Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
4 December 2008
17:0010327Whilst visiting local businesses in Dover today I popped into have a chat with Samuel at One Solutions who occupies the old TCM offices in Pencester. He was packing up to return to the throbbing business life in London and will be vacating the premises this Saturday.
He felt that the six months that he has spent running a Laptop and Mobile Repair Shop in Dover was not making the return expected so he is packing up the business lock, stock and barrel to take over new premises in Harrow High Street.
Personnaly I feel that he should stick it out for a little while longer, but ......
But as one Business closes, Another One Opens - Watch this space for more info later.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
4 December 2008
17:5310331When ONE SOLUTIONS started up in Dover a few months ago and joined the Loyalty Scheme, Syed, the owner, advised me that he had about 11 shops in the South East.
I made up posters about what they did and sent it round to all those on my email address groups - more than once.
They were promoted in the monthly newspaper adverts, in the fortnightly article I wrote for the Express and of course I put them on the web-site too. They also put a sticker up in their window.
I used to call in there quite often, but never saw a customer. I never received any replies to any emails I sent him (that's why I called in to talk to him, but he was never there, only the young black guy - is that Samuel Barry ?)
I hate to see any business in Dover close, but if what you say is true Barry (another one opens) then I look forward to that very much.
Like I have been saying about shops in Dover - "use it or lose it" and we seem to be losing more than most recently.
The places (Towns) where our residents do shop, must be doing well.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
4 December 2008
18:0410333The Dover Express is reporting that H Samuel the well known national jewellery chain is also closing its store in Dover. They close in January. They are situated a few doors along from M&S so its another prime site becoming vacant. We all of us have bought some stuff at H Samuel at one time or another but clearly this National High St standard bearer are feeling the pinch, and of course people lose their jobs as a consequence.
Dover cannot afford to lose National Chain stores in my view.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
4 December 2008
19:0610345Samuels is owned by an American Group and as they are also feeling the credit crunch the first jobs to go are those overseas.
Asda...owned by Walmart.also American..hmmm...I wonder....pass me the glass of M&S Rose luv...pound off the bottle today...hic
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
4 December 2008
20:3210358that surprises me about samuels, i thought that another jewellery chain with a branch in dover was closing soon.
this is now becoming serious, where will the mayor get all his/her bling from?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
4 December 2008
20:5310360mad marys bling bar of cource.
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
4 December 2008
21:0510362B & Q Howard, they do a cheap gold-plated lavatory chain.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
4 December 2008
21:4710366not such a good idea dave, we do not want the mayor to look flushed, do we?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
4 December 2008
22:0510369this thread has gone down the pan with a royal flush.
5 December 2008
07:5810384But I think we've got a handle on it now..............and the Mayor is back on the pedastal as befits the status.......(nearly added the Q word then, whoops!)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
5 December 2008
09:1210389Joking aside, it is very important and sad to Dover Town, that we're still having businesses close - national chain and independant shops.
A shop's welfare, is based on whether they have enough people calling in and spending their money - no customers, no shops. Some in Dover are doing well, most are not.
It can also be a case that the shop, pub or restaurant are not supplying - at the price people can afford or are willing to pay, the right goods.
I know it sounds like a broken record, but "use them or lose them".
We need more than ever, an organisation to support them.
Roger
5 December 2008
21:3710445Haven't we had them and, on the use it or lose it principle, we have lost them?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
5 December 2008
21:5410451one of the problems i have with our local shops is their inflexibility.
the winterval lights i harp on about every year.
more importantly during the spring summer and autumn seasons we have so many foreign visitors on a sunday that are greeted with just a handful of places open.
the cruise ships itinierarys are readily available.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
5 December 2008
22:2110454wheres all the the cruise boat tourists when you need them,ah yes up the castle on a ghost hunt.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
6 December 2008
01:1010459Sadly, as Howard says, we try to encourage visitors to stay for more than just a night but then Sunday will lose them. Most shops shut and those that are open are chasing everyone out at 3:45 so that they can close by four. Don't expect to go anywhere because there is only one bus an hour and alternates routes so hat you never know where it is going. Come to Dover but don't expect to leave your hotel or B&B for half the weekend, not good is it
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
6 December 2008
08:0010466I agree Chris, Sundy is generally a dead day, but there are a few shops open - mostly chain stores though.
A number of independant places tried it but lost so much money it wsn't worth it - maybe cruise days only - the Port of Call ones at least, would be good.
If a tour bus was restarted (and subsidised or sponsored) and operated during the Winter months on cruise days only, then that would help enormously. I have some ideas on this and hope something firm is sorted for next year.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
6 December 2008
08:0310467I agree Bern, we have lost the shops and mostly because we didn't use them; in most cases it was because of that, although there have been some close, due to head-office decisions - Woolies and Samuels spring to mind.
Roger
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
6 December 2008
10:1910474I popped into B&Q yesterday and was reliably informed by an old friend who works there that they will be finally closing their doors in April.Extra staff have already been shipped in to help with the winding down process.The B&Q employee also told me that it WAS Morissons that had purchased the lease/site/shop.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
6 December 2008
17:4010496Good to have that good news confirmed Marek - thanks.
Roger
Guest 677- Registered: 8 Jul 2008
- Posts: 150
8 December 2008
20:1810582It is very sad that so many shops are closing particularly for people like me who rarely shop anywhere else but Dover. Where do I get the childrens toy from when woolies closes
, and that one is definately not for want of custom because there are always people in there. I just hope that all these shops that are closing will be replaced by something else (preferably not a charity shop) and that Dover can pull itself out of this terrible crunch.
It's not the man in my life, its the life in my man!!