Physical Retail Shops - Is it worth it?

[Ryan_Max]

Hello all,

I'm currently weighing up the idea of opening a retail store in either Hessle or Beverley, East Yorkshire. Primarily focusing on football related products... such as football boots, club replica shirts, training wear and training equipment but i'm having doubts as to whether it would work long term due to the dying nature of high street shopping and everything turning to ecommerce.

I have done a bit of research and there is nothing, i mean absolutely nothing that offers this type of experience in the flesh apart from the big chains like Sports Direct and the online companies such as Prodirect Sports. There may be a reason for this, either good or bad but Sports Direct is usually sat in the middle of a town centre and requires customers to plan their day around a trip to a sports shop and when it comes to online, football boots can be difficult to get right with the sizing. Some boots suit narrow feet, some suit wide feet players and so on...

The thought process behind my idea is that the product inventory that i would potentially be stocking is a constant attraction to the local grassroots clubs and football is always a topic of conversation for the majority of the public. I manage a grassroots club myself and its a growing market for the next generation of young kids.

I'm just wondering what you guys on here would suggest to my idea... is it worth it or should i leave the idea?

 

[Ozzy]

Hi @Ryan_Max and welcome.
Reading your post I have the same concerns you start with, and I'd urge caution not to allow your own passion for the sport and product to cloud any judgement. The 'high street' is passing away with e-commerce, and more and more people buy online and the tools online are getting better and better to resolve issues such as sizing/fitting.

Many clothes retailers offer free returns and exchanges with the returns being collected from your home, no need to take to a drop off point for example. So easy and convenient, and that is what you're up against with a physical store location.

The exception to this would be if you were located in easy walking distance from a major football ground or sports facility, you may benefit from passing trade - but again, if you can deliver this online I personally feel you'd have a more sustainable business with lower overheads.

There is a reason outlets like Sports Direct you mention are consolidating all their separate brands into one location. Who'd have thought 10 years ago Frasers and Jack Wills would have ended up being departments inside a Sports Direct store!

 

[Ryan_Max]

Hi @Ryan_Max and welcome.
Reading your post I have the same concerns you start with, and I'd urge caution not to allow your own passion for the sport and product to cloud any judgement. The 'high street' is passing away with e-commerce, and more and more people buy online and the tools online are getting better and better to resolve issues such as sizing/fitting.

Many clothes retailers offer free returns and exchanges with the returns being collected from your home, no need to take to a drop off point for example. So easy and convenient, and that is what you're up against with a physical store location.

The exception to this would be if you were located in easy walking distance from a major football ground or sports facility, you may benefit from passing trade - but again, if you can deliver this online I personally feel you'd have a more sustainable business with lower overheads.

There is a reason outlets like Sports Direct you mention are consolidating all their separate brands into one location. Who'd have thought 10 years ago Frasers and Jack Wills would have ended up being departments inside a Sports Direct store!

Thanks for your response.

It's handy to know, the issue i have with trying it online is that brands like Nike, Adidas and PUMA all require you to hold a physical store, i may need to look into it more and see what options there is i can utilise should i turn to an online store...

 

[John Martin]

I would suggest doing some market research first.

As you're already involved with a club that's a good place to start. You could do a survey and ask people where they currently buy their boots, along with other questions such as, how convenient is it, what's most important to them (price, convenience, returns, trying on the boots), what problems do they have, what would make the experience better, etc.

Once you have a good idea of what your target audience wants, then you can decide if it's going to be viable of not.

Also, you might want to consider selling on line in addition to your physical shop. You'll reach a wider audience and people who live not too far away might like the option of coming in to the shop.

As you grow, you might also want to think about selling other related items such as football kits, balls, etc. This should increase the spend value of each customer.

 

[Ryan_Max]

I would suggest doing some market research first.

As you're already involved with a club that's a good place to start. You could do a survey and ask people where they currently buy their boots, along with other questions such as, how convenient is it, what's most important to them (price, convenience, returns, trying on the boots), what problems do they have, what would make the experience better, etc.

Once you have a good idea of what you're target audience wants, then you can decide if it's going to be viable of not.

Also, you might want to consider selling on line in addition to your physical shop. You'll reach a wider audience and people who live not too far away might like the option of coming in to the shop.

As you grow, you might also want to think about selling other related items such as football kits, balls, etc. This should increase the spend value of each customer.

Ill definitely take this onboard, ill start putting some questions together and sending them out to managers and parents of the players and seeing what the results are... I was going to open a website along side the physical store which i guess will be a timely process, i just need to make the right decision and make sure it wont land me in the mud if it goes wrong

 

[DontAsk]

I wouldn't do it in Hessle or Beverley unless you definitely have an on-line presence. Too little footfall and too far out on a limb in East Yorkshire. I say that as a proud Yorkshireman.

 

[Ryan_Max]

I wouldn't do it in Hessle or Beverley unless you definitely have an on-line presence. Too little footfall and too far out on a limb in East Yorkshire. I say that as a proud Yorkshireman.

Its part of the plan to build a website, i think the only thing that would fall in my favour is the lack of competition in the area apart from obviously the likes of Sports Direct in Hull City Centre and Kingswood. If i built the brand up and built a hype and anticipation around it launching, i think it could work but i need to do more research, starting in the club i manage

 

[thetiger2015]

You ideally need both, online and retail but it's sometimes better to build your audience using a website and social media first, then hop over to renting a shop for growth.

With shops, they have a high amount of wasted costs - fitting out, rent, rates (sometimes zero rated), energy, that's all before you make a £1.

Websites, you can get them built for you for about £1 or £2k and give it 12 months to see how much interest you can get. Gradually improving and growing your range but keeping an eye on the fact you want to do retail in year 2, so don't go too crazy with your product range, or you'll end up having to rent a huge shop.

 

[WaveJumper]

II would say do a lot more research before you even think of jumping into a retail unit, personally I just don't see this working. Online maybe the best route to market.

I know slightly different, but I did many a deal back in the day with some major league clubs, they would sell both their kit and other paraphernalia plus match day tickets, you would believe like they did having a unit on the high street and with their huge following they would clean up. Alas this was never the case sadly they never lasted that long at all.

Worth thinking about some other major 'past times' where are they selling their wares these days

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Without wishing to be negative, I think you'd be on a massive uphill struggle here. As Ozzy said, try not to let your own enthusiasm for the sport/topic cloud things here.

For a start the stock holding I'd imagine would be massive - X number of brands, times by Y number of styles, all times by Z number of shoe size (or shirt size etc).... must get into eye watering figures. That's assuming you can get the brands to supply you the product and even if you do, you won't be buying on the same terms as Sports Direct et al.

I know you say there local grassroots clubs. As some easy market research, weigh up how many there are and how many kids play in each. Let's say it's 1000 (I'm making figures up), and they need a new pair of boots say every year? How many of those 1000 will buy a brand new pair as oppose to hand-me-downs from their older sibling? Of the remaining ones buying a brand new pair, how many can you tempt to come to you rather than Sports Direct or online (and how?). I'd imagine you'll be left with a small %. What margin do you need to make on each of those sales to cover your rent, costs, and pay yourself a wage?

Don't forget despite what kids might WANT, the buying decision is often going to be made by the parents (in fact I'm reminded of this Peter Kay sketch ). Times are tough, money is tight, and they know they're going to be able to go into Sports Direct and get something at the lowest price even if it isn't quite what the kid wants.

Theres likely to be product that you can't even get hold of or compete on even if the brands supply you. I tend to wear Adidas trainers day to day (Stan Smith, Gazelle etc rather than sports trainers....I think used to be referred to as tennis shoes!) but I've noticed something over the last couple of years - you can buy GENUINE "Adidas" trainers in Sports Direct. They're Stan Smith type "stylee" but they're just a generic, plain-ish Adidas trainer in a choice of basic colours. SD knock them out at £20-£40 a pair "reduced from £80" (all year round!). They're not the same quality as the named Adidas shoes but they're genuine and they look OK and do a job (ideal for me as I wear them so often I need a new pair every couple of months). What's clear is that these basic trainers are being manufactured by Adidas specifically for Sports Direct, to a certain price point. SD get to advertise "Adidas trainers from £20" and Adidas get firm orders probably in the millions of £ for a trainer at a specific entry-level price point.

To the untrained eye (and indeed the thrifty parent) if their kid wants some Adidas shoes and they're £100 in an independent shop or there's some similar-ish looking ones for £30 in SD....I can pretty much guarantee which ones they're buying.

As I say, not wishing to be negative but I think trying to open a retail store on the proviso that "Sports Direct is usually sat in the middle of a town centre and requires customers to plan their day around a trip to a sports shop" is a pretty weak idea. I have to say I'm also not sure about that statement - many Sports Direct are on out-of-town retail stores with an abundance of free parking right outside.

 

[Ryan_Max]

You ideally need both, online and retail but it's sometimes better to build your audience using a website and social media first, then hop over to renting a shop for growth.

With shops, they have a high amount of wasted costs - fitting out, rent, rates (sometimes zero rated), energy, that's all before you make a £1.

Websites, you can get them built for you for about £1 or £2k and give it 12 months to see how much interest you can get. Gradually improving and growing your range but keeping an eye on the fact you want to do retail in year 2, so don't go too crazy with your product range, or you'll end up having to rent a huge shop.

Thats the main thing that puts me off really, the amount you put into a retail shop before you even make a sale, plus its not even guaranteed you will sell anything... online is probably my best route looking at the thread

 

[John Martin]

To the untrained eye (and indeed the thrifty parent) if their kid wants some Adidas shoes and they're £100 in an independent shop or there's some similar-ish looking ones for £30 in SD....I can pretty much guarantee which ones they're buying.

The other problem is that there are loads of knock-off's of major brands like Adidas being sold on Amazon, ebay, facebook, etc, at cheaper prices.

I know, I used to be an Amazon seller, but sadly it has now been taken over by China and the vast majority of the sellers on there are based in China. Amazon couldn't care less if they're selling knock-off's and even if they do ban them, some of these Chinese companies have dozens of accounts, so they just carry on selling under a different account.

Then you have other's who make a living out of importing knock-off's and selling them on. There was one on here only yesterday advertising their website which was dedicated to importing high-end luxury knock-off's. (I think they were banned pretty swiftly).

 

[MOIC]

@Ryan_Max


Welcome to UKBF.


My thoughts . . . .


Bricks & Mortar shop to start with - NO!

1. Get your website perfected first. Great photos are a must!
2. Create an e-commerce store - choose a platform that suits your products.
3. Budget for marketing.
4. Start selling.

Negatives of a bricks & mortar shop:

• Lease - massive headache!
• Shop fit out.
• Staffing.
• Insurance.
• Utilities.
• Business rates.
• . . . . and the list goes on.

Start small.

Stay within your comfort zone.

Stay within your budget.

After a year, you can start experimenting with trade fairs.

Get to know your market and target audience first.

It takes time.

I wish you luck with your new venture.

 

[Mark T Jones]

My starting point would be to do some preliminary numbers (round 1, best guess) - that will give some indication of how much kit you need to sell to make it viable.

The 'death of the High Street' is highly misleading - you need to focus on a specific High Street - footfall, demographic, spending habits etc, all of which will differ massively from one town to another

 

[fisicx]

Primarily focusing on football related products...such as football boots, club replica shirts, training wear and training equipment but i'm having doubts as to whether it would work long term due to the dying nature of high street shopping and everything turning to ecommerce.

Where to people normally buy this stuff?

My brother used to work for a sports training business and they brought everything online. The idea of going to a shop to buy kit was an alien concept to them.

 

[FreddyG]

is it worth it or should i leave the idea?

@MOIC gave the perfect short answer. Beverly is a charming small market town, but the rents and rates are high and you will have to sell a shed-load of boots and T-shirts before you have covered your fixed costs. And your Beverly shop can only offer footer boots to the folks in and around Beverly! An online shop is nationwide.

And if your customers are like me, they will buy everything except fresh food online.

My first thought/doubt is that sports clothing, etc., is geared to huge orders. China has thousands of boot/shoe makers and they are geared to delivering shoes/boots/shirts, etc., in lots of X-thousands. As you are the polar opposite of a huge multiple, able to buy 10,000 pairs at $10 a pair, that puts you at a huge disadvantage when compared with the leading movers and shakers in the retail sports market.

I do not have an intimate knowledge of the sports kit market, but I assume that it is structured the same way as nearly every other retail market, from musical instruments, to chainsaws and from TV sets to washing machines - they all give substantial bulk order rebates that benefit the larger retailers.

Nearly every non-food retail market is brand-driven. One or two market leaders, some minor brands and cheap stuff beyond that. The market leaders usually insist that you have a full-time High Street presence and agree to minimum orders. They also play the shelf-squatting game of large annual rebates for turnover - all paid for with credit notes for the following year.

That means that a large multiple and/or box-shifter can sell at more or less the wholesale price and make up the profit at the end of the year by having sold millions of pounds worth of kit.

Retail is a tough old sandbox to play in!

 

[DoolallyTap]

You answer your own question, the big chains like Sports Direct and the online companies such as Prodirect Sports. how are you going to compete unless you have very deep pockets.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Do simple research.

Work out the operational costs - rent, rates, staff, utilities
Work out the average profit per item sold (choose some boots or a top - whatever you might sell the most of).
Calculate how many items you would need to sell per month/year to cover those costs.

You will probably be shocked!

 

[FreddyG]

You will probably be shocked!

You will also be shocked by two other things - the prices the box-shifters are asking and who you will be up against.

Adidas Grand Court Shoes (RRP £70) £31.50 (Adidas online shop)
Adidas Predator Club (RRP £50) £26 (Sports Direct)

Nike are the same - the prices are at rock-bottom and roughly at wholesale + VAT AND you would be up against the manufacturers themselves. Rinse and repeat for all the other stuff, shorts, shirts, socks, balls, whatever. And everything online is between 28% and 50% off with someone out there!

Right now, there are HUGE business opportunities, especially those made possible by AI agents. But retail ain't one of them!

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I have some first hand experience of footwear retail, albeit from 20+ years ago. My web guy created what was then believed to be the first online footwear store in the UK to support 2 established bricks and mortar high street shops and I had a site developed to sell footwear for a niche sport.

I had out of town premises where local customers could click and collect, but I didn't formally retail. I'd let them try stuff on which wasted time..... and stockholding was always an issue. A single brand, 3 styles, 4 colours, 15 sizes and needing more than a pair of each of the popular sizes meant having at least 200 pairs (£4k worth) in stock. I think I've still got some stock of the sizes that didn't sell.

You'd probably be better off selling kit with boots as an accessory. Visit clubs with samples and take orders accordingly.

Get your calculator out whichever way you go!

 

[lesliedocherty]

Thanks for your response.

It's handy to know, the issue i have with trying it online is that brands like Nike, Adidas and PUMA all require you to hold a physical store, i may need to look into it more and see what options there is i can utilise should i turn to an online store...

Three to five years ago, brands were all about direct-to-consumer and closing accounts, but now they have realised they still need a physical presence or a touch point and are willing to open accounts with stores doing the right thing.

If you are opening a trail running store, you can get all the brands you want as that's the thing just now, a football focussed store sounds quite pure and something that brands could get behind, but you may find the more prominent brands will say no 'at first' as they want to see you trading well, so you may need to focus on smaller brands first.

 

[Porky]

See my threads on "Race to the bottom" a big factor will be something you sell in your shop with a decent margin, the buyer checking the price online and you finding the next minute every man and uncle selling the same product at ever reducing prices and a couple of idiots thrown in selling at a loss - you seriously can't make it up.

The only way to combat this is having something totally unique that is not so easy to copy/ stock and even better if its a regular repeat item. Barriers to entry higher manufacturer minimum orders to put off would be jonnys

Offering that unique service is fabulous but in this climate for every person that would appreciate going to you, checking out your stock there will be nine others seeing if they can get the same item online for less.

I totally get your passion and its a beautiful thing and I don't want to sound pessimistic but I think the days of physical retail shops are over, the overheads are obscene, shop lifting off the scale and the price wars from online a killer - trying to make a physical shop viable will be tough imo. Make sure you put together a realistic business plan and properly cost this venture.

Really wish you well, take care

Pork's

 

[Buryblue]

I think this is a good idea if you specialise selling the clothing and equipment related to football, cricket, basketball, squash, running etc. I would even consider providing video gait analysis and biomechanical assessment for when customers purchase running shoes. Also consider partnering with sporst clubs to sell their club shirts/shorts etc.

 

[MarkOnline]

I think that the risk is too great, margins will be poor, turnover will be sporadic and your bills will continue to come in. If you think the idea has merit then test it, put aside some money you can afford to lose and test your idea on social media (as an example) and offer something football related for sale and see who parts with their money.

Good luck, if this doesnt work ( I hope it does btw) there will be other opportunities that present themselves, keeping hold of your money for use on something that is more profit focussed rather than turnover focussed will put you in a much better position in the future.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I agree that the risk is too great without testing beforehand.

Look at a pop up store/very short term lease, market or similar, where the risk is managed and controllable.

Multiyear leases and service contracts are not a good thing before proof of concept.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I think this is a good idea if you specialise selling the clothing and equipment related to football, cricket, basketball, squash, running etc. I would even consider providing video gait analysis and biomechanical assessment for when customers purchase running shoes. Also consider partnering with sporst clubs to sell their club shirts/shorts etc.

It's good thinking, the type that differentiate 'me too' from real business.

It does still require research though

 

[Ryan_Max]

Hi all,

Thanks for your feedback and words of advice, I have taken everyone's comments on board and ive decided to start small and begin with an online store, that way if it doesn't work i haven't got much to lose compared to what I would lose if i started a physical store... I've just agreed with a major goalkeeper brand that premier league goalkeepers are using so we are making headway already...

Perhaps its about scaling it slowly, learning to walk before running etc

 

[Great Food Van]

Hi all,

Thanks for your feedback and words of advice, I have taken everyone's comments on board and ive decided to start small and begin with an online store, that way if it doesn't work i haven't got much to lose compared to what I would lose if i started a physical store... I've just agreed with a major goalkeeper brand that premier league goalkeepers are using so we are making headway already...

Perhaps its about scaling it slowly, learning to walk before running etc

Unfortunately I think small retail is dead in the water. The retail giants have most things boxed off both off and online. Online you are like a grain of sand, even drop shipping has so much competition Sorry if this sounds negative but I'm just being real

 

[Ryan_Max]

Unfortunately I think small retail is dead in the water. The retail giants have most things boxed off both off and online. Online you are like a grain of sand, even drop shipping has so much competition Sorry if this sounds negative but I'm just being real

I agree with that but i suppose each of those companies started off small like any of us... Albeit years ago and have the contacts

 

[MOIC]

'Years ago'

A monumental difference!

 

[Mark T Jones]

What you need to know

B&M retail isn't dead.

Pubs aren't dead

The High Street isn't dead.

That's the start of an extremely long list of not dead things. (AKA 'reports of their death have been greatly exagerated').

In common with most of business, they are evolving and changing. The variables are the nature and pace of change. As a business owner, your job is to watch, interpret and adapt.

As an aside, IMO, the biggest change of a generation is in the past, a mix of the growth of online supercharged with a period of enforced online shopping.

The trend is now stabilised - watch, listen and adapt .

 

[Great Food Van]

I agree with that but i suppose each of those companies started off small like any of us... Albeit years ago and have the contacts

Things were very different years ago I personally wish we could go back. I have seen so many business, including my own and those that traded off the back of me go to the wall (apart from my own shop and website, we supplied over 100 small retail shops and websites with our products). Many, including myself invested heavily and lost everything, including our homes. I'm talking back in 2008 but have seen it get a whole lot worse since then (even the giants are going out of business left, right and centre). After the event someone said to me, "Don't ever gamble unless you can afford to lose" ... Wisest words ever

 

[Great Food Van]

What you need to know

B&M retail isn't dead.

Pubs aren't dead

The High Street isn't dead.

That's the start of an extremely long list of not dead things. (AKA 'reports of their death have been greatly exagerated').

In common with most of business, they are evolving and changing. The variables are the nature and pace of change. As a business owner, your job is to watch, interpret and adapt.

As an aside, IMO, the biggest change of a generation is in the past, a mix of the growth of online supercharged with a period of enforced online shopping.

The trend is now stabilised - watch, listen and adapt .

Look at the history of B&M stores including when they started.

Pubs, according to a quick Google search: In the last 40 years, the UK has lost approximately 20,000 pubs. Specifically, since 2000, over 13,000 pubs have closed, representing a quarter of all pubs in the UK. In 2024 alone, over 400 pubs in England and Wales closed, and over 2,250 pubs have closed since 2019. This trend of closures is ongoing, with more pubs closing than opening in recent years.

The High Street ... again according to Google: Several major high street chains have recently collapsed or announced closures, including Select Fashion, MaxiDeals, Quiz Clothing, and WHSmith. These closures are part of a broader trend of struggling high street retailers, with rising costs, a tough trading environment, and changing consumer spending habits cited as contributing factors.

They are not evolving but being replaced and not by small start ups.

 

[MOIC]

Look at the history of B&M stores including when they started.

Pubs, according to a quick Google search: In the last 40 years, the UK has lost approximately 20,000 pubs. Specifically, since 2000, over 13,000 pubs have closed, representing a quarter of all pubs in the UK. In 2024 alone, over 400 pubs in England and Wales closed, and over 2,250 pubs have closed since 2019. This trend of closures is ongoing, with more pubs closing than opening in recent years.

The High Street ... again according to Google: Several major high street chains have recently collapsed or announced closures, including Select Fashion, MaxiDeals, Quiz Clothing, and WHSmith. These closures are part of a broader trend of struggling high street retailers, with rising costs, a tough trading environment, and changing consumer spending habits cited as contributing factors.

They are not evolving but being replaced and not by small start ups.

This

 

[Mark T Jones]

Look at the history of B&M stores including when they started.

Pubs, according to a quick Google search: In the last 40 years, the UK has lost approximately 20,000 pubs. Specifically, since 2000, over 13,000 pubs have closed, representing a quarter of all pubs in the UK. In 2024 alone, over 400 pubs in England and Wales closed, and over 2,250 pubs have closed since 2019. This trend of closures is ongoing, with more pubs closing than opening in recent years.

The High Street ... again according to Google: Several major high street chains have recently collapsed or announced closures, including Select Fashion, MaxiDeals, Quiz Clothing, and WHSmith. These closures are part of a broader trend of struggling high street retailers, with rising costs, a tough trading environment, and changing consumer spending habits cited as contributing factors.

They are not evolving but being replaced and not by small start ups.

Stats are always fun aren't they.

Re pubs: Prior to Covid (subsequent stats are a bit messy & skewed) The number of pubs has been in steady decline since the 60s - particularly troubled were suburban pubs - and later country pubs, when groups of youngsters discovered it was cheaper & a lot more fun to jump in an Uber and head into town than mixing with a bunch of old fogeys in their local.
To counter that trend- Pub capacity and footfall was actually growing as so-called super-pubs in town centres replaced little suburban ones.

And overall spend in pubs consistently grew way ahead of inflation. Change, not death.

Despite the cosat of living crisis, spend is still consistent (though they are having a particularly tough time with overheads)

High Street retail - Big, tired brands are losing the battle. Department stares have had it. Shops need a clear purpose.

Savvy town planners are understanding and latching onto themes - which may or may not embrace small independents. Example - if the theme is up-market fashion, independents may struggle to get a foothold. If it's more art, or foodie then there is plenty of scope for independents. As has always been the case, you can't beat the big boys at their game, you have to invent your own game.

 

[Great Food Van]

Stats are always fun aren't they.

Re pubs: Prior to Covid (subsequent stats are a bit messy & skewed) The number of pubs has been in steady decline since the 60s - particularly troubled were suburban pubs - and later country pubs, when groups of youngsters discovered it was cheaper & a lot more fun to jump in an Uber and head into town than mixing with a bunch of old fogeys in their local.
To counter that trend- Pub capacity and footfall was actually growing as so-called super-pubs in town centres replaced little suburban ones.

And overall spend in pubs consistently grew way ahead of inflation. Change, not death.

Despite the cosat of living crisis, spend is still consistent (though they are having a particularly tough time with overheads)

High Street retail - Big, tired brands are losing the battle. Department stares have had it. Shops need a clear purpose.

Savvy town planners are understanding and latching onto themes - which may or may not embrace small independents. Example - if the theme is up-market fashion, independents may struggle to get a foothold. If it's more art, or foodie then there is plenty of scope for independents. As has always been the case, you can't beat the big boys at their game, you have to invent your own game.

Are you aware of the WEF's plans? I really doubt we can beat them by inventing our own games! An empty high street is hardly going to attract visitors ...

 

[Mark T Jones]

Are you aware of the WEF's plans? I really doubt we can beat them by inventing our own games! An empty high street is hardly going to attract visitors ...

I can point you to plenty of busy, full High Streets.

 

[Great Food Van]

I can point you to plenty of busy, full High Streets.

Please do

 

[fisicx]

Farnham. Always busy with loads of events. At the recent beer fest it was rammed with super fast food (hog roast and something else. Can’t remember as I’d had a few). And they have a very successful Sunday farmers market.

Guildford is usually busy as well. But it’s a huge hill to walk up and I’m getting old so don’t go there so often.

Camberly and Farnborough are also doing ok.

 

[Great Food Van]

Farnham. Always busy with loads of events. At the recent beer fest it was rammed with super fast food (hog roast and something else. Can’t remember as I’d had a few). And they have a very successful Sunday farmers market.

Guildford is usually busy as well. But it’s a huge hill to walk up and I’m getting old so don’t go there so often.

Camberly and Farnborough are also doing ok.

Are you and Mark T Jones the same person?

Kent is a strange place ... lived there for a while. Traded at Farmers Markets where all of the stall holders were struggling and trading to try to top up their core businesses. When one trader falls off there's always another desperate person to take their place. Same with the high streets, when one small independent fails, another has a "dream".

Show me successful, thriving high streets where independent retailers have thrived for years.