M&S - new premises?
- 7 October 2010 11:3074042The local jungle drums/smoke-signals/rumourmill/old-dears-gossiping-at-bus-stops tell me that M&S in Dover could soon be looking for bigger premises (due to some issue with the present building, allegedly, which prevents its alteration/modernisation).
What an opportunity, if so. Perfect as a quality, upmarket anchor store for the DTIZ - let's shift Dover's lowest common denominator dynamic and force the project upmarket. Hope the powers-that-be are actively courting this possibility.
When's DTIZ D-Day? November some time, isn't it? - 7 October 2010 12:5174049andrew
this is covered by the other thread you started "M & S what's happening?" - 7 October 2010 13:3674053M&S is key to quite a few new developments like Westwood X so maybe Dover
Been nice knowing you :) - 7 October 2010 13:5074054Now M&S as the anchor store for the DTIZ - a real gain. leaves a problem with the town centre store when vacated but perhaps that could be viewed as an opportunity.
- 7 October 2010 16:2274067Just picking up the topic again, Howard, sorry.
I agree, Barry - an opportunity. M&S superstore anchoring the DTIZ, and Poundland where the current store is (or Primark?).
Nice thought, eh? - 7 October 2010 16:5474074andrew
i only mentioned it to draw your attention to comments made on your previous thread by paul the fuhrer saying that relocation to whitfield would not be encourage by the council. - 7 October 2010 16:5974076M&S says it has absolutely no plans to move out of Biggin Street
- 7 October 2010 17:0274079kathy
greigs the bakers denied plans to open a shop in dover, yet they were advertising for staff. - 7 October 2010 18:4274093Did someone say primark???????? i could do with a new bag or pair of heels.....
- 7 October 2010 20:3674136To be honest we have enough cheap clothes stores in Dover! And the addition of the cheap credit store doesn't exactly enhance Dovers image.
- 7 October 2010 21:3874150ohh.. marks and spencer though.. a nice big one.. nice and airy.. and prettiful.. that would be nice.. :)
- 7 October 2010 23:4974165If they were to move, it might even boost their trade, by making it disablement friendly, this one at present does not cater for disabled, if you have a wheelchair it is nigh on impossible for you to get between the clothes racks
- 8 October 2010 05:1674173Andrew
I went to see a property this week with a view of opening a small business - to keep me occupied and out of the lovely small boozers the wife says - here in Jersey. Bear in mind it's not actually booming but nor is it bust (the High Street are fully occupied, I only counted 2 empty premises out of about 63 stores plus 2 fully occupied and busy indoor markets) together with the bustling side streets and alley ways...anyway I digress the Landlord said that we could reach an agreement as to when I started paying rent as he was more interested in the place reopening than getting his rent fully paid until my business took off. It was a 6 year lease with a 3 year break policy by either party. Rent £1450 per month plus 3 bed non qualified accommodation above thrown in.
Compare that with prices I was quoted (when they deemed fit to answer my enquiries in Dover} ask Roger for details and well a totally different attitude and ball game.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 8 October 2010 07:3774185I agree Marek - wasn't that what is now Mandie's Tea-rooms. I believe it was Tersons who messed you about then, but I also believe Tersons now have different owners.
Many, or most of Dover business premises have rents and rates that are far too high for their level of trading, but thankfully that doesn't seem to be putting some enterprising businesses off of opening here.
Roger - 8 October 2010 08:5474189It's all down to demographics. Please see article here:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2004/mar/12/foodanddrink.shopping
To quote from the M&S section:-
'Rupert and Felicity, again, are most likely to patronise Marks & Spencer, lured there no doubt by the dearth of piped music, a soothing green and silver livery and a snooty aura. "Interestingly," says Gladding, "Marks' food shoppers are more upmarket than the clothes shoppers." Least likely to visit M&S are Wayne and Leanne (the "municipal dependency" archetypes), who live on large, low-rise estates far from the centre of the city, and represent 6.7% of UK households. The second most likely group to shop at M&S are Darren and Joanne, the happy family.
At the food branch in Golders Green, the customary range of frighteningly unhealthy desserts and unsatisfyingly crunchy ready-made pizzas are being snapped up by a well-groomed bunch. An orchid-buying and very pregnant book editor, on maternity leave from her £35,000 job and whose husband works in the City "and earns more than double what I do", says: "I know it's a cliche but my mother shopped here and so do I. It feels traditional and right. I don't get all the weekly shop from here, but I like to buy a few things. Treats mostly. I like the staff and, without wanting to sound snobby, the other shoppers are well dressed. There aren't a lot of people here who are ... " Common? "You said it. I couldn't possibly comment."
Another woman, loading shopping into her H-reg VW Golf, adds: "This is a place for luxuries, not the staples. But it makes you feel good to shop here. You feel richer than you probably are." She declines to tell me her job or salary.'
Doesn't sound very 'Dover' to me?
(But then again what the Hell is a branch of Waitrose doing in Ramsgate!!!!! - 8 October 2010 09:2374194interesting read about the customers in marks, i now realise why the security bloke kicked me out the other day.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
8 October 2010 09:5374196And why I do not like M&S very much.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
8 October 2010 15:3174227howard,its ok i will have a word in the boys ear to let you back in again. 
- 8 October 2010 18:1774263There's no doubt that having M&S as the anchor store for DTIZ would be a massive coup for Dover's regeneration. A decent M&S on this site would draw in visitors from Folkestone (no M&S) and passing trade to and from the port. Let's hope the developers can persuade them of the opportunity.
- 8 October 2010 19:2274280Im not snobby but still love m&s , i even joke around with the Dover security guard .