Arndale another one bites the dust.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod

Just to clarify I "shop online" for my big shop, once a month because I don't drive ( and because I work 40+ hours a week), if I need anything else I either pick it up on my way through Blackburn( where I work) or from Spar on Burnley Rd.On the rare occasion that I have money to spend on clothes it's usually Peacocks!

Shopping online is sometimes the only option too, as I found out when the last 2 things I wanted from Marks and Spencer weren't stocked in my size,but at least you collect from the store there which I suppose encourages you to have a mooch round.

I can understand your reasons for shopping online...and many others do exactly the same for the very same reasons.
So your advice to use it or lose it isn't that practical anymore......pretty much as shopping in the town, where stuff maybe more expensive isn't practical or sensible.
Many of us have limited budgets and have to buy where the very best value for money can be obtained.

[susie123]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I can understand your reasons for shopping online...and many others do exactly the same for the very same reasons.
So your advice to use it or lose it isn't that practical anymore......pretty much as shopping in the town, where stuff maybe more expensive isn't practical or sensible.
Many of us have limited budgets and have to buy where the very best value for money can be obtained.

Just read this article which says that those hardest hit by tax and benefit changes are those on middle incomes. These are the folks who would be most likely to use any independent shops. The poorest people have had little threat to their income since they are helped by benefit and tax changes.

Higher taxes and stagnant earnings eat into living standards | This is Money

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Another problem is that now with the advent of the Accrington Observer campaign to get business to Support Maundy Grange, these traders are actually supporting the people who make Accrington a less than pleasant place to shop.
I suppose they feel that if they support something like this local charity, it will endear them to the shoppers. They don't see that some of these undesirables are impacting on trade.

But this is only one of the facets of the problem.......transport links, and the high cost of transport(public) the pedestrianisation of the roads that brought people into the town, the mess that was made of the market, the very poor shopping experience that the Arndale provides.....loss of individual shops all have had an impact......the internet and online shopping seems to be the final nail in the coffin.

That is exactly what I thought when I read the Obs yesterday, can the people supporting St Dorothy that the more they give the more down and outs will flow into Accrington and more and more of their customers will be off shopping somewhere else, nonsensical

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Another problem is that now with the advent of the Accrington Observer campaign to get business to Support Maundy Grange, these traders are actually supporting the people who make Accrington a less than pleasant place to shop.
I suppose they feel that if they support something like this local charity, it will endear them to the shoppers. They don't see that some of these undesirables are impacting on trade.

I suspect my views on the issue will not put me among the sheep if that's how the rest of them think.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by lancsdave

I suspect my views on the issue will not put me among the sheep if that's how the rest of them think.

ya mean your not furnishing tshirts for the Maundy staff Dave

[cashman]

Noticed walking through Arndale this morning, Burtons/Dorothy Perkins,is about to close, I mentioned it to someone n they told me New Look is closing in September.

[maxthecollie]

Heard that M & S is moving into Dorothy Perkins Store selling food only

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Heard that M & S is moving into Dorothy Perkins Store selling food only

I heard that too, but not sure if it means they are moving the food out of the current premises and staying open or closing the big one. Will be a massive blow if they close the main store.

The little newsagents next door to us on Peel St packed and left this week too.

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by cashman

Noticed walking through Arndale this morning, Burtons/Dorothy Perkins,is about to close, I mentioned it to someone n they told me New Look is closing in September.

22nd August for Burtons I think

[lancsdave]

I got told yesterday that Burtons have had a reprieve for 3 years.

If true then that would scupper the M&S plans if those rumours were correct