By Brendon Cook, Managing Director of Kiwi Recruitment and Chichester BID Board Member
It goes without saying that in today’s climate, price has to be a factor. After everything that has happened over the last few years, its understandable that most people make price the imperative reason behind their shopping choices. Giants like Amazon have people continuously flocking to their sites because they will always beat the high street on price each and every time.
But is that enough of a reason to stick with them?
Surely, things haven’t changed so much that we as consumers don’t need to look at longevity. Chichester high street always boasted a host of independent shops and eateries, and sadly, over the years they have dwindled and faded away. Their personality, their quality, their individuality, has been swallowed up by more and more chains that inevitably leave the high street as a carbon copy of any other street in Britain.
Is that what we want?
For the sake of those few extra pence, does it not make sense to contribute to someone’s livelihood? Is it not better to help real people grow real businesses, and see something family run bloom into something bigger?
There’s still evidence of this happening all around us. The Barn in Little London, an independent eatery that uses fresh produce from the local area has just opened up a second location on East Street. In a world where we’re so reliant on fast, cheap food, its glorious to see that something so unique has grown and thrived.
The fact of the matter is, if we don’t use these businesses, we will lose them. The friendly faces of Chichester’s traders will diminish if we don’t give them the revenue. It’s up to us to help Chichester hold onto its heritage and remain a city filled with the beautifully unique and irreplaceably individual.