Switching off: retailer blames lack of investment in high street as she closes her doors for good (From Bournemouth Echo)

There is no necessity to have a High Street anymore.
They provided a service by the 19th and 20th century Capitalists.

With the exception of Fresh Meat, Veg, and a local Newspaper and bookshop, what's the point in the rest.

All the major outlets will only invest in out of town with free parking.

I agree that their are folk who don't use the Internet, in that case provide a Catalogue and Free delivery at home service.

Gumbies Footwear (opposite Costa Coffee) closed shop last week after just one year, next door is an empty shop that was previously an Art Shop (survived just a year too) , and before that it was a Hairdressers - again that survived less than a year.
Maybe if retailers had more help with rents, and be allowed to be more pro-active with the advertising signage - people would actually support these independent shops.

totaly agree and all the rich people of poole will shop in john lewis and west quay or bournemouth and all the poor will shop in argos shops in the quay justdont stand a chance something tells me there wont be any shops down there in 10 years and it will be all overpriced flats and takeaway units

Sadly Mrs Hickson must be in dream land that it is a lack of investment in the high street that has signalled the demise of her shop!
Its called the Internet and love it or hate it we are all guilty of killing the high street.
Naturally we all want to pay the best price for our products and the only people that can deliver those prices are those that trade without prohibitive overheads such as high street rent, business rates and local council bureaucracy over having an A-Board on the pavement etc etc

The introduction of charity shops on the high streets has also added to the problem as the high streets themselves have become less attractive to retailers, why would you spend upwards of £20k on a nice new shop frontage with signage, canopy and displays etc when the charity shop next door has a rotting board above its window and a window display that reflects poorly on the locality. Again here the local councils must put their hands up and admit their policy of business rates and subsidies are not working.

Marcus James wrote:
Sadly Mrs Hickson must be in dream land that it is a lack of investment in the high street that has signalled the demise of her shop!
Its called the Internet and love it or hate it we are all guilty of killing the high street.
Naturally we all want to pay the best price for our products and the only people that can deliver those prices are those that trade without prohibitive overheads such as high street rent, business rates and local council bureaucracy over having an A-Board on the pavement etc etc

The introduction of charity shops on the high streets has also added to the problem as the high streets themselves have become less attractive to retailers, why would you spend upwards of £20k on a nice new shop frontage with signage, canopy and displays etc when the charity shop next door has a rotting board above its window and a window display that reflects poorly on the locality. Again here the local councils must put their hands up and admit their policy of business rates and subsidies are not working.

I don't agree that we are all guilty of killing the high street, guilt doesn't come into it, I dont feel at all guilty providing for my family at the best possible prices.
Council are more guilty by imposing high rents and rates plus driving what shoppers there are left away because of their constant war on the car, bus fares are extortionate for some as well, so most go for the easy option of buying from your own home at cheaper prices with no charges for petrol, parking or bus fares, no guilt involved just changing times and pure economics.

Jonathan Sibbett, Chairman of Poole Town Centre Partnership said: “This is disappointing news and part of a national picture.

Well Jonathan, stop hiding behind the excuse of a 'national picture'. This has been the picture since Dec 2008. Secondly, the Town Management, Poole Tourism and other connected parties do absolutely nothing to stimulate footfall. On the contrary , the local council wish to rip off every person that wishes to park and shop, day or night, and other events that may generate footfall from local and afar are not promoted. On-line shopping is clearly a theme however this does not replace the 'feel and touch' that shoppers still enjoy on top of the walk and browse around...if it is worthwhile of course. These organisations want to wake up and start earning their salary and REALLY do something to support local retailers.

At the present rate of closures there will be no Bussiness Rates for councils to collect.
As my old Granny used to say a little Sweet apple is better than a Big Sour one, that also applies to the landlords.

If the present trend continues of buying online we will end like after the war when only utility goods were available.

Hi rents are the root cause. The high street will be back to housing in 10 years.

nobbjockie wrote:
Jonathan Sibbett, Chairman of Poole Town Centre Partnership said: “This is disappointing news and part of a national picture.

Well Jonathan, stop hiding behind the excuse of a 'national picture'. This has been the picture since Dec 2008. Secondly, the Town Management, Poole Tourism and other connected parties do absolutely nothing to stimulate footfall. On the contrary , the local council wish to rip off every person that wishes to park and shop, day or night, and other events that may generate footfall from local and afar are not promoted. On-line shopping is clearly a theme however this does not replace the 'feel and touch' that shoppers still enjoy on top of the walk and browse around...if it is worthwhile of course. These organisations want to wake up and start earning their salary and REALLY do something to support local retailers.

The rents are too high and you can't force people to shop if most of their money is tied up paying for a massive mortgage on an over priced property. Its all about disposable income which no one has anymore but their properties are worth millions on paper...

djkent wrote:
totaly agree and all the rich people of poole will shop in john lewis and west quay or bournemouth and all the poor will shop in argos shops in the quay justdont stand a chance something tells me there wont be any shops down there in 10 years and it will be all overpriced flats and takeaway units

Progress marches on. Years ago, there was nothing there at all - just a field.

Hessenford wrote:

Marcus James wrote:
Sadly Mrs Hickson must be in dream land that it is a lack of investment in the high street that has signalled the demise of her shop!
Its called the Internet and love it or hate it we are all guilty of killing the high street.
Naturally we all want to pay the best price for our products and the only people that can deliver those prices are those that trade without prohibitive overheads such as high street rent, business rates and local council bureaucracy over having an A-Board on the pavement etc etc

The introduction of charity shops on the high streets has also added to the problem as the high streets themselves have become less attractive to retailers, why would you spend upwards of £20k on a nice new shop frontage with signage, canopy and displays etc when the charity shop next door has a rotting board above its window and a window display that reflects poorly on the locality. Again here the local councils must put their hands up and admit their policy of business rates and subsidies are not working.

I don't agree that we are all guilty of killing the high street, guilt doesn't come into it, I dont feel at all guilty providing for my family at the best possible prices.
Council are more guilty by imposing high rents and rates plus driving what shoppers there are left away because of their constant war on the car, bus fares are extortionate for some as well, so most go for the easy option of buying from your own home at cheaper prices with no charges for petrol, parking or bus fares, no guilt involved just changing times and pure economics.

“ Feeling guilty” and “being guilty” are two different things. In no way was I suggesting we should feel guilty about buying at the best possible price!
It’s a free world and we can do as we please! I have no guilt whatsoever; it’s called a free market with survival of the fittest

such a shame a lovely shop but very expensive to be honest. Its a sign of the times people have to look for the best buys.

Switch off the lights when you leave.

Whys the market crushed up that end of town by the arndale?
Move the market down, deignate a local produce shopping area with affordable rents and rates, comprising of butcher, baker etc

manyogie wrote:
Whys the market crushed up that end of town by the arndale?
Move the market down, deignate a local produce shopping area with affordable rents and rates, comprising of butcher, baker etc

Move the Dolphin Centre towards the Quay & you'll get more people using the shops on the High Street as well.

Won't happen, but should have 40 years ago when first built.

High rents and business rates major supermarkets spelt the death knell for the small business person.

Market stalls do not have the same overheads.

The High Street in that area is a real mess and very uninviting nowadays.

A number of these units will go now to residential conversions this is being repeated up and down the country.

If the internet is the problem then that's where the shop should start.

There is a way of making sure your shop comes first on any search engine, find a good IT person to do it and soon. It should attract at least an extra 15% of business.

To be perfectly honest I've never heard of you before now but now that I have I can visit and buy some Bulbs...sale or no sale, it ain't over till the fat lady sings....

Poole and come to think of it Bournemouth shopping areas are really dull, with high parking prices, dull precincts and and a lack of interesting independent retailers.
I also agree with other comments here that charity shops don't really help the image of the area.
It also seems that more vibrant areas such as Winton, Westbourne or Ashley road have direct road frontage, bring back the car and bring back the shopper.
Maybe many of the independent retailers could also utilise the Internet slightly better than they do now.
Local councils do not really have the correct marketing in place to promote shopping areas either, as they seem obsessed with local beeches or the Quay.

we all like a bargain and i buy a lot via the internet- however I think people should always consider the REAL cost of what they buy, whether that's sweatshops in the developing world producing "cheap" goods or the suffering and misery involved in meat / diary production - it's not good enough , IMHO, to justify always buying the cheapest just because you have a family (Hessenford et al)

Greedy landlords and greedy councils with ridiculous business rates are the main cause of the High Street demise. Those together with astronomic electricity charges and all the red tape from H&S its a wonder how anyone can survive on the High Street.

I'm not sure this business is as at risk from internet buying as people are making out. Who buys lighting online?
No, the problem is twofold. First, all the out-of-town DIY sheds and department stores sell lighting (I reckon the biggest competitor in recent years will have been the John Lewis homewares store in Branksome). Second, where a town centre zone is allowed to decay, enterprises move out that part of the town becomes the retail equivalent of a sink estate. People stay away. And for a retailer, it's all about footfall.