As I write this Mary Portas has just announced her plans for regenerating the high street in Great Britain via a 50 page report, which, I hasten to add, I haven’t read! She acknowledges that the “high street” is at crisis point with shoppers deserting the hub of their community for the out of town retail park. It is the growth of the latter that has resulted in many of our high street shops closing,leaving hoardings where shop windows should be, which further decreases the attractiveness of the high street to consumers. A vicious circle!
However, it does appear that in some parts of the country independent high street retailers are thriving. I hope so as we supply these as part of our core customer base as well as the “out of town” farm shops and garden centres. Look at the success of Christmas markets which have regenerated some town centres at this time of year. And in my home town of Cirencester, (more…)