Shops fight for future (From Gazette & Herald)

Shops fight for future

Small independent retailers across Ryedale are finding that they have to diversify in order to compete with the major supermarket chains.

An all-party Parliamentary group has warned that such shops may vanish from the UK's high streets by as soon as 2015.

The group blamed what it called 'predatory' pricing methods, such as buy-one-get-one-free offers, and the major chains' increased presence in the convenience store sector.

Sally Hudson, of The Bakery in Norton, has had to diversify her business in order for it to compete with the supermarket chains nearby.

She said: "We've had the business for six years, when Safeway and Kwik Save were here. They have had an impact.

''We've kept going by doing new things ahead of the supermarkets. They might take months to change something but we can do it almost immediately.

"We've just had to evolve. We're just a sandwich shop now, as most people buy their bread when they get their other shopping. But we offer something nicer than a cheap plastic loaf, with no additives and no preservatives.

"The wholesale side has kept us going, supplying bread to pubs and restaurants.

"If we hadn't done that, we would have been out a long time ago."

Last year, the Gazette & Herald launched a major campaign to Keep It Local. It encouraged people to shop within their local area, and for businesses to do business with each other rather than go out of the area.

Tony Dunning, who has run his butcher's shop in Pickering for more than 20 years, believes it's important to treat the customer with respect and earn their loyalty.

Mr Dunning said: "I haven't really seen a drop in trade. It would be worse if there was one of the big chains nearby, which we don't want.

"Our customers are pretty loyal - we spend time with them. They stick with you if you do it right.

"The big chains just tend to wrap things up and leave it on the shelf. We sell all local produce. We can even tell the customer where it came from, which helps us a bit. People appreciate things like that."

There are some places in Ryedale that are yet to feel priced out by the major chains.

Dot Summersgill, who has run Fruit Boutique in Helmsley for 21 years, says she hasn't seen a dramatic drop in trade: "The nearest chain store is about 14 miles away in Thirsk.

''We would really suffer if a big supermarket came to Helmsley.

"We are making money, but prices have gone up compared to 21 years ago. Little shops are struggling."

Updated: 15:50 Wednesday, February 22, 2006