You are right in your examples there bensonby but as with any argument you choose specific examples to lend credence to your argument. Nothing wrong with that. I cannot comment on the establishments in and around Home Park as I am rarely, if ever, there.
But if we look at the High St that chicken shop by 'Party Days' has changed hands 4 times from one abomination to another in the past year. The salon up by it has gone to the wall and DiverCity is forever closing down/opening up. East and West always has more staff than customers. There's just 4 examples of shops in a small area that really aren't thriving. That must tell us seomething, especially as business' at the other end of the scale seem to be packing them in?
I'm not denying there are certain parts of Sydders than want these types of business'. Just they aren't in a majority - as increasingly seen by the poor trade they are doing. When I walk up and down it the only business' doing any trade are the decent ones. Yes, let's call them what they are.
Anyway - I'm having a shocker on University Challenge tonight. I've hardly gotten any questions correct.
no more Pound Shops and fried chicken places!
Its a recurring theme on here; wishlists of shops that people want that nobody ever opens and some businesses that people on here don't like the look of but that appear to thrive.
Lee was giving Wearabouts a hard time recently because of its sign but last month it had queues outside so why should they but a new sign; they're coining it in already. Similarly the pound shops; they obviously do good business at present so haven't the inclination to invest in making their frontage appeal to a demographic that wouldn't use them anyway.
Barbers and fast food outlets have the lowest barriers to entry of any businesses; cheap to open, don't require a massive investment in stock and if you can buy one already fitted out. They are also the businesses that statistically are most likely to fail.
Lokal thrived for years but then another larger Turkish opened over the road (now a Mexican) and they thought they could change their offering; didn't work. People see the barbers and chicken shops doing well and think they will have a go but cannot really compete.
Anyway, what people fail to grasp is that there are between 15,000 and 20,000 people living in Sydenham, of which a minority come on here demanding "porper shops" while the vast majority want discounted international phone cards; fried chicken and cheap consumables from £1 shops.
Lee was giving Wearabouts a hard time recently because of its sign but last month it had queues outside so why should they but a new sign; they're coining it in already. Similarly the pound shops; they obviously do good business at present so haven't the inclination to invest in making their frontage appeal to a demographic that wouldn't use them anyway.
Barbers and fast food outlets have the lowest barriers to entry of any businesses; cheap to open, don't require a massive investment in stock and if you can buy one already fitted out. They are also the businesses that statistically are most likely to fail.
Lokal thrived for years but then another larger Turkish opened over the road (now a Mexican) and they thought they could change their offering; didn't work. People see the barbers and chicken shops doing well and think they will have a go but cannot really compete.
Anyway, what people fail to grasp is that there are between 15,000 and 20,000 people living in Sydenham, of which a minority come on here demanding "porper shops" while the vast majority want discounted international phone cards; fried chicken and cheap consumables from £1 shops.
I'd certainly be horrifed if people thought I was saying that these business' shouldn't be here. When people talk about 'variety' I just think the High St has tipped too far in favour of one demographic.simon wrote: Anyway, what people fail to grasp is that there are between 15,000 and 20,000 people living in Sydenham, of which a minority come on here demanding "porper shops" while the vast majority want discounted international phone cards; fried chicken and cheap consumables from £1 shops.
I thought Wearabouts stocked the School Uniform for all the local schools? This is doubtless why it's popular.
As mentioned, from chatting to a fair amount of people down the years there are two 'camps', if you will. Camp A think Sydenham High St is wonderful. Camp B think Sydenham High St doesn't serve their wants and they shop in Waitrose/Dulwich/Town or wherever. They've 'turned their back on Sydenham Road' - it's a phrase I hear all too often.
Let's say it's a 50/50 split? In reality I think it's higher but won't say on which side. Does the High Street show this split? I do a lot of shopping on Northcote Road. The shops there serve both the estates of Clapham North and the people who live on and around the Commom. They've got the 'balance' right - we haven't - nowhere near.
Some of the people tell me they haven't walked up and down the High St for years and only on neighbourly reccomendation did they find places like x,y,z. This is where we need to win the battle for hearts and minds after the High St improvements have finished.
I won't say which camp I think I am in as after my horrendous score watching University Challenge last night I might think I'm one camp but in reality I might be another
I feel we must have shops for all requirements.
my pet hates are.
1. Nail shops. If you cannot cut your own nails go to a chiropodist
2. Tanning studios. At a loss to understand why anyone would ever risk their health to go to one of these places
3. Tattoo parlours. Words fail me . Not sure while people feel the need to pay to have their body destroyed.
With regards to 2 and 3 they should be charged by NHS if problem arrises due to these places.
Chicken shops not a great problem as long as only a poultry number of them
my pet hates are.
1. Nail shops. If you cannot cut your own nails go to a chiropodist
2. Tanning studios. At a loss to understand why anyone would ever risk their health to go to one of these places
3. Tattoo parlours. Words fail me . Not sure while people feel the need to pay to have their body destroyed.
With regards to 2 and 3 they should be charged by NHS if problem arrises due to these places.
Chicken shops not a great problem as long as only a poultry number of them
Did I?simon wrote:.
Lee was giving Wearabouts a hard time recently because of its sign but last month it had queues outside so why should they but a new sign; they're coining it in already.
I said that they spent money on refitting the shop but from the outside it looked the same. That doesn't make sense to me. It could be much better.
Plus the fact that there are loads of schools around here and they sell school uniforms might explain the cues.
I don't get this 'lets not bother trying to improve stuff' mentality.
One reason lots of shops 'fail' is because of competition from brands. Brands know about creating a good shopping experience. They do research, find out what customers want, don't like or would change.
Local shops can do that too. It does make a difference.
Any local retailers, it's worth buying this book: Why We Buy: The Science Of Shopping by Paco Underhill.
For instance have you heard of 'butt brush'? In supermarkets aisles that people (particularly women) spend more time in are now wider after research showed that women would move and leave products on shelf if someone brushed past them 2 times.
Sleep buying is when shoppers pass lots of shelves and offers while they are thinking what to buy. That's why now when you go many supermarkets there is a great big piles of stuff in front of you to stop you and grab your attention. Asda have 'greeters' which is a similar thing.
It's an interesting book. Although 100 Years of Solitude it is not!
100% Agree. Great atmosphere there, pleasant environment, great mix of shops.Ulysses wrote:simon wrote: I do a lot of shopping on Northcote Road. The shops there serve both the estates of Clapham North and the people who live on and around the Commom. They've got the 'balance' right - we haven't - nowhere near.