Streetlife

There's certainly already a new one at the other end of town . . . Childrens Hospice shop due to open soon, near Candlers old shop.

Oh great a town full of Charity shops. I don't got in - they smell funny

they are always busy,thats what its about

Yes I saw this the other day - supply and demand I guess but it's a bit depressing. Coffee shops, charity shops and estate agents does make an individual town.

Well not all of them smell Zaax but a few of them do

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could have more kiddie's cloths shops or even a kids work shop.

I felt quite depressed when I saw it yerster day although there is a nice table and chairs in the window' '

There I'd a place where kid can go and paint plates ect near Argos, my grandchildren love it. '

As I understand it, charity shops don't have to pay full business rates.  That may go a LONG way to explaining why these empty shops are not being taken up by entrepreneurial retailers - who can afford the risk, these days?  It's clear that there isn't enough footfall at the bottom of Hamilton Road to keep specialist shops afloat - look how many have failed in the last few years.  I suppose the Council think it's better to have shops full of manky second-hand clothes, rather than doing something genuinely enterprising, like (for example) offering massive rates reductions for start-up shops ...

Am I right in saying that, not so very long ago the Chamber of Trade had say in the type of shop that wanted to open, they could say whether there was enough shops already of the type or trade requesting premises.Also, the local council surely have a say in the matter. Remembering Wednesday half day  early closing at 1pm, woe betide any retailer that was still open at 5 minutes past !

And another thing .................... Is our friend, Richard Cornwell a member of Streetlife, he seems to  be quoting a lot of Members' comments lately in his news items.

I don't think the Chamber of Commerce has ever had any say, thank goodness, or they'd be up in arms about any new business that wanted to compete with one of their existing members!

The council can only intervene if a change of tenant brings in a change of use. So any retailer selling almost any product can move into any premises that have planning consent as a shop, although if there is some workshop content in the new use, or one or two specific uses, additional consents and possibly registrations are needed - like a sex shop, or a cafe.

I'm not sure what the ruling was with the original Wednesday half-day - I'm fairly convinced it was more to do with shopworkers, back in  those days, doing a 5½ day week, working all day Saturday.

I think Richard is a member here, and that the mighty Evening Star/Archant have given Streetlife a lot of support by advertising, if they don't own part of it . . This is the second story that Richard has had from here recently - it's quick and easy, although I'm not convinced its news!

I was wondering about Richard Cornwall he seems to get allot of information of this site

Well, like a lot of local papers, the Star is looking for ways to survive and prosper during a revolutionary era - people are buying less papers than they used to, even going back just a few years.

I think the problem is that there's possibly too much "free" media about for newspapers to do do well, and they are trying every opportunity to get cost-free input and monetise it.  That's probably the reason they backed Streetlife when it started - and they can pick up community responses, too, as Richard has done.

Archant also has another interesting site, Iwitness24, which is designed to get people to send in their own photos and stories, giving the publishers free content, which they try to monetise with ads, etc . .

Hard times for newspapers . .

what happened to the days when a reporter nipped out to get a photo of a road crash,unusual wedding or whatever-they NEver do now-just click onto an example photo of a stationary fire engine-- if you are lucky. 
 Back to the charity shops, i read somewhere that the bods behind the scenes are very powerful and ruthless ,not nice rolypoly types at all. However,the volunteers who man  the shops themselves/sort the stuff etc ARE very nice

In my experience, journalists are a generally lazy bunch - if a story drops on their desk, or flashes on their screen, they're likely to use it, rather than actually go out hunting for stories.
Basically, all they have to do is fill the column inches - not worry about the quality too much.  
And that, in a nutshell, is why PR works so well.

Marc T i can assure you that most of them do not sell Manky second hand clothes they sell some lovely second hand clothes ,but there is two that me and daughter go in and youngest grandaughter always go" it stink " i wont say which 2 as if you have been in them you will know

I am not really very keen on charity shops, but I was talking 2 lady who works in M and S and she said the town could do with a Primark! ! I don't know which is worse.

Primark does resemble a jumble sale at the best of times, however it does provide what people want in terms of cheap clothes for all the family..... Felixstowe is seriously lacking a menswear store that's affordable with a decent choice and the same with kids clothes...

There's much to be said for Primark - I like to stock up on pants and t-shirts there.  These are the sort of low-value, high-quantity items that Primark sell well - that's why they're one of the most successful retailers in the UK at present (along with Pound Shop).  They are also the sort of things you would NEVER buy from a charity shop.

I agree, bring in a Primark (or QS, TK Maxx or similar) so I don't have to drive to Ipswich for my pants.

I admit they are goo for children's cloths, but you do realise who makes them, ? Anyway my daughter callea sp snob! !!

I Mean shop snob, I must check what I write. TK Max would b good I aways have got my undies from Marks , Marc u could always try ordering on line!

National newspapers too are getting their stories from blogs these days. Guido Fawkes blog for instance often carries political stories that the mainstream media pick up a few days later. The national media has declined in quality immensely, in my opinion, speaking as someone who loved newspapers. The future lies on line.

Elizabeth - I am fully aware of the manufacturing process behind Primark.  What you might not be aware of is that places like Marks and Spencer use the same factories - just because they charge 10 times as much doesn't mean their costs are any higher.  Most high street clothing retailers source their product from China, so it doesn't matter where we buy from, the same people are being exploited.  That's the nature of Capitalism.

Marc in my opinion the quality of most thing in M and S is 10 times better than Primark, I have proved it with children's cloths, Primark is fine for play and sleep cloths.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion Elizabeth - personally, I can't see the point in spending £15 for some pants from M&S when an almost identical set can be bought for £3 from Primark.  They look the same, feel the same and last the same amount of time.

I approach clothing in a "cost per wear" frame of mind - most clothing goes out of fashion before it is worn out, so long-lasting clothes are actually not worth the money you spend on them.

That's my opinion.