Any other home buyers in NI?

saverbuyer

motorguy wrote: »

Out of curiosity, where are you getting that stat from?

I cant see hight street retail being a massive employer, and probably whats being lost from local high street shops is probably being absorbed by the big chains anyway.

DETNI labour market survey. Retail and wholesale (includes cars and mechanics) - 120,000 workers.

I agree, people wonder why local shops close when they only use amazon and tesco.

Another grip with me is those handheld scanners and self-service tills. Clearly a way to shift the labour from worker to customers and reduce headcount.

Same thing is happening with the bank branch network. Another massive employer but moving to a cheaper online model.

Cotta

I noticed this morning that Republic the large clothes shop in Belfast city centre is closing down.

motorguy

saverbuyer wrote: »

DETNI labour market survey. Retail and wholesale (includes cars and mechanics) - 120,000 workers.

The BBC report was referring to High Street retail as it where, not including wholesalers and car dealers. different thing really.

motorguy

saverbuyer wrote: »

I agree, people wonder why local shops close when they only use amazon and tesco.

People nowadays use retails shops as showrooms. Theres lots of evidence of people going in to retailers, getting the low down on the products from the staff, photographing the box, then going and getting the best price online and get it delivered.

saverbuyer wrote: »

Another grip with me is those handheld scanners and self-service tills. Clearly a way to shift the labour from worker to customers and reduce headcount.

Same thing is happening with the bank branch network. Another massive employer but moving to a cheaper online model.

Yes, and people use them.

saverbuyer

motorguy wrote: »

The BBC report was referring to High Street retail as it where, not including wholesalers and car dealers. different thing really.

High Street retail is included in the figures, probably make up the majority.

It's a vicious circle, decrease footfall, decreases profits, increases closures and increases business rates. Rinse and repeat.

I really do hope the trend levels off. I think we have enough charity shops and estate agents on the high street.

motorguy

saverbuyer wrote: »

High Street retail is included in the figures, probably make up the majority.

It's a vicious circle, decrease footfall, decreases profits, increases closures and increases business rates. Rinse and repeat.

I really do hope the trend levels off. I think we have enough charity shops and estate agents on the high street.

Its quite an interesting phenomenon to see. Small towns either end up being 1/4 empty units, then the rest being charity shops, pound shops, banks and estate agents OR they become more boutique restaurant /coffee shop focused. Its well documented too.

Also i've noticed how customer service - which you expect to be an area where local retail could be a differentiator - has went down the pan. A lot of the customer facing staff these days have the interpersonal skills of bog rats.

qwert_yuiop

So the online shopping causes money to flow straight out of the local economy, while buying from the multiples, whether tesco or macdonalds, ultimately benefits the shareholders, again largely based elsewhere, causing further pressure on local jobs and wages.
Doesn't look good for that much vaunted housing market recovery, does it?

Consider Dundalk. A large town with a crashed local retail market thanks to its proximity to newry. It may provide a view of the future, crashed housing market included.

motorguy

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

So the online shopping causes money to flow straight out of the local economy, while buying from the multiples, whether tesco or macdonalds, ultimately benefits the shareholders, again largely based elsewhere, causing further pressure on local jobs and wages.

Yup. Thats what people dont realise when buying from the likes of Tescos - the bulk of the money is being sucked out of our economy. However if you buy from a local business something like 70% of that money remains in the local economy.

The only benefit of shopping at the likes of Tescos in store over using say Amazon is that there are more local jobs created

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

Doesn't look good for that much vaunted housing market recovery, does it?

If you were to be focussing entirely on that as your basis for debate then yes, it doesnt look good, however the reality is that what we're losing in retail jobs, we're gaining somewhere else.

This is not a new phenomenon by the way, its being going on many years.

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

Consider Dundalk. A large town with a crashed local retail market thanks to its proximity to newry. It may provide a view of the future, crashed housing market included.

I dont see how thats relevant? Its "problem" is because of the fact that you've two towns in two separate countries with two separate currencies. People are buying where its cheaper.

Of interest though, what dundalk may have lost in retail capability, it has gained elsewhere - for example Paypal and Ebay have now a massive presence there - i know of people who travel from Newry to there to work.

motorguy

FWIW i think it would be wholly wrong to try to link turbulence in the bricks and mortar retail sector to being a major factor in house prices. It is probably a minor one of many.

One could argue from the other perspective that because people are buying cheaper online and are more price driven, they are better off financially therefore more likely to buy their own home? I think that statement is no less tenuous...

qwert_yuiop

[QUOTEs

This is not a new phenomenon by the way, its being going on many years.

So should not be relevant.


I dont see how thats relevant? Its "problem" is because of the fact that you've two towns in two separate countries with two separate currencies. People are buying where its cheaper.

Precisely why it is relevant.
[/QUOTE]