Death Of The Independent Retailer

The opening of One New Change at St Paul's last week marked the beginning of a flood of new shopping centers to be opened in London. The success of Westfield (below) in Sheppard's Bush has prompted the owners to open one near the new Olympic site in Stratford, there are also plans to open another shopping center in Kings Cross and don't forget there is already Brent Cross shopping center in Barnet. With all these large sites housing some of the best known chain stores, what does this mean for the independent retail industry?

Almost every high street up and down the country has seen a large number of shops shut down, leaving some once buzzing high streets looking like a ghost town in a Tarantino film. How can the independent shop compete with the high number of shopping centers diverting people off the high street? Not to mention the giant that is online shopping, now worth an estimated £100 billion to the UK economy, however with the extra overheads independent stops just can not compete with internet prices.

But is shopping really just about whose cheapest? Doesn't the 'experience' of shopping mean something or can you get the same with a click of a button? I should think not, there have been may a time I've bought something in a shop or off a stall because of the person who was selling it, whether it was their knowledge of the product or their honesty, something about the personal touch made me buy it and then recommend or go back for more. 

I was watching the new BBC show 'Turn back time' (below), which sees families re-open closed down stores but do it like 'the old days'. 'The Hands on History' project sees the high street reverted back to the 1870's when high street shopping began right up to the 70s. 

This show really highlights the changes to shopping, from days when everyone knew their butcher by name to getting your lamb chops at a self checkout without uttering a single word to another person. The independent cant compete with the footfall of the shopping centres nor can they compete with the prices of the internet, but what they can and do do is  give great personal customer service.

So with that being said I want to know your favourite haunts for independent retail, whether its a one off store or  a high street full of great independents. I'll kick off with Cheshire Street just off Brick Lane, it has a great mix of vintage and modern design for those that want more than your average high street, make sure you check out Handmade Interiors. 

The shop is full of products from around the world, hamam towels from Turkey; handmade cushions from India and even a Kaftan from the Ottoman empire! But it also showcases talent closer to home with some great British ceramicist work on display from Janet Stahelin Edmondson to new designers like Natasha Madeiski as well as handmade soft furnishings designed by co-owner Piyush Suri. One of my favourite items are London Kills Me's slate placemats, they are made from recycled slate and hand screen printed.

Don't forget to let me know YOUR favourite independents below, what makes it great? If you found the same products online for less would you still shop there? What makes it different to a chain store, besides the obvious?


For more information on Handmade Interiors see: www.handmade-interiors.co.uk and London Kills Me can be found at: http://www.londonkillsme.com