Boarded-Up Britain: One In Eight Shops Shut, worst in t'North

fc123

daveyjp wrote: »

"Well if the rents are lowered by landlords of some of the boarded up shops, to attract in new businesses or start-ups.. there might be good competition and more potential for profit"


Why should it be the landlord who drops the price of their product to below what it costs them to provide it?

Supply and demand?

Indies have smaller margins for a start and not all premises will attract a multiple (who have higher margins and economies of scale enabling them to pay a higher rent) so if Mr LL wants an occupied property (also so he doesn't have to pay the business rates whilst vacant) he may have to keep dropping the rent until it hits the right spot.

We supplied a shop in Swindon in a shopping centre and her rent was dropped to the floor ...she still couldn't make it pay and closed.


I think what I am up to at the mo is sort of releveant to the thread but we have just gone under offer for some premises as the rent has finally dropped to the level where someone (ie; us) feel it's worth a punt. I am positive that it was up for double 6 months ago when I last looked in the location.

In proper MSE style we offered lower and it is being considered.

In fairness, it is a niche type of place not suited to most and the LL is the Co-op who owns masses of land and commercial in the location and has done for 80 years.....most of it is derelict and vacant....it's all quite Mad max.......so absolutely purrrfect for a gigantic design studio. It's very Flashdance.

They seem to spend more on security than on maintenance.

mardatha

Graham Devon, send me the Stardrops !! Its magic stuff and I cant get any
Altringcham wherever the hell it is, looks very much like Hawick up here.

dopester

fc123 wrote: »

Up north? We tried some concessions up your way and closed one already.....hoping to get out of another as soon as politically possible...it's too tricky to write about

I sell far more in Miami for some reason.

fc123 wrote: »

I think what I am up to at the mo is sort of releveant to the thread but we have just gone under offer for some premises as the rent has finally dropped to the level where someone (ie; us) feel it's worth a punt. I am positive that it was up for double 6 months ago when I last looked in the location.

In proper MSE style we offered lower and it is being considered.

In fairness, it is a niche type of place not suited to most and the LL is the Co-op who owns masses of land and commercial in the location and has done for 80 years.....most of it is derelict and vacant....it's all quite Mad max.......so absolutely purrrfect for a gigantic design studio. It's very Flashdance.

They seem to spend more on security than on maintenance.

You're really a whirl of energy, enthusiasm and entrepreneurism, fc.

Makes me dizzy.

And your independent business has been trading for many successful years, taking advantage of markets (worldwide) you've seen opportunities in. Full respect to you.

Pennywise

In our village (more of a small town), we have no empty shops at all. We have a butchers, newsagents, bakers, post office, spar shop, etc etc., all of which remain busy and show no signs of imminent closure etc.

The thing is that the local council havn't waved their magic wand to alienate the car drivers - don't know why - perhaps they just havn't noticed the place! We can still drive to the shops, park on the street - no one-way systems, no bollards and yellow lines, no expensive car parks, no traffic lights - in fact not a traffic warden in sight, ever. Funny thing is that there's no traffic problems - despite being "free" to park badly and congest the place, virtually everyone is sensible and traffic continues to flow freely and easily, despite it being a very busy village with a 300 pupil school right in the centre.

Nearby towns have entire streets of empty shops - entire shopping areas ruined by council schemes to "improve" them. The latest crazy scheme was a busy and popular parade of shops - to "improve" the pavements, they actually closed the road for 3 months with no vehicular access at all, The council couldn't understand why shops closed and the customers didn't return once the road was re-opened - typically, they blamed the recession.

The fact is that shops are busy and able to survive if customers have easy access to them, and that means easy road systems, plenty of close, preferably free, parking, etc. The councils have really got to get to grips with what people actually want and stop the crazy hatred of the motor car!

stonethrower

treliac wrote: »

Thanks PN. Laminate flooring can look horrible after a time. The edges can wear and start to peel back! There are some very good and substantial vinyls on the market now and I like the look of things like Karndean.

However, for a sitting room, stairs and bedroom areas, I don't think anything beats a good twist carpet for comfort and appearance. The carpet is for DD's bedroom. She hummed and hawed and finally decided that's what she would like for her re-ramp.

I'm with you on this 90% of laminate flooring is rubbish there is some good stuff but its expensive

MrsE_2

olly300 wrote: »

Seriously though in every "town" centre I know there were always empty shops even during the boom years. There are only so many shops people want to go to on foot particularly if there is an out of town retail park or a large supermarket nearby.

Shops need to provide free/cheap parking.

I can choose between town centre & pay a fortune to park or retail park & park for free:money:

olly300

MrsE wrote: »

Shops need to provide free/cheap parking.

The problem is selfish motorists who use the facilities for all day parking when they are not shopping but going to work.

Group of shops a few minutes walk from me have 20 minute parking bays. This works as lots of non-local residents don't realise the shops are there so park up. Plus local residents can if they realise they have brought to much go and get their car.

MrsE wrote: »

I can choose between town centre & pay a fortune to park or retail park & park for free

Most of the retail parks and superstores set time limits for parking as well again because people abuse it.

movilogo

People nowadays prefer to shop from retail parks outside the town. Mostly because availability of free parking.

MrsE_2

olly300 wrote: »

Most of the retail parks and superstores set time limits for parking as well again because people abuse it.

But shoppers use them & thats what matters.

amcluesent

>Mostly because availability of free parking.<

And, being private spaces, the mall security people keep out riff-raff, chuggers, etc.