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16/01/2007, 3:05 PM Sports Desk - Pete Joined on 05/09/2003 Archant Towers, Norwich Posts 3,910 Shop Here Campaign The Eastern Daily Press, as a locally-owned business itself, has launched the Shop Here campaign, to help support and promote the local businesses that act as the social glue that binds our communities together. As part of our Shop Here series, we've produced a sticker encouraging shoppers to support their local economy. Any local independent business can claim a Shop Here sticker. Simply email helen.cheek@archant.co.uk or telephone 01603 772240 with your request and written details and we will put a sticker in the post to you or have one delivered. Any business that displays the sticker will have their details put on our website at edp24.co.uk. http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/features/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=Features&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=Features&itemid=NOED15%20Jan%202007%2014%3A18%3A08%3A127    Report

16/01/2007, 10:19 PM Lynda Joined on 22/03/2004 Norwich Posts 2,721 Re: Shop Here Campaign I much prefer to buy in local shops - it is quicker also many items actually cost less than in the supermarket!   In the extremely rare occasions I find the time to go into an understaffed supermarket I find the fresh stuff is not as fresh as in small, independent shops and is likely to be much more expensive.     Supermarkets are designed to make people buy more than they went in for - it is so much hassle to shop in there we decide to make it worth the bother by selecting more stuff!    Then of course they take debit cards as well so the fact you do not have enough money with you is no excuse! Many small shops only take cash or cheques so it is easier to just buy what you really need!  Quite often I can go in several small shops in the time it would take me to shop in a supermarket! Lynda  Technology is great when it works.    Report

17/01/2007, 8:55 PM kenneth Joined on 14/08/2003 Posts 1,105 Re: Shop Here Campaign I wish it were otherwise, but the model began in the US (principally Walmart) of 'big box' stores driving small shops out of business out and subsequently destroying town centres, is flooding the world. None of this could happen, of course, without the aquiescence and active participation of the shopper. Most shoppers will readily say they prefer the ambience and quality of goods in the neighbourhood shop, but they will just as quickly say they like the prices and convenience of shopping in the big stores. With the decrease of time available to shop, for the ubiquitous 'both parents working' families, the 'one shop' convenience and lower prices of big stores will win every time. It is sad to say, apart from the attraction of visiting cute boutique type shops, that shopping paradigms have changed and there is no going back. Town centres must learn to adapt, and offer differrent services. But dealing here specifically with Norwich and its centre, the city is uniquely placed to provide an outdoor market atmosphere incorporating Gentlemens' Walk - and the myriad of streets leading from it - and St. Stephens Street and  anchored at one end by Jarrolds, and the other by M & S, etc. I discount both the Castle Mall and Chapell Field developments as offering nothing to the viability of the city centre. They could just as easily be - and should be - far away from the city centre. Times change and previously thriving shopping streets like, Magdalen and St. Benedicts have been passed over. Residential use seems the only option for the once proud stores that line these streets. But it is clear from the earlier disasters visited on the city by previous councils - Anglia Square, the St. Crispins Road flyover, and the destruction of the Ber Street and Kings Street area, comes to mind - that it is ill equipped to meet the challenge required to save our 'Once Fine City'. The debacle over a simple enough programme to revamp the market place, is indicative of the totally inept ability of the council to undertake any proceduure leading to the revitalisation of the city. What is apparent with shopping habits, is that shoppers want to 'drive up' to the front door of the shops they wish to visit. In order to present a more attractive and convenient shopping experience then, Norwich must provide more parking, at, preferably, no cost and close to the centre of action. Small electric people buggies to carry shoppers along the streets giving access to the shops would help, many more continental style street cafe's and a service to carry shoppers bags to their cars would also be of value. It is always assumed that market forces know best, and generally this is true on a global scale, but here we are talking about our front room, so to speak, and we don't want to lose our parlour. It cannot be stressed enough, that whilst there is a glimmer of hope for not only saving, but to boost the city centre, no improvement will be made without careful handling by an agency well versed in marketing an historic shopping environment.     Report

19/01/2007, 4:05 AM topbitch Joined on 04/01/2007 Posts 2 Re: Shop Here Campaign I'm no longer much of a 'consumer', and don't visit the city centre very often, so I'm probably not much of a judge in the matter, but to me Norwich is very much a Clone Town as regards shops. In recent years the only retail  areas I have found interesting are Anglia Square, Magdalen Street and St. Benedict's.  Perhaps that reveals something a bit iffy about me!   For clothes, I like to rummage in the charity shops - ahh, that distinctive pong! - far more interesting than the boring predictability of the chainstores.   Kenneth is quite right, there is 'no turning back'.  I'm afraid I cannot see the relevance of a Shop Here Campaign.  Most of us shop 'by price', a sticker in the window doesn't cut it.  That is why we don't all eat organically grown food, and why our clothes are made with sweat-shop labour. It's what Kenneth refers to as the 'aquiescence and active participation of the shopper'. However, the wheel will eventually turn full circle.    Report

21/01/2007, 10:16 PM Sinbad Joined on 31/08/2006 Posts 18 Re: Shop Here Campaign          Another pleasure of independent shops is that the staff invarialbly have the time to be able to chat  to their customers. Keepers of small shops know full well that the key to good turnover is keeping the customer happy. Being friendly and helpful is key to customer loyalty. I frequent more independent shops that chain types and the friendliness is one of the of the reasons. Yes, things MAY cost a little more, but being able to have a gossip whilst you shop adds to the many pleasures of life. Go to Jarrolds and you will find few shops with such helpful staff throughout. Want two nails or three washers to finish a job - ? Go to Thorns. Not B & Q, where you'd have to buy a minimum of a bag of probably twenty five.      Report

22/01/2007, 7:56 PM Sinbad Joined on 31/08/2006 Posts 18 Re: Shop Here Campaign       Just returned from Tesco where I wanted to buy some Clementines. I had to rake through and discard seven nets of said fruit before I found two that didn't have at least two suspect ( i.e. soft and squishy ) Clementines. Not being one to let things go, I complained to the section manager. All he could do was to was to tell me that he was aware of the problem and had e-mailed the supplier several times and also reported this problem  to his superiors but to no avail. Proves the point that with a nationwide company making vast profits on a daily basis, why should they care about the problems of just one store - ?    Report

22/01/2007, 9:26 PM kenneth Joined on 14/08/2003 Posts 1,105 Re: Shop Here Campaign "...why should they care about the problems of just one store - ?" Or of just one customer, because there are plenty more who are not so particular. That is how the giant companies succeed.    Report

29/01/2007, 10:15 PM Sinbad Joined on 31/08/2006 Posts 18 Re: Shop Here Campaign Hit the nail right on the head there Kenneth - ! There is also problem with the national disease of apathy. ' But I don't want to make a fuss / I can't be bothered / It's only a couple of quids worth ' etc., etc.. Try getting away with the standards that most people accept here in Australia or North America - !    Report

24/05/2007, 9:52 PM chigwellchick Joined on 24/05/2007 Mundesley Posts 2 Re: Shop Here Campaign Hi everyone!  I think that eventually the "buy local" ethos will filter through to most people.  All of the reasons for buying locally are obvious.  Less packaging, food which is less travelled, supporting local industry etc.  Mostly the advantages are environmentally sound.  I work as catering manager in a local school, and we are just about to strike out on our own in order to get away from the mass producers.  We want quality, and we want fresh.  The only way to be sure of both is to ensure you have a good relationship with a local supplier, and be able to trace all your food back to source.  Supermarket veg may look fresh and nice, but I can assure you that fresh has dirt on it.  Lets make this a slogan to follow "Fresh has dirt on it"!  I can even see a little graphic forming in my mind - the word "Fresh" with dirt all over it Do not cast stones at me, for I am like a mighty mountain, and each stone only serves to make me greater than I already am.    Report

26/05/2007, 2:20 PM ANNE MARKS Joined on 09/05/2004 NORTH NORFOLK Posts 120 Re: Shop Here Campaign I think your " Shop here stickers " are about 30 years too late ! How many villages and small town shops have already gone under due to the Supermarket giants moving in, when the small village shops were struggling the locals didn't support them neither did the local authorities, and what with higher business rates to top it all they had no chance ! and how many more rural post-offices are about to close ! 2000 ? If you are an Estate agent, funeral directors, holiday agents or the like then you are ok. So " Shop Where " ? ANNE    Report

05/10/2007, 9:28 PM AnthonyFlynn Joined on 16/11/2005 South Norfolk Posts 142 Re: Shop Here Campaign It isn't so much "shop here", more like shop local and buy local produce. But then it is far more than just food and other produce isn't it? The Banking industry is going Global. The Post Office has gone Global. Services, Gas, Water, Electricty. All Global. Now the Big, Big Big one. "Politics are well on the way to going Global." What do you think all this nonsense about Global warming is then? And what is going to happen next January? In case everyone has not heard yet, I will repeat it. Next January, Brussels and the European Union, is going to introduce the first Global Emissions Tax. As I understand it, it will begin with £20. a week or £1000, a Year. On Tuesday 9th, of October, I shall attend the Tivetshall St Margaret Parish Council meeting. I have posted a motion, that has been accepted for discussion, on the subject of Local Council Taxation. The point being that I want it reduced over the next year or two. There are other changes I would like to see as well. But then, if you examine the question of Taxation overall, at 45% of income, it is well out of order. The only answer is to cange the system. It is perfectly possible and Legally in order to ignore demands from the Government and HMRC. for the payment of Taxation. Yes, is does require changes to the Employer Employee contract and workng practice, and yes, the Treasury know what I am proposing, it was their suggestion that the Employer become a "Holdng Company". Still enough for now. But I assure you, that by using your Parish and Town Council, it is possible to Rebuild the Norfolk Economy, independent of Westminster.  Regards, ATFlynn. My usual signature is just my name, ATFlynn.    Report

10/10/2007, 7:07 PM Lynda Joined on 22/03/2004 Norwich Posts 2,721 Re: Shop Here Campaign  topbitch wrote: I'm no longer much of a 'consumer', and don't visit the city centre very often, so I'm probably not much of a judge in the matter, but to me Norwich is very much a Clone Town as regards shops. In recent years the only retail  areas I have found interesting are Anglia Square, Magdalen Street and St. Benedict's.  Perhaps that reveals something a bit iffy about me!   For clothes, I like to rummage in the charity shops - ahh, that distinctive pong! - far more interesting than the boring predictability of the chainstores.   Kenneth is quite right, there is 'no turning back'.  I'm afraid I cannot see the relevance of a Shop Here Campaign.  Most of us shop 'by price', a sticker in the window doesn't cut it.  That is why we don't all eat organically grown food, and why our clothes are made with sweat-shop labour. It's what Kenneth refers to as the 'aquiescence and active participation of the shopper'. However, the wheel will eventually turn full circle. I agree with you!    The Norwich Lanes area (St Benedicts through to St Giles/Pottergate etc) is far more interesting than the St Stephens area which is all clone shops!   I tend to buy most of my clothes from charity shops as the quality is better than the "cheap" shops at less price!  I tend to buy fruit and veg from either market stalls or a local (out of city centre) small shop - the quality is better and often the stuff is cheaper than the supermarket. Lynda  Technology is great when it works.    Report

03/04/2008, 2:32 PM Narnia Joined on 16/08/2006 Posts 167 Re: Shop Here Campaign This has come through the FSB - well worth signing if you support 'Shop Local' initiatives.   http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/keeptradelocal/    Report

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