Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
#1
Popped into Dover this PM where M&S are open on Sundays for the festive period. Staff asking "where is everyone?"
The only people who can save the high street are shoppers, so think twice before heading for the traffic chaos of Canterbury and Westwood Cross this Christmas!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#2
The problem here Kevin is a lack of communication. I bet if you surveyed the randon citizenry walking around the seafront today and asked them if they knew M&S were open I bet 19.5 out of every 20 would not expect them to be open. If the business mentioned advertise the fact and let people know then people will go. They could even advertise on here in advance. They have to get the message out.
This is a shop that never opens on sunday so it wont figure in peoples plans unless they have the info while planning.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
#3
They have leaflets in store with their opening hours for the next four weeks. I agree it's a shame the national chains rarely invest in local marketing.
You're right, PaulB, M&S don't normally open on Sundays but no doubt they would if they were busy! Perhaps we can prove over the next four weeks that there is demand for them to open every Sunday.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#4
Buy hand-made, buy local, and if you can't do that, then BUY BRITISH. It is very important !
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
i venture past most days and have not seen any sign to say about sunday opening, noticed over the years that m and s have always been loathe to open on sundays and public holidays.
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#6
I always like to spend my money in our local shops although for many items such as large electrical items etc there is no choice but to go out of town.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#7
A Town Centre Manager type of job would co-ordinate this kind of thing. Building a data-base of local people's emails to advise them of various shops and what they are doing - special offers, when they're open etc.
The need and importance of shopping local cannot be over emphasised too. There's a million and one things that can and should be done, but without the will, nothing will be done.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
valid point about co-ordination roger, we all know that the national chains other than m &s are open on a sunday in dover but not about the independents.
knowing the effect m & s has on bringing footfall why did the manager not tip off the smaller retailers they would be open?
apologies in advance if he'she did.
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#9
M&S always open Sunday's in December, I popped in myself knowing that in previous years it's a lot less busier than Saturday's.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
#10
Don't forget there is another opportunity to shop local this Saturday with free off-street parking on 7 December as part of the national Small Business Saturday. It would be great to hear from any local businesses on the Forum if they are supporting the day.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
this thread has been read closely as i have been contacted by someone from outside dover who visited m and s during last week and says that the leaflet clearly states that christmas opening hours start from monday the 2nd of december which means that first sunday opening was meant for the 8th.
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#12
I looked on the M&S website earlier in the week & that has all of the opening hours.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#13
bit of confusion then howard
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#14
Seems to be Keith - sadly.
Another thing a business manager could do, would be to check on behalf of small independant busiensses that they aren't paying too much in business rates. This is perhaps the biggest bug-bear many small (and not so small) businesses face.
It can be assessed whether the actual rates paid are the correct ones and that the business reductions are being applied for.
I was successful in this for two businesses before my legs were cut off, so to speak.
Another one is car-parking costs, which it is said, is putting off coming into Town. I had developed a scheme where this would not be a problem for small businesses.
Survey all the Town's businesses to find out exactly what they think is the reason(s) for not having more trade and the more members there become, the bigger the voice for changes.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#15
business's locall small and large i'm sure can organise themselves,
A firm such as marks and sparks if they want custom on a sunday, should/could do more to advertise the fact of there hours to open over the Dec period.
It's no good just putting it the store, they need to reach people who don't usually shop there to.
The control of all govts to get there hands on hard earnt dosh locally, through the rates isn't helping and needs central govt to loosen the strings so that dosh stays more local.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#16
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
#17
If you know what you want to buy the savings that can be made by shopping on line are huge, all delivered to your door and often for no charge and stress free in to the bargain.
Audere est facere.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#18
Yes, good to make savings but not saving local shops ?
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
#19
In all honesty Kath, to have got the items I have ordered I would have had to go to Westwood or similar anyway, one item I could get locally at a similar price to on line I did. Times have now changed so much re peoples shopping habits that I cannot ever see the High Streets recovering to what they were 20 years ago, life has changed so much in that time and that includes shopping.
Audere est facere.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
i think it is generally recognised that town centres will have to be more compact in future, online shopping will continue to grow and more specialised shops are needed to take the place of the traditional ones that are dying off.
much of what we have now will revert to housing over a fairly short period.
