BUSINESS owners in a Bournemouth town centre shopping complex fear they may have to relocate following a drop in footfall after Wilko closed its outlet there earlier this month.
Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre is home to several independent retailers as well as Lidl, with some owners worried there will be a reduction in the number of customers after the high street chain closed its doors earlier this month.
Samuel Baker, owner of Samuel James Jewellers, said: “If my profits are affected, then ultimately that means that either I’m not making as much profit or I’m struggling to pay the bills for the shop then I don’t have a choice.
Read more: Bournemouth Wilko closes to the disappointment of shoppers
“It’s either that or I go broke. I may have to move entirely online, which would be great for me as I know that when I sell online, I make three times the price compared to when I sell in the shop.
“But I want to stay in the shop because I enjoy it. I enjoy talking to people and seeing people, and it gives me a reason to get out of bed every morning.”
He added: “I hope that somewhere like Home Bargains or B&M will move in, not necessarily a restaurant or a leisure centre. A chain shop would attract a wider variety of shoppers from different ages.”
Selin Sarikoc, co-owner of House of Stitch, said: “Footfall is a lot less now since Wilko closed. We have a couple of months to review our lease and we will see where we are then.
READ MORE: Pictures of long lost shops across Bournemouth and Poole
“We may have to relocate if the situation worsens – we won’t be able to survive. It’s scary.”
Mr Sarikoc, alongside business partner Suna Parmagic, would also like to see another budget shop move into Wilko’s former ground.
She said having a big retail chain next door to their business was good for their customers: “They have everything you need. So when people come in to our shop, they will go to Wilko and look around and buy something.”
The owner of Leo Café, Leandro Spera, is optimistic that his regular customers will be enough to save his business – but understands the need for a plan B.
He said: “Our customers have given us massive support. But we may need to look into getting more customers through social media or special offers.
“I’d want a budget shop similar to Wilko to move in opposite – it will be brilliant for everyone.”
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