Andy Sparrow said:
Bottlebank said:
badger said:
Tis a shame but must be very difficult for independent stores to compete with the Go Outdoors and the internet
Especially when they don't encourage customer loyalty - refusing to discount to cavers for example (when Cotswold etc all do) etc.
10% discount equals 30% loss of profit. It's tough enough for small retailers without giving away a significant chunk of what they make, and not helped by TV 'personalities' encouraging people to ask 'small independent traders' for discounts.
I run an entirely internet business and apart from main conferences operate the business from home.To be honest the margins on new books and items wouldn't really support the overheads of a shop. The business rates are bad enough, but rent if you don't own, the building insurance , services and credit card facilities which depending on your deal can eat up to 3%. I appreciate Inglesport and the like have a wide range of items and it is a little easier to operate a mixed business however the margins are very tight for them , they are working to make a living not a charitable exercise for the caving community. The old adage applies though use it or lose it , you might be able to get some items from Go Outdoors with a discount but the rest of it with the excellent advice you can't . Without the bread and butter items a shop will not survive in todays market.
Mike
