I am totally against clone towns. The monopolisation of our high streets pushes up prices and limits choice. Most importantly, chain stores are managed in interest of shareholders, not customers. I live in Brighton where thankfully, small and independent shops and businesses are still thriving. Perhaps it is because the people of Brighton are not afraid to leave the car at home, and head out to the independent retailers scattered across the city.
I was in France last summer and was staggered by the choice and variety of food and goods available at a local market in a small provincial town. Ultimately it is down to us, if we boycott the chains they won’t make any money - or are we just too lazy?
Here in North Wiltshire Farmer's Markets are on the increase and good for them I say! I use the markets as much as possible and try not to support the big food sheds selling mostly rubbish, tasteless imported fresh food. Try a Farmers Market producing fresh Pork and fresh vegetables for instance and taste the difference and the quality of the produce. British Farmers have been screwed to the wall by the big Supermarkets in order to gain even more profits for shareholders and company directors.
I try to use our local farmers market, but it's only once a month, so it is little more than a novelty...Meat is much better I agree, and if I have time, I go to a farm shop but it's several miles away.
(\__/) (+'.'+) (")_(")
STILL A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET ANOTHER GOLD STAR!!!
I live in East Dulwich, in south east London. Until now, it's been a little oasis of independently owned shops, bars and restaurants. It's got a really great vibe about it - people who live round there have invested in the area by opening interesting businesses that match the needs of the community. I should have known it wouldn't last. An empty shop has been bought up by Cafe Nero - the invasion of the high street chain has started.
I live in central Edinburgh and we are being 'cloned' right now. Already the Royal Mile, which was famed for its historic value but also because it had a living working residential community, has lost many local and independant shops...... This area is being filled with the usual tarten tat, starbucks(we now have 2 on this street),beanscene, pizza express......posh cafes and chain pubs/resturants abound. Despite the public demand for more family housing,community facilities,workshop and small business space our council is determined to sweep away historical buildings to have more slab architecture which could belong anywhere (except a medieval/historic city centre) Enough of the clones! We want our individuality.
Has anyone in the London area seen the Evening Standard's Save Our Small Shops campaign? It looks like Prince Charles is throwing his weight behind it too, saying that small businesses are an essential part of the British economy because they generate "wealth and employment".
But surely supermarkets are providing lots of jobs too? Is anyone reading this employed by a big chain? What do you think?
Talking of coffee shops, in Epping, where 4homes magazine's office is, about a year ago a Costa Coffee opened. It was immediately really popular because, frankly, the standard of the existing, small coffee shops was genuinely bad. So that was fine - we finally got access to nice (but expensive) coffee.
But I walked up the high street last week and saw that a bookshop was boarded up with signs on saying that another Costa is going to open there very soon! So that would be one at either end of a bustling high street, about 3 minutes walk from each other. I can't help thinking that their tactic is to crowd out all the other coffee shops from Epping...
It is a real shame when all the high streets look the same. I'm lucky enough to live in a part of London that only has independent shops and restaurants but for how long?
Since residents' parking has come in a lot of shops are struggling for daytime trade and a few have started to close.
I've heard that the chains are ready to pounce - and are probably the only ones that can afford the sky-high rents now!
Chains just don't seem to provide the same level of service and quality as smaller places. Seen one, seen 'em all! Bland, bland, bland!
I don't see how an alternative to clone towns is possible. I think every small town will have just one shop. Probably Tescos. And when there is no alternative, they will be able to increase their prices to what ever they like.
Writing to you from East Somerset where it would seem the local District Council are hell bent on driving shoppers towards the large supermarkets. Several now surround our small town.The Council are again raising the cost of parking in our town centre car parks making it very expensive if you want to shop for a product that is below a certain value. By comparison the few nearby towns that offer free or first hour parking concessions still have a thriving local trade.
With regard to the above posting about Costa Coffee in Epping the author has hit the nail on the head when he said the reason it has become so popular is the standard of the coffee. I have tried all the small local independant coffee shops in Epping and they are all without exception dreadfull! Costa meanwhile offers great coffee everytime with pleasant service and an inviting enviroment. I would quite happily use the services of the local coffee shops if they could at least offer a decent product.
Whilst I would rather not see the local high street full of chains, I have no option but to use the sevices of this multi-national as it provides the quality and service I want.
Mayby the independants could learn a lesson from the ''big boys'' and stop moaning about how hard done by they are all the time. The answer is simple, smarten your act act, provide a product people actually want and hey presto you can compete with them, after all it is a level playing field when it comes to providing in this case good coffee in pleasant surroundings.
Its the difference between nescafe instant and fresh ground beans. You don't mind paying for a cup of coffee that tastes like its got some plant life in it rather than roasted, freeze dried and stored on a shelf for years at a time.
Just to let you know, 4homes magazine is no longer taking comments on this topic because the new issue is out, published complete with one of the comments on this very thread inside!
Don't forget to add your thoughts to the latest Question of the Month topic - <a href="http://community.channel4.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1300052814/m/4520007034">direct marketing</a>...
yes we should support are small, local shops or thay will become a thing of the past and we will have no one but are selves to blame becouse we did not support them from summersday 78
I miss the local butchers, the greengrocers etc.It's mainly the personal touch that I miss. I miss having conversations with people who would probably never be part of my world ordinarily.
quote:
Originally posted by C4 Ed: Every month we’re going to be asking you what you think about the big issues facing homes and living. This month it’s all about clone town Britain.
Should we support small, local shops, or are you happy if your town becomes just like any other? Tell us what you think.
I miss the local butchers, the greengrocers etc.It's mainly the personal touch that I miss. I miss having conversations with people who would probably never be part of my world ordinarily.
quote:
Originally posted by C4 Ed: Every month we’re going to be asking you what you think about the big issues facing homes and living. This month it’s all about clone town Britain.
Should we support small, local shops, or are you happy if your town becomes just like any other? Tell us what you think.
Just to keep raving on about East Dulwich...we've got the most fantastic fruit and veg shop. It smells WONDERFUL in there and they have an amazing range of organic stuff.
Hi everyone - just to let you know that Melboy is the winner of a copy of Room for Improvement for his comment about farmers' markets in Wiltshire, which we published in the May issue (out now!) of 4homes.
Our local Costa was a smoking coffeeshop. I like the coffee but not the passive smoking.
quote:
Originally posted by coffeeman: With regard to the above posting about Costa Coffee in Epping the author has hit the nail on the head when he said the reason it has become so popular is the standard of the coffee. I have tried all the small local independant coffee shops in Epping and they are all without exception dreadfull! Costa meanwhile offers great coffee everytime with pleasant service and an inviting enviroment. I would quite happily use the services of the local coffee shops if they could at least offer a decent product.
Whilst I would rather not see the local high street full of chains, I have no option but to use the sevices of this multi-national as it provides the quality and service I want.
Mayby the independants could learn a lesson from the ''big boys'' and stop moaning about how hard done by they are all the time. The answer is simple, smarten your act act, provide a product people actually want and hey presto you can compete with them, after all it is a level playing field when it comes to providing in this case good coffee in pleasant surroundings.
___________________________
There are 10 types of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that don't.
Greasy spoons are dying out due to these new imports, the coffee shops.
Foreign bread and foreign coffee with skinny coffee and chocolate sprinkles!
How much is a cup of rosy lea? £2.50 £3.00!!!
The old greasy spoon makes a proper cup of Tetley with as much sugar as you want for 80p. And none of this cross ant stuff, oh no, fried eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown, beans, and good old black pudding all for £2.50.
