Topic: Come get yer shiiiite, three for a paaaaaaand!

[Provocateur]

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WELCOME to Swindon - where visions come to life!

In a dynamic and vibrant example of the cabinet and Forward Swindon's sweeping regeneration scheme, a NEW Poundland shop is opening in the town centre!

It comes as a complete vindication of the ££££££s of public money spent repaving the recently retarmac'd, re-slabbed and modernised street. It also shows how allowing fantastically imaginative purveyors of public art to contract architects 'artists' they knew (and who live in other parts fo the country) to make exciting pieces of public sculpture for hundreds of thousands of pounds - Surely we all agree it's an investment has been well worth the rewards in terms of attracting such high-end new business to the town centre?

That's right - Swindon! A place with its very own own single bookshop now boasts a town centre in which we have no less than THREE 'small change emporia'!!! Theese will augment the 29% APR 'buy it now, whatever your current debt' bauble shop, pasty, burger and pie shops, shell suit outfitters, mobile phone and exciting soon-to-be opened (but currently empty) retail outlets, combining to deliver a shopping experience rivalled only by... in fact, utterly unrivaled anywhere in the South West!

Swindon - it's the most exciting place in the country to visit for all your one pound comestibles! The message such a potent mix of spending opportunities sends the country is clear - if you can't really afford it and probably don't need it, come to Swindon!

Just thank your lucky stars that our wise council and their sage friends in business spent huge amounts of time and effort to drive away the independent and naughty entrepreneur street traders from the town centre: Through their tireless efforts to demonstrate a 'quality mix of businesses', the brains of Swindon have delivered you this aspirational shopping experience, one which will blow all tawdry national stereotypes of our town clean out the water.

Soon the lucky visitor can sit in Wharf Green with a Greggs or McDonalds, idly swinging a carrier bag full of one pound clipper lighters and toilet cleaner whilst watching the delights of the Olympics (provided of course the management of said massive screen hasn't decided instead to televise an overtly commercial a brand sponsored stunt in London.)

Or, if repeated clips of local bbc and oddments of the mixed doubles table tennis doesn't thrill you, you can contemplate your £1 purchases over a Special Brew in the new Vomitoriam Gardens, located conveniently near to the piss-reeking bus station and 'winos retreat' underpass.

Swindon - it's an aspirational thing.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/9544244.Now_we_can_be_quids_in_____again/?ref=mmsp

Gary Mealing, president of Swindon’s Chamber of Commerce, said the opening was great news.

“This just points out that Swindon town centre is a place where people choose to go and do their shopping,” he said. “I know the town centre gets maligned on ocassion but if you make a point of going there and doing shopping it is a great place.

“The figures in terms of footfall support the idea that people are choosing more and more to do their shopping in Swindon.

“That is good news for the town and probably a reflection of the current economy that people are having to hunt a bit more for bargains.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland, said: “This is a welcome development for the town centre and I am particularly pleased with the number of jobs being created. It is good news.”

The store will also be home to a Discount UK outlet, which offers more than 3,000 products with savings on home furnishings, electricals and branded toys.

Chris Edwards Junior, trading director at Poundworld and Discount UK, said: “We look forward to welcoming customers and we hope the exciting brand split will prove a bit hit with savvy shoppers in Swindon.”

NOTE: The Advertiser has deemed this story unworthy of a comments section. Any speculation that this was as a result of pressure from the Chamber Of Commerce or council is of course unjustified and no-doubt utterly false. Just like claims that Wi-Fi was a debacle, that the Croft go-ahead wasn't agreed in the face of majority support from the local populace or that Rod Bluh hasn't got a sense of humour or humility.

All of this is good for us. The correct decisions continue to be made by people who know far better than we mere rebellious proles.

Celebrate! Rejoice! The new £1 Jerusalem is here!

[Tobes]

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if you can't really afford it and probably don't need it, come to Swindon!

And: 'If you know that price matters more than value, come to Swindon! We'll accept and celebrate any old bag-of-balls here!!'

(Should we suggest these new vibrant strap-lines to the cabinet? It could work really well for current planning policy too)

[Mart]

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Bugger, I thought there was some cheap compost to be had of the non metaphorical type.

one pound clipper lighters and toilet cleaner

I didn't know Clipper did toilet cleaner, can I fill my Zippo with Toilet Duck? I will begin cleaning the toilet with petrol immediately, probably with amusing results.

Chris Edwards Junior, trading director at Poundworld and Discount UK, said: “We look forward to welcoming customers and we hope the exciting brand split will prove a bit shit with savvy shoppers in Swindon.”

Fixed that for him.

Irony is that Swindon was diverse and vibrant when I first moved down. Now the Town Centre is feckin horrible. They do gibber on about footfall a lot, makes you wonder what the figures are for the actual cash these falling feet are leaving behind.

Footfall up and turnover down is eminently acheivable, we spend bugger all down there any more, are the figures getholdofable or are they super secret?

If they are secret they are bad.

[the gorgon]

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Whilst it is grim having another £ shop at least the old Woolies store won't be standing totally empty.  These £ stores must be doing a roaring trade as I had a peek through the window on Saturday and it's whopping, stretches all the way to Edgeware Rd by the looks of it.

Oh and it looks like something is finally happening with the abandoned Burger King unit as it's being converted into a Co-op supermarket.

Look on the bright side at someone actually wants to open a store in town and we're moaning about that as opposed to moaning about empty shop units.  I bet there are towns out there that would kill to have a £ shop.

[Tobes]

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If you throw a starving man a tick-tack, he'll be grateful.

However, his gratitude proves how far gone he is.

I think feeling 'positive' about another Poundland (when we already have two other near identical cut-price shops, offering exactly the same range of goods) is rather sad: Sad, because all three sit at the very epicentre of what used to be a bustling and successful retail centre with a mix of shopping - and which are located in what would be prime pitches in a town which could credibly boast to be 'thriving'.

If the town centre can't attract anything except a near monopoly offering of the very lowest order of shops, then it speaks volumes for how far down into a proper depression the town has plunged. Marts point about footfall not equating to turnover is well made and compelling.

That mix of shops is hardly going to convince any potential investor to the contrary either - making the chances to improve the town centre shopping experience all the more remote.

'And the meek Chav shall inherit The Earth'

[Mart]

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I bet there are towns out there that would kill to have a £ shop.

Caracas, Venezuela
Mogadishu, Somalia
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Grozny, Chechnya, Russia
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Bogota, Colombia
Baghdad, Iraq
Guatemala City, Guatemala
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Cape Town, South Africa
b]

and of course that myffical Shangri La, Digital City. I noticed that Iraq and Afghanistan dipped out though they were cited as comparisons. I think a £1 shop could cure their ills and put them back on the road of civic righteousness. Course them Kalashnikovs will have to go, but it's the doughnut vendors you really have to watch.

Wonder if Rodders and his crew fancy personally exporting their brand of local government to one of that lot. I vote Mogadishu. Imagine explaining to the local warlord how you've just spunked $400,000 and haven't even got a kilo of dope to show for it.

I reckon there's a film in it, crusading councillors bring their rough brand of civic responsibility to a war torn town...........

[Chav]

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'And the meek Chav shall inherit The Earth'

She already has dude , she already has 

The 99er today , £1 land tomorrow.  Good old stock up on various cleaning products, big bottles of garlic mayo (like the ones at the kebab van), multi packs of refreshers  (they work better than rennies)

Wonder if there will be a price war ! Maybe the 99p shop will reduce everything to 49p whey hey!

[Richard Symonds]

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Wonder if Rodders and his crew fancy personally exporting their brand of local government to one of that lot. I vote Mogadishu. Imagine explaining to the local warlord how you've just spunked $400,000 and haven't even got a kilo of dope to show for it.

I reckon there's a film in it, crusading councillors bring their rough brand of civic responsibility to a war torn town...........

If he behaved the way he does in Swindon he would need more than the three security guards he had at Scutiny as the local warlords would probably take him out and shoot him if he spunked £400,000 of their dosh!!

Now don't get any silly ideas good people   

and you left Dorking Surrey off the list Mart!

How could you?

[Tobes]

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the three security guards he had at Scutiny

YOU'RE KIDDING ME?! 

 

[Rochelle]

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it's true! wonder how many we'll have tomorrow???

[Muggins]

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Security guards, I wouldn't doubt it, on one of the first ventures into Penhill - some years ago now, (one of those area panels if my memory serves me right) they brought their own uniformed security guards with them - whilst my elderly sister cand several other elderly people had to walk home across the estate on their own! 

On the subject of the town centre and feeling the need to visit a Poundshop, (decorations for a  party and office/craft supplies), never let it be said that Muggins does not have the bulldog spirit, (or maybe that should be the Staffy spirit) at some point in the next few weeks I will be going over the top. 

I will however, avoid House of Fraser like the plague. But might treat myself to a McDonalds whilst I'm there and watch the big screen whilst I eat it.

Let's face it, if all the shops were filled, no one would be worrying about having three pound shops. One very cheap shop closed down last year, so this one will replace that one, so we are no worse/better off. 

What you are all bemoaning is the fact that other 'better' chains and smaller interesting traders won't come here, that's not the fault of the poundshops. 

When I do go in, I will be wearing my new skirt, jacket and top I bought online. So whose fault will it be when Evans closes down? 

[the gorgon]

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That's the spirit Muggins! 

If we were in the middle of a massive economic boom we could rightly moan that Fortnum and Mason aren't opening a store.  However, we're potentially in another recession and are moaning that a £ shop is creating 40 jobs and is filling a retail unit that would otherwise be empty.  Seems a bit silly to me. 

I agree that having loads of £ shops isn't a great sign about the state of the town centre but perhaps we'd rather look like Rotherham, what a beautiful high street they have, not a single pound shop in sight.

[Muggins]

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Oh wow, Ox eye daisies and squiggly bits, right up my alley. 

Didn't we have something amusing todoing with mirrors etc. whatt happened to that, when I tried it, I was too short to gt my head in the gap bit, so never did find out what I might look like with another body.

Did they listen to my idea about projecting things on to buildings, cheap and changeable?  No they didn't...........

Somehow I get the impression that it's not me they are trying to engage.

[Tobes]

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Hmmmm - 40 jobs created in the short term... It may be so - but there are some questions arrising:

How many of those jobs will offer any sort of security?
How many will be permanent rather than temporary?
How many will be on a salary above national minimum wage?
How many career opportunities are there in the Poundland Empire?

How many future jobs lost because outsiders will look at the retail offering and decide that its a 'chav only' zone, and go elsewhere? (many of Swindon's shoppers already feel disenfranchised and spend their money elsewhere as it is)

How many retailers with a brand image they might want to protect will look at Swindon, the existing shops, the clientèle they attract and the money they spend (easily deducible in this case!), and decide that they'd be better investing in one of the surrounding towns?

There is also the danger of the contradictory and hypocritical logic of the council and Swindon First; shamelessly (and shamefully?) hounding out the street traders with the excuse that they 'lowered the tone', spending lots of time and money on knee-jerk regeneration and dubious public art - but actually trying the celebrate our third pound-shop move as a vindication of their policies!

Swindon, its politicians and people have a habit of welcoming moves which on a superficial and facile level look 'good'. Many of them are - in the short-term. But towns, aspirant cities and balanced and thriving communities however take years and years to develop and depend upon long term strategy and investments

A critical mass of crap shops might create a legacy which this town takes a generation or more to shake off.

A Poundland is a good thing - it provides cheap(ish) goods for people with not a lot of money to spend.

Two? Well, that's stretching it - especially as the whole pricing policy of Poundshops is hardly likely to lead to any meaningful competition, is it?? (think about it!!!)

But THREE large poundshops?! What does that tell anyone about the quality and type of image which this town and its people presents to the world?

I know this view sounds curmudgeonly. But I firmly believe that the short term benefits are more than outweighed by the long term damage.

I guess time will tell. Anyone want to bet against me?

[Muggins]

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Tobes:  (many of Swindon's shoppers already feel disenfranchised and spend their money elsewhere.

That's nothing new Tobes, they always have, they always have.  'I bought it in Swindon', just does not have the same ring to it as 'I bought it in Oxford etc.'

Three poundshops would not last long if there are not enough shoppers in them.
It's not just about how cheap it is, it's about getting a bargain and fun finding out what they are selling this week. And what numpty will go over the Staples and buy a pack of see through filing envelopes for £5 when they can get the same for £1.

People from Swindon are pretty shrewd, and you know what they say 'a fool an his money are soon parted' - and he usually parts with it in Oxford, etc.

Over heard years ago at a craft market, in Swindon.  "I wish we had antique fairs here too." "Oh! I wouldn't bother if they did, not when I can go to Oxford and Bath."

[Tobes]

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many of Swindon's shoppers already feel disenfranchised and spend their money elsewhere.

That's nothing new Tobes, they always have, they always have.  'I bought it in Swindon', just does not have the same ring to it as 'I bought it in Oxford etc.'

Twas ever thus and ever thus shall be? 

Taking that logic forwards, I guess you'd have to conclude that any effort to improve the town in terms of the range of shops ought to be seen as a waste of time?

Don't you think that the nature of a town centre helps shape the way in which it is perceived by outsiders, and in turn has an important role to play in attracting a balance of different types of people to choose to come and invest/live here?

People from Swindon are pretty shrewd, and you know what they say 'a fool an his money are soon parted' - and he usually parts with it in Oxford, etc.

Your defence of Swindon, whilst laudable, once again strays into the realm of rose-tinted specs. If Swindon people were so shrewd about spending their money wisely, is it fair to ask whether these poundlands would be within a stone's throw of a Brighthouse? 

[James]

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For me the problem Swindon has is that there is no reason for anyone who isn't from Swindon to come here.
They can choose Bristol, Bath, Reading, Oxford, Cheltenham, or Salisbury. Cardiff isn't that far, nor is Oxford Street, or the Bull Ring in Birmingham.
If you had to choose between one of them, and Swindon, I suspect you would not think twice about avoiding Swindon. 
We need a USP (Unique Selling Point). And we don't have one for the town centre.
We have the Outlet Village. That does. And brings people from all over.
But I have seen nothing in any of the plans published in the last few years (in fact since before I started posting on TS) that would attract anyone from outside the area to our town centre.

We can't compete for history, quality, or scale. Competing for cheap simply restricts the audience, as those who want cheap probably can't afford to choose to travel anyway, and it discourages those who don't want cheap if there is too much of it.

I don't think we're actually too badly off, if I'm honest (plenty of empty units in Bath & Reading when I went in December & January respectively), and far better than some.
BUT it feels as if we have no plan, and the risk is that the other towns/cities will work even harder to get our business, pulling even more spend out of the town centre.

We shop mostly on line for food, and when we leisure shop it is often to one of the shopping centres listed above. 

[the gorgon]

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I agree with a lot James has said, and I'm sure I've said some of this before but I'll repeat myself anyway...

Swindon will never be a Bath or Oxford, because of the tourist trade (rich American, Japanese, Chinese etc) they can sustain far fancier shops than they otherwise would.  We won't be a Bristol either as it's a large city (more than twice the population of Swindon).

Swindon is also rather odd as it has an outlet village pretty much in the centre of the town, which sucks in those who are interested in fancy designer labels from Swindon and outside (wonder how many pop into John Lewis at Mannington on the way home).

So the thing the town centre must do is address the needs of the population of the town, if it can get enough people in town and shopping by addressing their more basic needs then there is a chance (as the economy picks up) that good footfall may encourage better stores to move in.

If £ shops put off investors/developers I wonder what empty shop units and low footfall would do?

[Tobes]

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If £ shops put off investors/developers I wonder what empty shop units and low footfall would do?

The same - but its a false parallel.

We've just endured/'benefitted' from a regeneration, which as James has pointed out, singularly failed to provide a USP draw.

Instead of the canal (who needs a canal when everyone else has one, when it wouldn't be historically accurate, would be dead-ended and would create massive disruption) - why not instead celebrate Swindon's most meaningful bit of heritage and create a small line of track carrying a steam locomotive which could carry fair paying passengers between Steam, The Outlet Village and the town centre? Gotta be a lot cheaper to lay some track than to dig a whacking big trench...

Too imaginative?

Well, what about redeveloping the Woolworths site to provide a proper purpose build gallery to actually display Swindon's art collection (much of which is in storage due to space constraints) . The collection of 20th century art is widely regarded as one of the best outside of London - and yet its housed in a tiny building at the wrong end of town... This museum would actually provide a proper draw for people from across the country.

[Alex]

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If £ shops put off investors/developers I wonder what empty shop units and low footfall would do?

The same - but its a false parallel.

We've just endured/'benefitted' from a regeneration, which as James has pointed out, singularly failed to provide a USP draw.

Instead of the canal (who needs a canal when everyone else has one, when it wouldn't be historically accurate, would be dead-ended and would create massive disruption) - why not instead celebrate Swindon's most meaningful bit of heritage and create a small line of track carrying a steam locomotive which could carry fair paying passengers between Steam, The Outlet Village and the town centre? Gotta be a lot cheaper to lay some track than to dig a whacking big trench...

Too imaginative?

Well, what about redeveloping the Woolworths site to provide a proper purpose build gallery to actually display Swindon's art collection (much of which is in storage due to space constraints) . The collection of 20th century art is widely regarded as one of the best outside of London - and yet its housed in a tiny building at the wrong end of town... This museum would actually provide a proper draw for people from across the country.

I like both of those ideas Tobes- they make so much more sense and they have integrity- reflecting the real cultural heritage of the place. That really would make Swindon attractive and a magnet to a diverse range of visitors.