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ArticlesYou are in: Oxford > BBC Oxford > Articles > The 'Bill' Board!  The 'Bill' Board!BBC Oxford's 'Silver Fox' is never short of an opinion or two. Every Monday you can read all about Mr Heine's latest musings! THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING THE HIGH STREET Was there ever a year that brought with it such a Pandora’s Box of baggage as 2009? The real question is --- what damage will be unleashed this year, what is in store for the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker? I ask because it is the small shops that show the first signs of stress. Well the butcher is having difficulties in making ‘ends meat’. The local High Street shops in market towns around Oxfordshire report the same footfall as last year but people have cut back on the prime cuts while mince is walking out of the front door as never before. Takings are definitely down. The baker should be recession-proof but there again the small shops are hurting because they can’t compete with the supermarkets. This was always the case, but the situation is worse now. The only upside is for the gourmet breads that people purchase as a small treat to replace the big tag items they can’t afford anymore. The candlestick maker comes out on top. Even those heavily priced and scented candles are selling well; perhaps people are going to a new source of light to save on electricity bills. Independent book shops are tightening their belts. One of my favourites reported Christmas takings down 20% on comparison with last year, and last year was 20% down on the previous year. That’s not sustainable. Gym memberships are down. The New Year’s resolution is no longer about getting your body into shape, but about getting your bank balance into shape. In a market when people are cutting back, gym memberships are among the first expenses to go. Of course the recession has grabbed the hair dressers by the short and curlies. I’ve talked to some who said their takings had increased year on year for the past decade; and then in the summer the decline started to grow and grow. My summer seed catalogue arrived today and every page is littered with big red stickers telling me the hardy miniature orchid is half price and so is the begonia and busy lizzie and even the Eezee Patio Bag. I don’t need to mention the building trades, the estate agents and the car production lines… What do you think the High Street will look like in 2010? last updated: 03/01/2009 at 19:39 Have Your SaySwanee Annie Dave. Headington, Sunset House. Richard - Heyford Julia Christine Lucas You are in: Oxford > BBC Oxford > Articles > The 'Bill' Board! |
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