Leader
Town needs an interesting mix of shops
WITNEY'S small, local shops are taking up the challenge they face from an ever increasing presence of multi-national stores.
They are forming their own independent retailers' association in the belief that they will each have more clout through the togetherness of a pressure group.
That they need to do so is not only for their own good, but also of the customers. It is a fact that the bigger Witney becomes as a town, the more it is going to attract the bigger fish in the retail world.
Chain stores already dominate the Woolgate Centre and Market Square, and the new Marriotts Close development is, amongst others, bringing Marks & Spencer and Debenhams. The only reason is because an expanding town means more shoppers.
The independents cannot afford the higher rents, and that's why they tend to be in the less frequented Wesley Walk, Waterloo Walk, and less conspicuous areas of the town centre.
Jeanne Chattoe and the other principal movers in the new association have a good base to start from, with over 40 independents in the town.
That seems to us to show a healthy vitality in Witney's retail trade, giving shoppers an interesting mix of places to visit for off-the-beaten-track purchases. They also, as they say, offer a personal service for customers they cannot afford to let down.
We wish the association the best of luck. The independents are needed to keep Witney an interesting place to live, work, and shop.
3:31pm Tuesday 29th April 2008
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