AndyC
27-11-2008, 00:31
Please read… This might make sense
I am a manager of a High Street shop and I have something to say in these self-perpetuating times of trouble. If you look at the problem within just the retail sector and ignore for a minute the rest of the issues happening around the globe, I think a lot of us are still in a position to do something to help it. Granted, there are some people who have found themselves in difficult times who maybe have lost jobs or got in too much trouble with mortgages but a lot of us haven’t ventured to far outside our means. As with most in retail I have a normal life with relatively low (compared to some) but bearable pay and debts that I have always been able to afford and as long as I keep my job, will always be able to in the future. Infact, the biggest shock I’ve had financially recently is filling my petrol tank up for £10 less than the previous week. I can’t be the only one. I understand that the drop in the price of oil isn’t actually necessarily a good thing but again that’s a different story, lets enjoy it
What I’m about to get at is that I really have no need to tighten the purse strings. I’m still going to by my new favourite releases from HMV and some books from Waterstones. I’m still going to pop into Ryman for my cartridges and paper etc, my other half will still get her favourite smellies from Body Shop and not switch to some basic stuff from Sainsburys, not disrespecting Sainsburys – I will still get some main groceries from them! Lastly, Christmas will still come to family and friends to the same kind of value it always has!!
So basically, any of those reading this who knows they are in the same position as me (unless things get dramatically worse) should not be swayed by what they hear on the news and continue spending as normal. If you treat this almost like chain mail (not the best selling point I know as naff chain mail is) and pass this thought around every corner of retail, through head offices and back out to staff. Don’t be frightened!!! Go to your nearest shops in your lunch and buy as normal and that’ll be 4.5 million of us in the retail sector attributing to 8% of the total economy, approaching this sensibly and lessening the chance of you losing your job because someone has seen sense in the shop opposite and carried on spending with you! Then show and tell to friends and family because collectively we can help to solve this (Yes the Government needs to keep its eye on the ball and the Banks need to buck their ideas up) By all means, carry on going to Supermarkets for some stuff if that’s genuinely easier, I’m not completely anti Supermarkets, but don’t buy your clothes, appliances and stationery etc there, use your proper shops and keep them open.
Best Regards
A retailer and tomorrow, somebody’s customer
I am a manager of a High Street shop and I have something to say in these self-perpetuating times of trouble. If you look at the problem within just the retail sector and ignore for a minute the rest of the issues happening around the globe, I think a lot of us are still in a position to do something to help it. Granted, there are some people who have found themselves in difficult times who maybe have lost jobs or got in too much trouble with mortgages but a lot of us haven’t ventured to far outside our means. As with most in retail I have a normal life with relatively low (compared to some) but bearable pay and debts that I have always been able to afford and as long as I keep my job, will always be able to in the future. Infact, the biggest shock I’ve had financially recently is filling my petrol tank up for £10 less than the previous week. I can’t be the only one. I understand that the drop in the price of oil isn’t actually necessarily a good thing but again that’s a different story, lets enjoy it
What I’m about to get at is that I really have no need to tighten the purse strings. I’m still going to by my new favourite releases from HMV and some books from Waterstones. I’m still going to pop into Ryman for my cartridges and paper etc, my other half will still get her favourite smellies from Body Shop and not switch to some basic stuff from Sainsburys, not disrespecting Sainsburys – I will still get some main groceries from them! Lastly, Christmas will still come to family and friends to the same kind of value it always has!!
So basically, any of those reading this who knows they are in the same position as me (unless things get dramatically worse) should not be swayed by what they hear on the news and continue spending as normal. If you treat this almost like chain mail (not the best selling point I know as naff chain mail is) and pass this thought around every corner of retail, through head offices and back out to staff. Don’t be frightened!!! Go to your nearest shops in your lunch and buy as normal and that’ll be 4.5 million of us in the retail sector attributing to 8% of the total economy, approaching this sensibly and lessening the chance of you losing your job because someone has seen sense in the shop opposite and carried on spending with you! Then show and tell to friends and family because collectively we can help to solve this (Yes the Government needs to keep its eye on the ball and the Banks need to buck their ideas up) By all means, carry on going to Supermarkets for some stuff if that’s genuinely easier, I’m not completely anti Supermarkets, but don’t buy your clothes, appliances and stationery etc there, use your proper shops and keep them open.
Best Regards
A retailer and tomorrow, somebody’s customer