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Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18243		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  pcernie [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21310808

I've a feeling I've asked this before, but how many of you would miss even your local shops if they quit?

I only go into a newsagents now if I know I'm gonna be stuck somewhere requiring a newspaper (my phone and/or tablet could sort that too) and a bottle of you know what. I avoid supermarkets like the plague and have little reason to go into high street shops, all as a result of the net.

I don't even use the shops that are less than five minutes away - is that you too?
Author:  ProfessorF [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
Nope.
I use the local shops all the time for bit and pieces. Our nearest newsagents is also the closest Post Office.
Author:  JJW009 [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
Our post office started selling some basic groceries when our last remaining local shop was closed for "family emergency". We used to have 3 general stores (co-op, VG and Spar) plus a butchers and at least three pubs. Not any more.

I mostly used to buy tobacco and the occasional "sod it, I've run out of bog roll" type things. They've always been more expensive than the shops in town, and now with the supermarket delivering so cheaply it's a no-brainer. How ironic that the local shops used to deliver, but they couldn't afford to keep up the service once minimum wage and child labour laws came in. Does any village shop still deliver anywhere I wonder?
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
JJW009 wrote:
Our post office started selling some basic groceries when our last remaining local shop was closed for "family emergency". We used to have 3 general stores (co-op, VG and Spar) plus a butchers and at least three pubs. Not any more.

I mostly used to buy tobacco and the occasional "sod it, I've run out of bog roll" type things. They've always been more expensive than the shops in town, and now with the supermarket delivering so cheaply it's a no-brainer. How ironic that the local shops used to deliver, but they couldn't afford to keep up the service once minimum wage and child labour laws came in. Does any village shop still deliver anywhere I wonder?

My local greengrocer delivers as long as it is a minimum £10. Though I usually collect as it is so close. I get the vast majority of my meat and veg locally and do a big shop online once every few months. The butcher is only slightly more expensive than the supermarkets and the service is excellent. The greengrocer is better than the supermarket but is more expensive. Though you get what you pay for.
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 2:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
We used to have two shops - one was a traditional newsagents with loads of newpapers, mags and cigarettes, with maybe a few drinks etc. The shop across the road was filled with groceries albeit at inflated prices. There was a small independent supermarket down. We also had a post office on the next block and a petrol station on the road behind us. Within a half mile radius, we had everything we needed.

Over time, these had slowly shut down - the newsagents was the first casualty. They definitely would have had the batman magazine! The post office went next and the closest one is a mile away. The supermarket shut in the last couple of years. I think the petrol station is still going but barely so.

The small shop is still going. If that goes, we will have to drive to reach whatever we need. The downside is that covenience declines. Variety will also reduce and I suspect prices will only ever go upwards.
Author:  BigRedX [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
Not much evidence of it here...

I live in what used to be called the "inner city" (is it still?) and within 5 minutes walk of my house I have:
3 corner shops/mini markets
Post Office
Chemists
2 cafés
Fish and Chip Shop
Chinese Takeaway
All appear to be thriving...
Plus at least 5 other shops that I've never really looked closely enough at to see what they are selling.

There's plenty more (as well as two big supermarkets) within a 15 minute walk radius.
Author:  big_D [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
Hmm, I made a post earlier, but it seems to have disappeared...

Here, we don't have any big retail chains like Tesco. We have some regional supermarkets, like Rewe, Famila, Edeka etc. but the "large" supermarkets are about the size of a small town Tesco 20 years ago.

For food shopping, we go to a discounter, like Lidl, for most of the basics, then to Famila for what Lidl doesn't carry. For top ups, we then go to one of the smaller mini-markets, like N&P or K&K Markt. Fruit and veg is usually bought from the greengrocers and we buy our meat from the local turkey farm, which raises, slaughters and processes in-house. They have a great selection of always fresh products.

For non-food / household cleaning stuff, we go to specialist shops. I much prefer going to "real" shops, as opposed to supermarkets, they might be a bit more expensive, but you get the service that you pay for, above all, expert knowledge about the products you are buying.
Author:  TheFrenchun [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
big_D wrote:
Hmm, I made a post earlier, but it seems to have disappeared...

Here, we don't have any big retail chains like Tesco. We have some regional supermarkets, like Rewe, Famila, Edeka etc. but the "large" supermarkets are about the size of a small town Tesco 20 years ago.

For food shopping, we go to a discounter, like Lidl, for most of the basics, then to Famila for what Lidl doesn't carry. For top ups, we then go to one of the smaller mini-markets, like N&P or K&K Markt. Fruit and veg is usually bought from the greengrocers and we buy our meat from the local turkey farm, which raises, slaughters and processes in-house. They have a great selection of always fresh products.

For non-food / household cleaning stuff, we go to specialist shops. I much prefer going to "real" shops, as opposed to supermarkets, they might be a bit more expensive, but you get the service that you pay for, above all, expert knowledge about the products you are buying.

I have not been to a supermarket for over 6 months except at Xmas when staying with family.
Food delivery for the bulk, then corner shops for urgent stuff like milk.
Author:  Spreadie [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
We use our local shops quite often, though not for large quantities.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
My personal preference is to support local traders rather than Multinationals. I have 5 pubs, and 6 coffee shops a couple of mini marts (Tesco Express and Co-Op) all within a few hundred yards. There is also a greengrocer and butcher. Even though I can get great clearance deals from the Tesco Express I get most of my main supplies locally. The local hardware shop is also used a lot. Though my bulk orders are from either Tesco or Asda online. Though small shop closures are not necessarily progress.
Author:  jonbwfc [ Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
I have a good baker near my home, a decent greengrocer stall near where I work and an excellent butcher near my parents. Between the three of them, food is pretty much covered. I still have to get 'non perishable' stuff from a supermarket though because the co-op near me is actually pretty rubbish for that kind of stuff.

I do try to avoid the more rapacious capitalists if I can...
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
jonbwfc wrote:
I have a good baker near my home, a decent greengrocer stall near where I work and an excellent butcher near my parents. Between the three of them, food is pretty much covered. I still have to get 'non perishable' stuff from a supermarket though because the co-op near me is actually pretty rubbish for that kind of stuff.

I do try to avoid the more rapacious capitalists if I can...

Yes I have a local baker, but there is also a great independent a few miles away who I always drop in on when I am in the area. It has been months since I bought shop bought bread from a supermarket.
Author:  big_D [ Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
Yes, we get most of our bread from the local bakers. The bread is fresh and you get more variety. Most supermarkets have a local bakers outside.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
big_D wrote:
Yes, we get most of our bread from the local bakers. The bread is fresh and you get more variety. Most supermarkets have a local bakers outside.

My mum prefers fresh bread and hates the long life stodgy stuff that supermarkets or the big bakers churn out. So the local baker is good but pricey.
Author:  big_D [ Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Small shop closures are progress, says ex-Tesco boss
The other thing is, there are no delivery services over here.

There are a couple of "cooking" portals that will deliver the fresh produce for a complete weeks worth of their menus, but general shopping, there is only Amazon, AFAIK, and that has some restrictions.
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