The end of an era! …..OR….. Just another shop closed.

Last Saturday was a sad day when I closed my indoor market business, once part of a thriving family business that began in 1928. I can definitely say it was due to the way we now shop at supermarkets, on the internet and the proliferation of bargain shops.

Over the last 20 years every bit of my trade (clothing & underwear) has been picked at by the big boys. School clothing went a long time ago due to the big guys selling it in shops for less than I could buy wholesale, naughty undies & fancy dress went to the internet to save on blushes and standard undies and hosiery went again to the supermarket and bargain shops.

Now I don't blame anyone for going where the bargains are, but on many occasions when I've checked out prices at the supermarket they've had one item that has been heavily discounted and overwhelmingly shouted about to get us in to buy, but the rest of the range actually cost more than my prices, and don't get me started on the quality of a lot of the goods that you get at bargain shops.

Doesn't this just allow us, the customers, more choice? 
What choice? In my small shop I had men's, ladies' and children's socks in various colours, thicknesses, lengths, sizes and styles, but in the supermarket and pound shops your choice is basically short black, or sometimes blue if you are lucky. I had so much choice; most tights styles have 3 sizes, and at least 8 colour choices per style, and I had so many styles that it would make your head spin, and on the rare occasion that I didn't actually have what you wanted I would do my damnedest to find it for you.
Try asking them to do that at a supermarket!

When all these little bits of my custom were nibbled away bit by bit, all I was left with were the smaller niche products that the big guys don't want to sell, because they are not 'mainstream enough'. Unfortunately you can't make a thriving business, in a small local town, on niche sales alone. Small or local businesses going the way of the dinosaur has happened so many times over the past 20 years; bookshops were probably the first, and my trade will definitely not be the last.

From thriving business (the palm trees are because we had a beach theme weekend) to this empty market stall.

So many of my, still regular, customers were forlorn when I told them I was closing, and I heard "Where am I going to get my XXX from now?" so many times that it broke my heart, but I just couldn't stay open for the small amount of loyal customers, my bills just wouldn't get paid.
I also heard "Yet another one closing, this town will be empty soon!" generally coming pithily from the mouths of people who had never been seen by me before, who had just come, vulture like, to pick off a bargain or two from the dying body of my business.

Yeah well, to them I say, towns only become empty because YOU didn't choose to shop there regularly enough! 

Believe me no-one shuts down a thriving business, and although it's nice that you chose to visit this one time, we cannot afford to stay open for you 52 weeks of the year for you to come and buy one of those specialised items that you can't get at your usual big box store.

IF YOU DON'T USE THEM, YOU WILL LOSE THEM

and by use them, I mean on a regular basis!

My plea to you all: One small purchase can make a big difference!

Next time you are thinking about buying a present, some clothes or whatever else have a quick look around at your local small shops and businesses, check out a local craft fair, look out for an internet business to buy from that is a small family operation which actually pays it's taxes in the country it sells from (a shocking idea I know, but maybe if enough of you turn your backs on the likes of Amazon we'd have a healthier economy and a load more happier locally based entrepreneurs).

If you do this you may find you get a better bargain, more choice or just better service, and you will be helping to keep choice and small businesses alive, but be warned, if you continue on this path do not be surprised when your choices run out, and you won't be able to get those size 14, chunky walking boot socks, that have looped stitch soles and don't grip the ankle, that your Uncle Alf loves so much.

One more plea, this time to the government: Although the horse has bolted and we can't shut the gate anymore, we can fence the surrounding field.

Since 1981 in France they have had a law that doesn't allow any bookseller whether bricks and mortar or internet from selling a book for less than 5% below the cover price. This law has kept the local bookshops, and their great booksellers with amazing knowledge gained from years of experience, from being eaten up by the likes of Amazon, as they have here in Great Britain.

This kind of law needs to be enforced in every aspect of retail in the UK. I would love to see a fair playing field where the big boys were banned from selling below the actual cost of a product. This is called a Loss Leader in the trade, because you make a 'loss' on the actual product, but more than make up for it by effectively 'leading' customers into your store where you are almost guaranteed that they will buy plenty more profit heavy products.

If you are thinking, but I like that these cheaper prices, think about this:
For every loss leader the big companies have to make the profit up elsewhere, so you may get that one great bargain, but you WILL be paying for it with the price increases on all your other purchases, or the other way is that the big boys squeeze the producer's margins so much, to give you a deal that costs them nothing, that the producer goes out of business and then you pay again in added taxes to look after them, and all their now unemployed staff.

A few years back when I visited relatives in Canada I found it very interesting that in British Columbia alcoholic drinks for the home can only be sold in privately owned retail stores (and a few government owned outlets) which means that the giant supermarkets can't use booze as a tempting loss leader, which in turn keeps many small businesses thriving.

These are just 2 examples of how governments have helped keep the diversity of retail in their countries, and there are plenty more examples, so why on earth can't ours do something!

I'd really love to read your comments on this article, so let me know your thoughts.