SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS

[leenewham]

I hope admin is ok with this.

On the new pizza restaurant thread there were two points that came up.

Crimson1 posted: if all Syders residents stopped shopping at the enormous Savacentre which has contributed to bleeding Sydenham High street dry - and instead do our shopping more locally i.e. from the shops all down the High street

And Will posted Will:

So..we should support restaurants that serve sub standard food?

I totally agree with Will. I don't think we should support any business that we don't like. It's all well and good moaning about the Savacentre, but local business has to try and compete and find a USP to draw customers away from large brands. Judging by the way most present themselves they simply don't care.

Sainbury's are successful because they are offering what people want. I don't think there is a great selection in the high street. I get bit's and bobs there on my way home, but that's about it. It certainly DOESN'T attract people to it. Sydenham high street ISN'T a destination and to friends that don't live in Sydenham it's often the butt of jokes (which irritates me greatly).

I like Sainbury's, if it wasn't there, I wouldn't get all my groceries form the high street, like most people I'd go somewhere else where I can get every thing in one go (and Sainbury's products are superior to other brands like Tesco, a brand I dislike).

A high street isn't a charity. There are some great businesses in Sydenham but also some bad ones. Local business has to EARN your loyalty. Tratorria has earned mine, as has the Blue Mountain, Garam Masala, Ghurkas, the dry cleaners near the post office, Mustis pound shop (which isnt a pound shop, it's a fantastic local hardware store), Kirkdale book shop, and Sugahill (try their hot chocolate, it's wonderful).

Others seem to be doing their best to turn me away from their door. One dry cleaning business has a mouldy water stained wedding dress in it's window. How many shops don't even have a sign above their door? grumble all you like about large supermarkets, but the bottom line is, they are here to stay, people like them, high streets must try harder. East Dulwich did, and that has a mix of independent business for all.

[admin]

No problem Lee.

Except it looks like one old established business we will no longer be able to support. And they themselves did support many Sydenham events in the past ...
http://www.woosterstock.co.uk/DetailLet.php?id=6136

Admin

[paultreacy]

Sugahill is brilliant. Great coffee too. Consistently. And they have free wifi which is well smart. Blue Mountain also a nice spot. I like Snappy Snaps and there's a good cobbler on the Hight Street too. There's enormous potential in Sydenham, don't you think?
Paul Treacy
http://paultreacy.com

[Chazza]

Another thumbs up for Sugahill. Excellent service and good-quality, well-priced food and drinks, a definite asset to Sydders. I'd add Blue Mountain, Kirkdale Bookshop and Sydenham DIY to that list too, as well as The Dolphin, Ghurkas and the Trattoria. Even the "good" pound shop is a useful thing to have. Out of interest, which is the "friendly" laundrette that I've seen posts about?

Still looking forward to the new indoor market, hopefully it will attract some good stallholders. I'm tempted to set up a stall myself, seems like it would be a good way to indulge my fantasy of making a bit of cash out of serving good food, without the risks associated with starting up a cafe or bar.

[crimson1]

There's a growing list here of what's good about Sydenham Road.

As for groceries and food, OK Somerfield might not offer the choice of the super duper enormous Savacentre, but it's well within walking distance and keeps me on the high street. I might hop across to the Superdrug for toiletries etc and then meander over to The Blue Mouontain for a cup of tea. There's "WellBeing" health food shop with the wonderfully chattyand friendly shop owner - (don't know his name). I go to Hassan's shoe heelers shop (cobblers) to get my shoes/boots fixed at a reasonable price.
Kirkdale Bookshop is a always a treasure to visit.

It just means that my family and I have to plan a little more and resist the temptation of entering the enormous totally soulless shopping experience that is Sainsburys (anyone watched "Dawn of the Dead?").

I agree that we should expect better quality standards from our shops but that means taking interest in the ones that do offer that quality and gently urging the others to follow suit.

I really don't want to see our local high street killed off.

[natbeuk]

It's not exactly the high street, but what about That's Amore? Definitely the friendliest, most welcoming restaurant I've ever eaten at, and the grub's great too.

[crimson1]

Haven't tried Thats Amore.

But I love Garam masala, Trattoria and Gurkas. Would be great if we had a decent Tapas bar too. Golden City needs a "sprucing up" in my view - it's a little tired and food in my opinion isn't too great.

Candessa clothes shop on the high street offers a good reasonably priced range of clothes with a window display that's always smart and stylish.

[Juwlz]

That's Amore is fantastic. I must remember to go there amore often.

[lambchops]

that's amore is great.

wicked take away, too.

[G-Man]

Really refreshing to read this and remember we do have some quality on the high street/sydenham road.

Please don't forget the Green Grocers, the couple that run it are both really accomodating, their produce is good and they provide a real service, including, from some of the conversations I've over heard agony aunt and uncle!

Cheers

G-Man

[leenewham]

I do think that there are a few good businesses in the high street, BUT there are far too many poor ones.

Hopefully the empty shops will be replaced by more good ones catering for what people want, rather than trying to take trade from an idenitcal business that already exists.

[Barty]

Mixed views of the high street from me.

Discovered the barbers on Wednesday, then discovered that I needed a woolly hat and discovered Paulro's. Pleasurable experiences both.

Then set out this afternoon for some Pepsi Max from Scummerfield and found they'd run out.

So it was off to Savacentre - sorry folks!

I've said it before, though, and I'll say it again......there's more in Syd than there is in Forest Hill

[sophie]

Savacentre alone is not responsible for the demise of the high street. I moved to the area before the Savacentre was there and the shops were mostly pretty dismal then. Safeway was always ropey and actually only spruced up, in my opinion, a few years before they closed! They always seemed to have the fruit and veg that nobody else would sell as it was so manky!

The fishmongers was good but I didn't go there as often as I should have done I know. Not because I suddenly bought all fish from Sainsbury's but because I don't buy enough fish full stop. I think there has been a general decline in fish buying in this country anyway hasn't there?

When I first lived here I didn't eat red meat so never visited the butchers so Savacentre didn't get that business from me either. I do shop at Boots and Superdrug and the local pharmacy opposite Superdrug on occasion and also the Health Food Shop. I also used to buy all of my cards and most of my presents from the Pet Shop when they sold Fairtrade items (anyone remember that?) I used to use the 7-11 in whatever guise it was and also the hsop that was, I think, Aladdin's Cave next to Boots. Can't remember what it's called now even though I still pop in - might even still be Aladdin's Cave!!!

I think one problem is peoples laziness (mine included) and lack of high street parking although this is considerably better than at the time of the Savacentre opening. I wouldn't object to paying to park on the high street if it meant I could stay for an hour and then do all my bits and bobs. 20 minutes isn't long enough (you spend that long in the Post Office or bank queue!) and my laziness makes it a chore to park in the car park! Although I do use it and am making more effort to use it so I can use local shops.

And then of course there is the option of walking to the High Street but again laziness gets in the way! And also the time factor as I never seem to give myself enough time to do the chores I need to do but will spend ages wandering about Savacentre when I go there! I think they must hypnotise you or something when you go in as I will easily lose over an hour there without noticing as I wander around the aisles ...

I'm now just rambling. Sorry.

Anyway, yes support local businesses!

[dinc]

For me i think we should give our support to local shops .I like going to chef delight for good fry up or nice lunch or grill or nice panncake,icecrem dessert, nice cup of fresh bean lavazza latte coffee .So this is my reasen that we shuold give our local to support.
Few shop that i like going somerfield,market,bakery, chef delight ,news agent ,apalanda,superdrug,

[robin419]

For me i think we should give our support to local shops .I like going to chef delight for good fry up or nice lunch or grill or nice panncake,icecrem dessert, nice cup of fresh bean lavazza latte coffee .So this is my reasen that we shuold give our local to support.
Few shop that i like going somerfield,market,bakery, chef delight ,news agent ,apalanda,superdrug,

I completely agree. It's super important to spend the extra bit of money to help with the small businesses. Of course, the good ones. But, it moves into economics, where, if there isn't the extra effort to support the small people, then it is easier for them to close, with only the bigger supermarkets and stores in place. The problem with these is that everything is the same and manufactured. There's no charm or delight in shopping with these. And, if that is supported, the business owners get hurt, and there are huge problems.

[leenewham]

All shops have to earn our trade and support.

Lots of shops in the high street don't seem much bothered. Some don't even have a sign.

Just because something is a large brand doesn't make them bad. They still employ lots of people and can be more ethical than small businesses.

The point I'm making is that, despite a couple of great small businesses in the high street, a lot of them need to try a hell of a lot harder.

[robin419]

All shops have to earn our trade and support.

Lots of shops in the high street don't seem much bothered. Some don't even have a sign.

Just because something is a large brand doesn't make them bad. They still employ lots of people and can be more ethical than small businesses.

The point I'm making is that, despite a couple of great small businesses in the high street, a lot of them need to try a hell of a lot harder.

Yes, you are correct about the large brands... they can be ethical and help with employment. And yes, the shops should earn support.

But it is also a two way deal. Shops can't thrive and grow unless there is support coming in. They rely on customers to be loyal to them and taking the extra time to favour them. I know because I've had a business before, and I couldn't invest unless I had customer support first, so you learn not to care, and do the best with what you are earning.

I think what it comes to is a changing economy, where there has to be a sense of support from the community first, before businesses are successful. That way, the bad ones can get weeded out.