High Street shopping is being put in danger of collapse by online surge says David Dudley

Town centres and High Street are in danger of collapse unless online shopping is made to share the overheads of rents and rates that retailers face.

The warning has come from Marlborough upmarket jeweller David Dudley, who points out that for every pound spent in the high street 50 per cent goes back into the community while every pound spent online only five per cent returns.

It was only a last minute realisation by people that all they needed was close at hand resulted in slow Christmas trade in Marlborough was finally boosted in the last week, he told Marlborough News Online.

“That saved many businesses from disaster,” he said.  “This applied to private and to the multiple shops too. What is interesting is how many people then realised that most of their needs were in the High Street after all.”

“I have a feeling that initially people were ordering online until the last week when they feared items would not be delivered on time, so business improved.”

He added: “One understands why people do this, as the iPad has changed the way we shop, but do they really understands the repercussions it has?  For every pound spent in the high street 50% goes back into the community.  Every pound spent on line only five per cent comes back.”

“When you go shopping you get personal service and expertise, as in our own shop all the staff have taken the jewellery qualifications to give customers good advice and full backup and support when it is needed.”

“This you cannot get online.  Jessop’s provided that service but people purchased online, so now no expert help is available.”

“Marlborough is full of many good shops giving expert advice.  They need your support.”

Mr Dudley believes that what is now needed is help for High Street retailers to compete with online companies, which is taking 13 per cent of business.

“Rates have to be reduced and put onto the online companies, whom we are subsidising, as we are, at present, trading in an unfair playing field nationally,” he declared.

“Companies like Amazon, who pay no corporation tax will have to comply with a new form of taxation/rates or else high streets will be full of coffee shops, restaurants and charity shops.  Is this what we want?

“The specialist shops like mine and Kim Vine (his wife’s fashion shop) will survive but we need to have a good mix for everyone to create a strong community spirit, as this is a wonderful town to visit and live in.”

“This is where the Marlborough Town Council can help and take a more positive role, making a visit to Marlborough a great experience and listening to the needs of the traders.  This is in hand but needs to be speeded up before it is too late.”

“Those who are concerned about carbon waste must surely realise that vans driving round the countryside belching out fumes and delivering parcels in cardboard boxes are not helping their cause.”

“Let us be positive and enjoy shopping in Marlborough.”