pubs I do use I doubt I'd ever enter the town centre other than to buy groceries.
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
Yeah, the one on the corner of the block with the Co-Op department store was.
upload_2017-10-11_15-22-38.png


I know I know, I should of uploaded the pic when I posted about this happening last week....

Work on fitting out the new Millets store has commenced opposite the old Millets....
 
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