Special - Brian Wiseman of Present Company RE T A IL


With the countdown to the festive period now in full swing, Brian Wiseman considers the state of high street trading and other topical issues.


Rents are now falling in many areas - cheeky


offers from tenants stand a


Brian Wiseman H 10 gifts today


ow’s trade been at Present Company? Well, thank you for asking, but I fear the answer is “poor.” In fact, we’ve just turned


in the worst like for like September on record by a mere whisker. Footfall has been patchy at best and customers have been displaying a marked reluctance to part with money. It feels like recession, but a disastrous Christmas is certainly not yet an inevitability.


I could despair for the future of independent retailers and high street retailing. Take Burgess Hill - its worst sin is to sport a town centre of limited architectural merit. Oh, and it’s a bit boring. But it’s been paying a heavy price for these modest shortcomings and, like so many towns, has been haemorrhaging trade for some time. T e usual suspects are in evidence: out of town retail developments that vacuum business away; short sighted, cash strapped district councils that deter shoppers with their parking charges; greedy landlords who


surprisingly good


chance of acceptance


have imposed onerous leases with a rent review regime that has cloned our blandest towns and cities; wannabe developers who secured the contractual loyalty of those aforementioned district councils and then tumbled into bankruptcy with the banking crisis. But, hark! What is that I hear? Genuine and interesting expressions of interest from those who would invest in our town centre? Maybe the future’s rather brighter than I thought. A good friend of mine has proved that this may not be such a bad time to open a shop. Spotting a vacant unit in a decent location in a prosperous south east town, he off ered a rent well less than half the asking rate and then included business rate and a rent free period into the bargain. T e letting agent at fi rst refused to forward the off er to the landlord, but was then astonished when it was gratefully accepted. Rents are now falling in many areas which were only recently regarded as unassailable and cheeky off ers from tenants stand a surprisingly good chance of acceptance. Oh, and don’t forget to build in at least one break clause to any lease that exceeds fi ve years’ duration. A recent discussion I had assessed the impact of suppliers from mainland Europe who have been making some concerted eff orts to gain a foothold in the United Kingdom home and gift trade. Most were reckoned to have fallen well short of the required standard, with grumbles that many set absurd minimum order levels with steep transport charges, no carriage paid thresholds, Euro only payments, no card facilities to accept payments, no UK sales force or contacts. T e list of shortcomings went on and on. Silea, based near Paris, were reckoned to be one of the few who have actually gone about it all the right way, featuring sterling payment facilities, an excellent UK sales force and realistic, carriage paid order terms and some distinctive products. T e much trumpeted and slightly updated Equality Act 2010 has attracted


the derision and scorn of T e Daily Mail. I’ve looked over it in no great detail and it seems to update and consolidate pretty much everything we all should have known already. But a fear is growing of a perceived new threat that employers may be held liable for insults and perceived discriminations that their staff may face from work colleagues or customers. Will the courts become swamped with such lawsuits? I was also just a little dismayed by an example cited on the website (www. equalityhumanrights.com) off ering an example of an employer who recruits drivers by recommendation from his current workforce leading to a white, family-based workforce in an area of high ethnic diversity. T is employer is almost certainly, we are told, guilty of discrimination. I detest discrimination and abhor racial division, but I am still uneasy about governments that believe they can cure society’s divisions by legislation. We are all assured of the marketing


benefi ts of illustrating our green credentials. Ludicrous examples of “greenwash” abound everywhere. A friend drew my attention to an online furniture retailer seeking applause for their decision not to airfreight furniture from Asia. Tosh. I read of the death of Don Partridge


wistfully. Briefl y a very big pop star in 1968 with a song entitled “Rosie,” he could be heard busking in Burgess Hill from time to time, his huge voice carrying through the shopping centre. A true character who had turned his back on success and show business, requests to play his best known song were always decisively declined with colourful profanities.


Brian Wiseman has owned home and gift shop Present Company in Burgess Hill, West Sussex for 23 years. Brian’s wife Louise is buyer and recruits solely on the criteria of tea making skills. “Is this discriminatory?” she asks. brian_presentco@yahoo.co.uk


Brian Wiseman considers the prognosis for Christmas


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