Ruth writes..

I attended a really interesting open meeting last night on the future of retail in Summertown, the event was organised by the Summertown St Margaret’s Neighbourhood Forum and was well attended. The two speakers were from the Said Business School and a town centres specialist from Wantage.

Lots of food for thought in the presentations. Interesting points included:

• People are saving 8% in times of austerity vs 1% in mid 2000s, so less likely to make larger purchases
• Out of town grocery firms are moving into town centres
• Rise in  multichannel retailing, e.g. Halford’s – close some stores, put more business online
• Increase in home delivery, click and collect online orders is GOOD for retail centres, brings people in
• There is a need for an online sales tax – playing field not level at present
• Big chains are looking to have fewer outlets
• White goods, record shops, bookshops, multiple women’s clothes retailers, photographic goods shops are all seeing declining sales
• There are increasing sales figures from hairdressers, estate agents, coffee shops, confectioners, charity shops and hearing aid suppliers (sound familiar?)
• If there is only one specialist outlet in a town e.g. a women’s clothing shop, then it won’t attract customers – people like to know there are goods at  two or three different shops before they are tempted to make the journey to a retail centre so that they can browse and compare.

Why do landlords leave shops empty?

• some are waiting for a particular tenant
• some are waiting for next door shop to expand into their property
• some make enough money from flats above,  fitting the place out and paying legal fees is cost prohibitive

I was interested in two more points.

Charity shops – are much more likely to be able to afford to move into premises with high rents as they pay heavily subsidised rates, pay very little for goods to sell, and are largely staffed by unpaid volunteers. Seven retail businesses in Wantage wanted to move into a high rent location but it went to a charity because they could afford it

There is a lot of interest in pop up shops – a significant proportion of those expressing interest already run small start-up online businesses and want display space in a retail unit

 

Lots of issues here to reflect on in relation to the shopping centre in Headington! I’m sure these will be picked up by the Headington Neighbourhood Forum!