Recession - Are we Winning?

[Jack Marshall]

A few weeks ago I was looking for "Off the wall Ideas" from the site to help us all fight the recession. So far they have been a bit thin on the ground so here are a couple of ideas I have been punting around. Please let me have your reaction and let me know if you think they are worth pursuing.

Firstly the empty shops are a bit dismal on our High Streets. Do you think it would be worth trying to get the window space for interested local businesses to set up window displays in order to highlight the products and services that are available locally?

Secondly how about a local "Dragons Den" type approach where any business (large or small) can chip in some funding and then be given the opportunity along with others to be introduced to any local startup business that might need a little bit of help with management experience and financial support to get them going.

Is there anybody out there who might like to get involved? Be aware there is absolutely nothing yet in place and at this stage these are only ideas in my head. So please let me know what you think.

Finally it is only people who have their own constructive ideas to put forward who are allowed to give me a hard time.

With regards to all - Jack Marshall

[Glenda Young]

I think it's definitely worth pursuing any avenue which gets the empty shops working for something, whether it be advertising (which would be my second choice) or preferably occupied, even if that be on short term rents. (Charities for example usually welcome some cheap / free time in local high streets to boost funds).

This seems achievable at least for shops which are owned by Falkirk Council but perhaps not so easy for those which are privately owned. I did ask at a recent meeting where Falkirk Council officers were present whether something could be done about the empty shops in Bo'ness (some are sadly virtually derelict) only to be told that they have approached the property owners and had no response or willingness to make any progress.

The good news is that of 2 council properties currently sitting empty one has a tenant arranged and they have vacant possession of the other so these should hopefully back in business soon. Also, one of the Anderson shops has been empty for some time but there is a new tenant in place, and the shop which was the cobblers is now occupied. So for at least a few Bo'ness properties things are not as dismal as they intially appear.

One other idea which is currently being pursued is the possibility of bringing together the Bo'ness town centre retailers in a group aimed at coordinating their collective input and acting on their ideas for making improvements. Several other town centres in a similar situation to Bo'ness have done this with some success. Anyone who has a retail business in Bo'ness town centre and wants to get involved should get in touch. Watch this space...

Best Regards
Glenda

[Jack Marshall]

Hi Glenda,

Thanks for your comments. Of course I am reasonably aware of the Bo'ness situation although my Company is not in the retail sector.

It is obviously good that some shop properties in Bo'ness are being re-occupied. I must say that I have watched the general decline of the town centre over many years starting with the main traders closing their doors at noon on Saturdays when I first arrived here in the sixties. I seems to me that those traders started the decline by making it easy for local people to leave the town to go shopping in Falkirk etc.

I also wonder if charities are maybe a two edged sword. They do enjoy cheap low rent/rates and also a lot of no cost voluntary labour. Do they not therefore compete unfairly with bona fide traders who need to earn a crust to stay in business? I don't know - as I say I don't have a lot of experience in the retail sector.

Maybe the non-responsive owners of the existing empty properties need a loud clear message that they have a responsibility to the community beyond their own narrow self interest.

The idea that the Town Centre Traders might get together to promote the area is great however I believe this has been tried a number of times in the past with mixed results so I think it will need to be some dynamic new initiative or change of attitude by some Traders to help it succeed.

I hope your contribution leads the way for many more to comment and in the meantime "all strength to your elbow" for your efforts in the town.

Warm regards - jack

[Val Trotter]

Jack and Glenda,
I am right behind you with your wish to see the town centre fully occupied and vibrant. I have to agree with Jack on the issue of charity shops having an unfair advantage over commercial businesses and this has caused a great deal of concern - particularly as most of them now sell new stock which they are able to undercut comercial retailers. We already have 2 charity shops in Bo'ness and this is surely enough.
Would it not be a better idea for local artists, potters and other craft individuals to have a change to try to sell their products?
Any discussion on this and other town centre matters is good.
Regards
Val

[Craig McManus]

Jack, the recession is hitting everyone, and the suggestion of using the empty shop fronts is a good one, why dont we get the local secondary schools involved. let pupils design a shop front/marketing campaign sponsored by a local business, then set them up in the empty windows. we then get the local shoppers to vote on the winner.
free marketing for local business, growth of young talent in our area and potential new employees. and local newspaper coverage and council involvement.

Just a thought
Craig

[michelle mckearnon]

Hi Craig
Great idea. The person to contact about involving school pupils in business projects is Lynn Lauder who is the lead officer for Enterprise in Education with the council. You can email her on [e-mail]

Michelle

[Jack Marshall]

Hi Craig,

I raised the idea of using empty shops for the use of local business to promote their products with The Leadership Group of the Falkirk Business Panel some time before I posted it here. Currently I have been informed that the red tape surrounding the use of empty shops for purposes like this are onerous and fraught with difficulties.

Recently however I notice that the idea has been picked up by a number of English areas and they are using empty shops for galleries and other social uses.

I guess its is a question of "Where there is a will there is a way" anyway I do think there is mileage in what I suggested and maybe some other members can provide some ideas on how to move it forward.

[Rob Willox]

Hi Jack

BmB has raised this issue a number fo times, with both TCM and FC as there is always, at least, a few empty shops, sometimes only temporary, but nevertheless empty all the same.

As you highlight there is a problem with red tape and the type of use they could be used for but an additional one is that they are not all within the control of the local authority and both arranging access, and in many cases adequate insurance cover etc, can be difficult if the actual owners are not local and property managed through a third party who again may not be easy to contact.

However, in the case of property owned and operated by the council I would have thought that any problems would not be unsurmountable and liaison with local groups could well overcome them.

Bonnie Bo'ness, in years past, used to get access to the, now, Regeneration Office in the lead up to Xmas so it is not totally impossible with the right commitment and contact with the relevant council department and officers.