Hereford needs more "big independent stores"

1:00pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

Cherry Savidge, who has opened a new shop in East Street, says Hereford needs more independent stores. Pic Eye Contact Media Cherry Savidge, who has opened a new shop in East Street, says Hereford needs more independent stores. Pic Eye Contact Media

THE OWNER of a clothes shop in Hereford said the county needs “more big independent shops”.

Cherry Savidge first set up her women’s clothes shop of the same name 30 years ago, and has recently made the move from Widemarsh Street to East Street.

Cherry said she moved to ‘keep things moving forwards’ but that customers expectations stay the same.

“Over the years nothing has changed – people still want to see the same lovely quality clothes and good service," she said.

“Herefordshire needs more big independent shops. People love that intimate feeling they offer," she said.

Comments(23)

allhandstothedeck says...
3:53pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Thats all very well but the clothes from that shop is soooooo expensive. I would love to shop from there but my wages do not meet the very high price of the clothes .

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dippyhippy says...
8:21pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Far be it for me to comment on fashion,(Cardigans are fashionable,right??)
but I think a store selling pricier goods is no bad thing. We have the cheaper end of the market, with supermarkets selling clothes,and Primark,not to mention all the charity shops. We also have lots of mid-range shops,like M and S, Next etc.Surely,the better the mix of shops, the better the general appeal?? Good luck to you Cherry,I hope the move goes well. Just one thing though, why are you moving from Widemarsh street? Are the business rates cheaper in East Street?Or are you fed up with tripping up the infamous kerb? Just in case Mizza is reading this - if ever there was a need for a" tactile crossing", this is it!!

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ad47uk says...
9:46am Sun 3 Mar 13

allhandstothedeck wrote:
Thats all very well but the clothes from that shop is soooooo expensive. I would love to shop from there but my wages do not meet the very high price of the clothes .
The problem is, Hereford wages are pretty poor compared to other towns and it is getting worse with less jobs and what jobs that are available are only part time.

I try and buy from independent shops, but sometimes the prices are out of my range. I buy from Butchers and buy my cheese from the butter market when I can get into town and bread from Moores behind the butter market, but try doing that when you got a family.

I wish Cherry Savidge all the best, but I think Hereford is gone, done and finished, once the old cattle market is revamped i can't see any one wanting to go into the main city centre because there is not thing there. Saying that there will be nothing in the OCM to interest me either.

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bobby47 says...
1:15pm Sun 3 Mar 13

How on earth did we allow this to happen to our City?
Why is it that a small group of people who have their hands on the levers of power can have such a devastatingly profound affect upon the traders of High Town and the citizens of Hereford?
I haven't got one single thing in common with Cherry or any of our other City traders. Bill Jackson, the Chair of Hereford Enterprise Zone has much in common with this group of people.
Like the traders of Hereford, he has created wealth, jobs and prosperity for himself, his family and the many people of Hereford who have benefitted from the drive, imagination and will to create a business and see it flourish and prosper.
As I have said, I've got nothing in common with those that I have described. I've never had the courage to create a business and give it a go. I've never created a single penny of wealth to help the economy of my home.
In short, I ain't got a clue how to generate wealth, jobs and prosperity to aid our economy.
Thinking about it, I've got more in common with bloody Jarvis because he's as clueless as me but much, much more dangerous and damaging to our future.
I've recently been described by Jon Jackson as a vociferous gainsayer. I've sat and pondered this description of me and others and on the face of it, it may well be right.
That said, for my own peace of mind I'd prefer to incorporate the word sincere into this description of me and others who genuinely fear for our future.
What would I like and wish for? I'd like Mr Bill Jackson to take a moment and rest his efforts relating to the new Enterprise Zone. I'd like him to wander through High Town and witness the decline of our home and use all his ability, effort and knowhow and get this bloody Council Leadership to start addressing the many things they could do to help the traders prosper and give them some chance of riding out this downturn in economic activity.
We need help. These traders need help. Our High Town is on the fast slope to ruin and nothing is being done to halt its slide.
A simple bloody thing like helping the Farmers Market traders is something that the Council could do.
What do we get? Bloody nothing. No imagination, no innovative ideas and no leadership.

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Biomech says...
1:50pm Sun 3 Mar 13

You'll probably find that she moved because it's cheaper in East Street. Rent aside, it would be a ridiculously bad business decision to move from a premium spot to a back street.

I'm sure we do need big independents, but when they can't afford prime space and will have to compete against major chains on the OLM -.it's not going to happen

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dippyhippy says...
2:09pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Biomech,one of the church street traders told me last year, that East Street has been earmarked for radical improvements. Don't know if that is still on the cards.....?

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Biomech says...
2:41pm Sun 3 Mar 13

3 years ago Broad Street was set to undergo radical improvements - that was all scrapped - have you learnt nothing young dippy?!

And think about it, everything that has been planned to be revamped on the East of the city (Broad Street, LeftBank) - the opposite side to the OLM - has been scrapped where as *pre-OLM* revamps on the West have gone ahead (Eign Gate, Widemarsh Street). Funny that aye.

Just more evidence that scrapping High Town and using the OLM to start from scratch has been the long term plan.

East street is no different. Besides, given how close the buildings are the best they can do is resurface the road, it's always going to be a back street.

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dippyhippy says...
3:36pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Forgive me Biomech, and my simple ways!!! It takes a while for things to sink in and settle !! I wondered if this lady was making a canny move,thats all!!

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TwoWheelsGood says...
5:12pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Many, many years ago, I believe the then Hereford City Council (when it was a proper council) commissioned a hugely expensive report (c £250k) from Arup's, the most expensive consultants money can buy, to come with ideas for East Street as a shopping venue. It was soon gathering dust on a shelf. Then, as now, East St is a pressure release valve for the City's chronic traffic problems. The obvious thing to do is to close it to all but service traffic, at least as far as Offa Street, and this would be a simple and cheap thing to do which would change the ambience of the street overnight, becoming an extension of Church Street. For less than the cost fo the latest bung to Stanhope, the Council could have created a niche shopping venue. Of course that doesn't help the traffic situation, but then East Street is actually 'Access Only', which the police do enforce from time to time.

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dippyhippy says...
6:19pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Good Lord Two Wheels, I hadn't realised that!

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mizza21 says...
2:07pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Blimey. I didn't know that TWG. I looked at 2 shops on Church St. but I was well put off by the business rates and the silly rents.

Stopping all but emergency traffic from Broad St would make that area so much nicer.
Pavement cafes and all that. People quaffing espressos while gassing about the latest Dave St'Laurent dress or the upcoming Hereford United vs AC Milan Champions league tie.

They could pave the whole lot in lovely tactile pavements. I could roll around feeling it's tactility for hours and hours.

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Biomech says...
2:13pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Whilst dodging the Eastern European food shops with their, strangely, covered up windows..... I was actually shocked to discover that there are now *8* EU foods shops in the Eign area alone, that's not even counting all those tacky, beach side style, mobile phone accessory shops and what not.

Seriously, the EU's aside, next time you're in town actually LOOK, we all talk about it, but you'll be amazed at actually how bad it really is. Commercial road end of high town is nothing more than construction and empty shops - literally! You have the Entertainer, that weird stuff on the floor shop and a betting shop. That's it!

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dippyhippy says...
3:39pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Mizza! Now just stop!! This fetish you seem to be developing for tactile pavements is beginning to alarm me!

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dippyhippy says...
3:46pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Biomech, I have thought about what you said about the cancellation of projects, and you are quite right - it does appear that everything is now geared towards the OLM side of town. The Eastern European shops are thriving because they are serving a need in the community - granted,this market has expanded rapidly, but then I suppose so did all the Brit pubs/shops on the Costa Del Sol,when lots of Brits decided to move/retire there. We all like our "home comforts"!!! I just know you wont agree with me,but hey ho!!

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Biomech says...
4:02pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Oh I absolutely agree, supply and demand - something the HC clearly have no idea about :P I just think it's a shame that they are filling the spaces once occupied by some prestigious shops like the Panasonic Store.

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dippyhippy says...
4:43pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Yes, choice and variety is whats needed!

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Werintrouble says...
6:17pm Mon 4 Mar 13

I agree. We should try and learn how our East European visitors are so successful.
Before anyone says it, yes I know they qualify for grants from the EU but they are so motivated.
Go up to the College and see who is on the Courses. Health & Beauty, Hairdressing, Plumbing. They are there and holding down other jobs.
A Health & Beauty shop is opening in St.Owen Street and a Hairdresser's and they will open more shops.
They are the next economic power in Europe. Poland and other EU economy's are out of recession and they are growing.
I admire them. We should ask them how to do it and follow their ways of working.

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Biomech says...
7:45pm Mon 4 Mar 13

To be perfectly honest, right now, I think (from a business perspective) it comes down to simple supply and demand. There are A LOT of foreigners in the city, consequently, these places thrive. And as Romania joins the EU, we can expect to see a burst of more of these shops springing up.

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dippyhippy says...
9:00pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Werintrouble, you make a good point.I would also like to add that your recent contributions have made for welcome reading. I appreciate the efforts you have made in trying to uphold the "ethos", for want of a better word, of this site.Now and again, there are a few posts, which are a bit off the wall,so to speak, but hang on in there,normal service will resume!

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Werintrouble says...
10:41pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Dippyhippy, Thank you so much. i was beginning to read things three times before i posted anything in case someone started calling 'me' names.
Thanks.

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dippyhippy says...
10:56pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Werintrouble,you're doing fine! The majority of posters on here don't want to fall out,they exchange views and banter,humour is at the fore and of course,a shared desire to see the demise of Jarvis!! The odd comment upsets the apple cart,but hey, thats life!

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mizza21 says...
10:42am Tue 5 Mar 13

I like your comments werintrouble,

The only improvement I would suggest would be to take a stance on the important issue of tactile pavements.

Painful and annoying?
Possible trip hazard?
Nice foot massage while waiting for the lights?
Useful for the partially sighted folks to feel where they are?

Bring em on I say..

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JudSawyer says...
11:41am Wed 6 Mar 13

Now I see that the accessories shop Finishing Touch on Bewell St has 'closing down' posters in its windows. Some items there are dear but other very reasonable, I've bought a couple of things there. It's a pity.

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