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Sizes - Helen (10th Mar 2009 - 12:30:58) Why is it the bigger the village the less the amenities ie shops closing and laying empty, talk of the bordon bus going, railway station opening/closing odd hours. I'm sure there are other things but cant think of them off the top of my head but i bet others will.

Re: Sizes - Sue w (10th Mar 2009 - 19:01:05) Helen The reason the village is bigger but shops are closing is unfortunately a sign of the times. Most of those who are filling the new housing estates and buying houses work away, and are not here to support as true local people once did. We do not have enough employment sites here and a very lazy council who does nothing to support businesses. I have given up on trying to get proper advertisement for our village, and support in particular for Station Road, and quite frankly am at the point of saying do nothing and you will regret it! You only have to look at news reports today, about the decline of the high street - it has been happening for years, but the current cut back in consumer spending has excelorated what has been bubbling for some time. Yes they may pop in from time to time, but as someone once said nothing in Liphook inspires him to shop here. I for one never feel the need to be inspired to shop, my needs are simple if I want it, and do not want to waste time and money travelling to Portsmouth or Guildford I would always buy quick and use the free parking here!!. But then I am obviously biased!! On a lighter note - I have been informed that a new hair and beauty salon is opening in station Road, and if its true - Countrywide have purchased Deans and intend to move to Hollycombe. Any one else know differently?

Re: Sizes - Katy (11th Mar 2009 - 17:55:03) Sue I moved in to one of the new housing estates, work away AND SHOP LOCAL as much as possible so please don't try and blame the public! I would love to buy shoes here - no shoe shop, would like more varied food - no deli, would love an Italian restaurant or Mediteranean, no joy there either. We can't shop local without the shops. I have little sympathy for the Station Road retailers, look at the state of the outside of their shops. I know you sweep up outside but how many others take pride in their appearance? Pressure needs to be put on landlords of the empty shops too. If they are keeping the prices artificially high in order to try and convert to flats in the future by claiming they are impossible to rent then the council must introduce penalties i.e. extra council tax etc to stop this practice as has been done in other areas I believe. I am not sure what impact a sign on Sainsburys roundabout pointing towards Station Road would have. Surely people that live and work in Liphook know it exists and what shops are there. What happened to the Station Road forum that Rob Evans set up? Have heard nothing about it in the local press since his businesses opened up. Maybe you need to try new ideas like the market this Saturday. Maybe liaise with Ben to get a summer street market, have an offer of the week in each shop eg buy one roll get one free at the bakers, free drink with each meal at the Gurkha, free treatment with each haircut at the hairdressers, free energy light bulb with £10 spent at the Hardware shop. You really need to get people in to the road and the only way to do that is to clean up the area and work together on promotions. Get some vibrancy and excitement in to the area. Have you tried Ellen at Connector to do a promotion? There are opportunities to be taken, you know you cant waste energy complaining about people not supporting you, you need to find out why and then do something to change this, Good luck! Katy

Re: Sizes - Sue w (11th Mar 2009 - 23:31:33) Katy I appreciate that you mean well, but honestly your pre conceptions of what I seem to have not done or not capable of doing I find astonishing. I don’t want this to be personal but cannot answer without it seeming to be. I seem to remember one very enthusiastic bank clerk, who put our names forward for 'start up stars' at HSBC. We and I am still that same business!! I fully understand that NOT all new comers here, do not support, but you must also accept that it applies to a large amount. The problem is when I talk on here - its so easy to point fingers directly to me, and to belittle peoples business skills by stating the obvious - perhaps you have not seen our offers on light bulbs, sale products and threw away leaflets offering 10% off goods - I could go on. Many times people are offered discounts on purchases - of reasonable quantities - you only have to ask. You forget that each and every retailer has their own cash flow, and ways of doing their business. Just to satisfy you and anyone else - I wrote and followed up letters offering a great deal with the radio to promote the whole street - and guess what only 2 other businesses were interested. You can’t MAKE people do anything - and that goes for the members of the public too. We have tried to gain advertising to promote Station Road at the roundabout, to you it would seem pointless - but we are trying ALL avenues - but not right in your eyes. It may surprise you that there are a significant number of people that live in Liphook - 'the other end' who openly admit to not shopping in 'New Town', and when I leafleted cars in Sainsbury’s car park (and by the way was told it was private property and If i did it again I would be removed!), was directly told by those who did not live here that they were not aware of any shops near the Station - so that is why it is obvious to put some there. Let me remind you - I did not ask the question, in fact what is your answer to why Helen feels the way she does? from your post you are disappointed with what is on offer. for one who see fault in individuals you are not supportive enough when they do try, but rather criticize You would obviously have the skills to open and run a very successful shoe shop to your liking - so why don’t you do something for the community and try it! I had a good idea for raising funds for the Carnival – incorporating retailers in Station Road – which I would have hoped would have run for a week – with different attractions daily – each shop doing something and colleting money for a month on the counter – unfortunately the Chairperson – who asked for ideas said they would contact me and didn’t –I became too busy to follow it up. Then they came out with the fun day and it seemed duplication. The wine shop chatted to us about doing something similar a few years ago, but nothing came of that either. I think I have said on here before that it would be nice to hold a farmers market – but for that to happen the council would need to be involved – and no one from that body has ever approached the subject – and we know a large number of them read this site – so I have to presume that they have no enthusiasm to do so. Somehow, you do not see posting these reasons as constructive, but by doing so just may make one or too individuals stop and think about where they spend their money - again it is just another tool to keep the subject afloat. I also know only too well that for some it will be negative - but we are back to square one - say nothing and you are not doing right say something and be shot at. I really can't speak for what has happened with the station Road retailers association that Rob wanted to set up - but perhaps he too has found it more of a challenge than first thought. He is far more qualified in Business than us mere simpletons - I think the word unity is lacking in some peoples minds. But I feel that things are going to change over the next few months - some shops that have been closed on Mondays are now going to open, a shop has changed hands, a new one will be open soon. As for the Italian - the guy pulled out because of the cost and just may be did not want to commit in these hard times - I certainly do not blame him for that. I also know of a man who really wanted to open a deli/farm shop in station road - but again felt the risk too great. I wonder how many people who moan about the lack of shops would do differently. Perhaps we are much more in touch with the traders than you, perhaps they would not tell you their worries and fears - but believe me there are some who are just hanging on to keep their door open for you to pop into. Have you ever said to those who had a business here or any high street shop which is now closed that they did not know what they were doing - and its their own fault that the business failed? I know of a few who would put you right Can you answer me one thing, when another member of business - very recently in Station road made a point of locals supporting business - why did you not reply in the same manner to them? I do have something else to ask - we have been open for the past 7 years on a Sunday - why was sales only £36 something this week? and would you find this business sense? and the question we now face is it worth carrying on or close - decision is totally yours (for a short while). I am really sorry for those who I bore, and tired of hearing it – but if and when more shops close – who is the greater looser YOU – the COMMUNITY. I cant be anything other than I am - and shoot from the hip - let me try an experiment with you - you stump up the cash for us to advertise, do cut back offers and if trade is increased via your ideas - I will fully refund your money - after all we need the help - and that is all I can say. Sue PS - I don’t know if you are informed enough - but I do not appear in the shop anymore - just the odd times as I have gone out and got a job - paying better money and this relieves my wages from the business. We have reduced all the overhead commitments - but as you have financial knowledge you are most welcome to be proactive and helpful on that front.

Re: Sizes - Karen F (12th Mar 2009 - 10:36:36) Sue Would prefer if you didn't use this forum as an excuse to have a pop at me. I apologise that I didn't get the time to listen to your 'fund raising idea', but with two children under the age of 8, a husband who works away from home, plus being a Chair of Governors at a local school plus other committments to the community, guess what, I forgot. You could have called me, communication is, after all, a two way thing. Not sure what you mean about the fun day being a 'duplication'? It was an original idea thought up by the Carnival Committee, and as far as I am concerned the only words needed to describe the fun day are 'success' and 'profitable'. For what it's worth, I personally don't think that the success of the shops in Station Road has anything to do with signage, incentive sales or poor marketing, it really is just that the appearance of the whole area is outdated and extremely unattractive. What is needed to improve the situation is an architect, several million pounds and a large bulldozer. Karen

Re: Sizes - sue w (12th Mar 2009 - 11:21:00) Karen Oh my God!! I certainly was not having a pop at you -but was explaining that at times I have been proactive with the community and honestly sorry that you have taken it personally. The reason I said it was’duplication’ is again true. I had already informed you I had an idea - which you never got to hear and when I found out about what the committee had proposed - totally independently, realised that it was too much of a similar idea. It just proves that my ideas are good too - but kept mine under wraps. Yes it is a good idea and successful and so is the carnival. Which is helped a lot by the business community. Do you know you people really make me upset and very sad – I’m totally at a loss as to how to overcome everyone making me feel inadequate and hateful? I have just been positive and proactive and am willing to showcase the business – trying to be uplifted and cheerful – but smacked back again by the very people we are providing a facility to and funding for. I have some serious considerations to make Best wishes to the Carnival and what ever you wish to do in the future x

Re: Sizes - Dawn Hoskins (12th Mar 2009 - 11:45:29) Sue, Call me 751561 Dawn

Re: Sizes - barbara (12th Mar 2009 - 12:45:17) I appreciate that you are suffering in the downturn Sue as I am personally, but this is not the fault of a lazy parish council. The parish council is not a small business forum, it is not set up to get you business.

Re: Sizes - Sue W (12th Mar 2009 - 19:31:20) Barbara You are not a business forum - but what decisicions you recommend do have consequences for business - you have in the past supported the old Liphook Marketing Panel, a shops alliance set up in the last recession to promote the village - and you still make donations to them now - even though they are disbanded. A street map is produced in their name but as an orginsation to promote liphook - a non starter. You should be as equally concerned about the appearance of the street, the negativity that has been expressed from two posters about the area - should if nothing else set your minds thinking. Remember what the MP said recently in his free leaflet - small business and shops are not only part of the community they are the community! Even I would not go that far. Every one should take responsibility for why Liphook is growing but services and choice of shops are being reduced - yes the retailers have a place - the council, local and district, and the population should play their part. The problem is greater than I as a single person can possibly overturn. I have now lost the will to continue discussing. Your loss not mine!

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