Suggestions for shops to increase buisness

steve_fixer

I have read the comments regarding UKPARKINGCONTROL.COM, and because I run a small business, I find it relevant, because it is half the reason why people are not spending/able to purchase what they want. I have several friends whose family members have been very upset with unnecessary pressure from Companies like these. I feel so annoyed by these fake intimidaters that I have set up a free website for victims, should they wish to visit/join it, at no cost, as I feel they need support.

I heard quite a while back, that the only people who would have the choice to buy what they needed, were those who could access an industrial estate shopping complex, by car, and one day these places would be enclosed, guarded and so on. Yet some visitors to the above, are being bullied by simply badly run parking.

If everyone joined forces to boycott these places, and if the store owners provided parking for their particular store on a reasonable free short term time, such as 1 hours, for free, they would get far more business. I have a lot of overheads, but still am able to provide worry free parking for my customers, who thank me for that. If anyone has genuine difficulties, I am also flexible. I have an old fashioned approach to a modern problem, and I am even willing to consider peoples difficulties re' payment, as well as recognising folks who "take advantage". I have never been involved in Court proceedings, ever! My business is booming.

I believe that these giant complex shopping centres will all eventually fail, and small, personally run shops like mine will flourish, because word of mouth travels better from a small scale concern. I sell more by not being greedy about pricing, and I ensure quality, because of which, I make a reasonable turn over of profit.

Take head shop owners, and care about your customers, and make provision for parking without worry, as that should be the last thing on their minds when they are spending money.

HO87

I think you may just have misunderstood the problem in overall terms. The problem doesn't necessarily lie with the shops/malls/precincts etc as they have often been persuaded, falsely in my view, that the best cure for supposed abusive parking is to employ a private parking company. In some respects they are as much victims in this situation as are their customers who receive speculative invoices from the PPC's.

Locked in to contracts which allow PPC's to operate - sometimes for several years - can be a costly exercise to extricate oneself from as Somerfield found to their cost earlier this year.

Offering support to people who often feel genuinely harassed by these firms is a good thing.

peter_the_piper

There is, in my view, a simple solution to the problem. However its unlikely to be used. Its to totally rehash in town parking. Remove SYL and DYL for the most part, increase car parks and cut charges.
Just heard/read about Brighton and some shops. Not content with making road parking £3.50 /hour they have now put blips on kerb to restrict unloading for the shops. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-20479361

meteor2

I am very aware of the parking companies who run the car parking for huge retailers, and obviously HO87 explains in clear terms how this all came about, but I do agree with "steve fixer" on many points. I just won't visit these places because a relative of mine was very traumatised by their experience, having genuinely parked in a way they thought was right. I won't go into the details for fear of them getting identified, but having read comments on that particular private company mentioned, it is obvious they work through intimidation tactics and don't care about the effect it has on people. I really admire the decent way it seems that guy tackles the parking at his place of business. Good on you Steve !
None of the smaller shops I use have parking problems, none that I know of anyway, and like in days gone by, people work out their parking need very compromisingly, and they must be doing something right in this economic downturn. It's sad about Somerfield, and the Brighton situation, one biggy who had bottle to rectify a very disturbing situation for their customers, and the Brighton lot who sound downright greedy soulless Councillors.
I bleed for the traders there.
I can only deduce that the Giants are winning the day, though with some luck, not for long. It all just re-enforces the ever widening gap between Rich and Poor, and is truly tragic. Maybe if your Site gets enough Members Steve, they can all put pressure to rid the Country of Daylight Robbers.
Roll on going back to the days of enjoyable shopping, and I am very sorry for all the victims of the Car Parking Cowboys.
Good wishes to all the decent people of the Country.
Meteor2.