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Group: Administrators
Last Login: 15 September 2008
Posts: 81, Visits: 309 |
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: 24 September 2008
Posts: 127, Visits: 118 |
| | In some ways he does but I would also argue that often a business such as mine looks off island for purchasing. When selling a product like for like, often where its from doesn't matter - just how much it costs |
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: 03 September 2008
Posts: 19, Visits: 131 |
| ...Also Gabriels and Creaseys Toy Shop on the Bridge according to recent Press reports.
These are specifically retail businesses and are obviously struggling with competition on and off the island, and spiralling costs locally. They must not be confused with other Small Businesses on the island of which there is great diversity, both inward and outward facing. It may be that those outward facing businesses, i.e. bringing money into the island, might not struggle as much as the inward facing ones because of the reliance of the latter on the local population and pressures thereon.
I think it goes to show the breadth of pressure on local small businesses, whether they cater for the people of Guernsey or the UK, Europe and Worldwide.
The question for me is how does a local Toy Shop survive on the island, without having to become a jack of all trades or expand in to other areas. Perhaps those days of independant quality retailers are over? I just don't know.
Garrick Jones
E. A. Carey (Europe) Ltd
www.eacarey.co.uk |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 05 August 2008
Posts: 33, Visits: 39 |
| I sincerely hope not Garrick. Speaking to Terry Ferbrache he informs me that there are some 42 independent retailers in either just the Commercial Arcade and/Town; I think he said just the CA. The multiples are, according to him, exerting real pressure on the independents stock lines.
There is always the threat of the independents going out of business because the buying power and 'affordability' of UK brands however, it would be a sad day if we started seeing the demise of the independents because of a few large stores. That's not from a nostalgic point of view, it's more for the well being of Town. Many visitors, I understand, like the ambience of our town and the independents - refreshingly different from the UK high streets. I'm not sure what the answer is but we seem to be sleep walking into a high street full of multiples.
Good? Bad? Inevitable? |
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 07 October 2008
Posts: 31, Visits: 88 |
| WH Smith joining Le Pollet, good thing or bad thing?
I'm not sure. I really feel for the Lexicon and understand their position however as a small business i have to compete against much larger ones and feel that we do this only by being better.
The thing is you cant be greedy, you still obviously have to make a profit but what annoys me is when you find the same thing on the internet at 50% of the cost, if they (the internet retailer) can still sell the item at 50% less and still make a profit then it only encourages me to shop there. HOWEVER, if i consider i need real back up i wouldn’t hesitate to buy locally, where the service outweighs the extra cost. The advice you receive is almost as important as the backup service and the extra you pay is for professional advice with a guaranteed backup of a real business and a human being.
I am currently looking at a flat screen TV, the options are endless and surfing the internet for information only confuses me even more, so, i went out locally and approached four TV retailers, they were all VERY helpful and i can say without any doubt i will buy locally and not over the internet. Its a minefield making the decision and what’s hot and what’s not is really confusing... however it would be cheaper in the UK but i haven’t received any advice nor will i receive any backup from them and accept i have to pay for that service locally.
If the price is vastly different i would try and strike a deal, that’s not to say i would get one but you don’t get if you don’t ask.
Generally i think the whole of Guernsey businesses, should wake up and start to assess whether they could still make a profit but reduce their margins, thus encouraging local commerce and drawing away the client from the internet. However, a major contributor to the cost of goods on the high street are the excessive rents. Walking around Town it is quite apparent that there are now many more shops which have closed and are now standing empty with painted out windows or dusty floors with dead plants. Surely an occupied property is better than an empty one, not only for the owner but also for St. Peter Port itself….. it would be interesting to know how much of the Town real estate is actually owned by Guernsey tax paying residents.
Guernsey businesses wont be cheaper all of the time (but they may surprise you) but you can be sure you will be speaking to a person who will offer you advice and guidance and be there if you have a problem....
Good luck Guernsey, its going to be even harder this year!!
Adam Prosser
Lucas Freight Ltd.
http://www.lucasfreight.com |
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