Toy shop closes after 23 years, leaving nine staff unemployed (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Toy shop closes after 23 years, leaving nine staff unemployed
8:58am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News
Toy shop closes after 23 years, leaving nine staff unemployed
THE Early Learning Centre in Poole is to close – leaving Poole town centre with no dedicated toy shop.
The Dolphin Centre store, which has been open 23 years, will shut on March 20, leaving nine staff out of a job.
It follows the closure of the Early Learning Centre in Bournemouth town centre in June last year – part of an ongoing nationwide closure programme.
In May 2011 Mothercare, which owns the brand, announced plans to close 110 sites, including 75 Early Learning Centres over three years, as part of a move to focus on out-of-town outlets.
The nearest ELC will be within the Mothercare store at Poole Retail Park, Branksome.
The news came as a shock to staff who believed the shop had a lease until 2015.
Store manager Kevin Smith-Childs, who had been in post almost three years, said he had tried everything from themed days and fancy dress to goodie bags and charity events to help boost the store. He blamed its position, tucked away behind the escalators, for its failure to turn a profit.
He said staff had been shocked and saddened by the news.
“Customers have had a very negative reaction,” he added.
“Obviously now their nearest Early Learning Centre shop is a drive away – and their nearest toy shop is out of town.”
While shops like Beales, Boots and Argos will continue to have toys for sale in Poole, there will no longer be a destination toy shop in the town centre.
One customer told the Echo: “I shop here for Christmas, birthdays, parties.
“There aren’t many children’s outlets in the Poole area – I come in here for inspiration. My daughter is three and a half and everything here is geared up for her.”
At the moment a consultation is ongoing with staff, but they said they all expect to lose their jobs.
A Mothercare spokesperson said: “The closure of this store is in line with our current portfolio plan. We hope this has not upset any customers.”
Comments(25)
Teddy 1
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9:18am Tue 5 Mar 13
darcyknows
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9:23am Tue 5 Mar 13
Dilligaf08
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10:18am Tue 5 Mar 13
darcyknows wrote:No, they sell fancy dress and model making stuff
TRY SETCHFIELDS they sell toy's bottom of poole high st
Lord Spring
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10:21am Tue 5 Mar 13
darcyknows wrote:Just had to read the story as I was frightened it was Setchfields thank goodness it was not, a proper toy shop for all ages.
TRY SETCHFIELDS they sell toy's bottom of poole high st
Mr Angry.
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10:45am Tue 5 Mar 13
stevobath
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10:56am Tue 5 Mar 13
Best toy shops were always the big old fashioned independent ones.Truly exciting to visit as a child.The one that used to be in Pokesdown used to be my favourite! I especially loved all the Britains model soldiers etc!
bogtrotter
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12:45pm Tue 5 Mar 13
l'anglais
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1:26pm Tue 5 Mar 13
mark1987
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1:27pm Tue 5 Mar 13
burgerboy
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1:39pm Tue 5 Mar 13
darcyknows wrote:SETCHFIELDS Best model and toy shop in Dorset,been there for well over 50 years,Staff so very helpfull.
TRY SETCHFIELDS they sell toy's bottom of poole high st
BournemouthMum
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2:35pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Hessenford
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8:05pm Tue 5 Mar 13
l'anglais wrote:Been shopping on Amazon for years, quick delivery, efficient service and all done from my lounge sofa, couldn't care less about their tax issues as long as I save money, this is the shopping of the future so lets get used to it.
Ah well, at least the little darlings of Poole have got the non tax paying outlet Amazon to keep them entertained, when Mum & Dad take their P45's to the job centre.
bargoedboy0
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9:06pm Tue 5 Mar 13
stevobath
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10:43pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Hessenford wrote:Yes.Thats a good old fashioned selfish attitude...F everyone else as I'm alright jack.
l'anglais wrote:Been shopping on Amazon for years, quick delivery, efficient service and all done from my lounge sofa, couldn't care less about their tax issues as long as I save money, this is the shopping of the future so lets get used to it.
Ah well, at least the little darlings of Poole have got the non tax paying outlet Amazon to keep them entertained, when Mum & Dad take their P45's to the job centre.
You're whats wrong.Selfish & self centred.
You miss the point of having a thriving High Street with lots of shops.
Cheap isn't always best.Buy a TV off Amazon & it goes wrong the 1st week.Not so great or convenient.
stevobath
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10:54pm Tue 5 Mar 13
bargoedboy0 wrote:Dolphin Centr Old fashioned & dying, just like Poole.
50 years ago all Poole had was a very poor High Street, Bournemouth town centre was booming and Boscombe with it's golden mile- not a empty shop in sight, second in footfall to Bournemouth, also booming. Wind the clock on 30 years-out of town retail parks with free parking also Poole coming alive with the building of the Dolphin Centre, now Bournemouth had real competition. Today Boscombe has lost it's golden shine, however it is still a better place to live than many other parts of the UK.
I do agree with you about Boscombe though.
I live in Wonderful Bath now,World Heritage Site etc.Has at least 2 areas much worse than Boscombe with regards to drugs etc...Of course the centre of the City looks wonderful...Walk 5 minutes from the Royal Crescent & its not so nice.
Bath terrible for violence in the centre at W'ends along with a horrendous homeless & street drinking problem,all driven away from the centre to the outskirts where the visitors won't see.
I've made Bath my home due to circumstances.Its not a bad place but I still miss Bournemouth & I still feel safer walking around Boscombe etc at night whenever I visit.I avoid Bath Centre after 12am.Violence more concentrated into a smaller area in Bath.Been on the end of violence 4 times in 10 years living in Bath.NEVER attacked in 30 odd years in Bournemouth/Boscome.
I even owned a home in Boscombe Crescent for 5 years!
ashleycross
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12:20am Wed 6 Mar 13
Bournesouthmouth Downpokes
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10:58am Wed 6 Mar 13
ashleycross wrote:Didnt like yr first comment steve (re: amazon), but about you living in Bath compared to Boscombe is very interesting. Insightful even. I grew up in London and whereas Boscombe certainly has issues it is far FAR safer than London.
Beales in Poole has a very good toy department.
portia6
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12:29pm Wed 6 Mar 13
from!
spooki
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2:42pm Wed 6 Mar 13
mark1987 wrote:Just up the road??? Hardly!
Toys r Us just up the road! Meets all needs.
ELC are (were) way too expensive and anything shoved in that corner of the arcade is going to lose out. I'd rather buy toys in supermarkets or on the Internet.
goatty
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5:33pm Wed 6 Mar 13
stevobath wrote:So you'd rather pay more for goods? Well you must be one the wealthy set. You carry on Sir. Whilst at it why don't you send a little extra of your own money to HMRC every month as you feel they are missing out. Carry on Starbucks and Amazon and let us all know how you avoid tax so we can all do it!
Hessenford wrote:Yes.Thats a good old fashioned selfish attitude...F everyone else as I'm alright jack.
l'anglais wrote:Been shopping on Amazon for years, quick delivery, efficient service and all done from my lounge sofa, couldn't care less about their tax issues as long as I save money, this is the shopping of the future so lets get used to it.
Ah well, at least the little darlings of Poole have got the non tax paying outlet Amazon to keep them entertained, when Mum & Dad take their P45's to the job centre.
You're whats wrong.Selfish & self centred.
You miss the point of having a thriving High Street with lots of shops.
Cheap isn't always best.Buy a TV off Amazon & it goes wrong the 1st week.Not so great or convenient.
chiefwolf2
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10:03pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Jean-Pierre Blaireau
says...
10:56pm Wed 6 Mar 13
I bought many items for my grandchildren from Early Learning Centre shops, including this one, over the course of 20-odd years and most of them are still in excellent condition despite now being played with by great-great grandchildren.
Similar could not be said, I suggest, for the "disposable" items sold by supermarkets and the like.
speedy231278
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10:57am Thu 7 Mar 13
l'anglais
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4:08pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Hessenford wrote:If you couldn't care a less about tax issues, maybe you will when all shopping is done online.
l'anglais wrote:Been shopping on Amazon for years, quick delivery, efficient service and all done from my lounge sofa, couldn't care less about their tax issues as long as I save money, this is the shopping of the future so lets get used to it.
Ah well, at least the little darlings of Poole have got the non tax paying outlet Amazon to keep them entertained, when Mum & Dad take their P45's to the job centre.
All the local companies will not be paying corporation tax.
Thus increasing the jobless total, increasing the burden on the state.
The state being society, who will have to pick up the bill..... you.
How far is the end of your nose?
kirsty365 says...
9:07am Tue 5 Mar 13