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There are 8 posts — by 6 authors — in this topic.
Latest post made by George Ferguson at Jul 07 17:00 UTC

From: Cecilia Weightman Date: Jul 05 14:44 UTC Short link

I was in Masala yesterday and was saddened to hear that they are closing at the
end of the month.  It appears that two other shops close by it are also
considering closing.  The potential loss of three shops at that end of North
Street is quite devastating.  Oh, but not all is lost, we are getting Tescos...

From: Matt Georges Date: Jul 06 09:32 UTC Short link

Hi Cecilia,

Any indication as to why Masala and the others are closing?  For example, the
Natural Nursery shut down simply because Arabella wanted to move to be closer
to the sea - so no reflection on the area.

Matt> To: <email obscured>> From:
<email obscured>> Subject: [GB-Forum] Masala is Closing!> Date:
Sun, 6 Jul 2008 02:45:02 +1200> > I was in Masala yesterday and was saddened to
hear that they are closing at the end of the month. It appears that two other
shops close by it are also considering closing. The potential loss of three
shops at that end of North Street is quite devastating. Oh, but not all is
lost, we are getting Tescos...> > > Cecilia Weightman> > Info about Cecilia
Weightman: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/ceciliaweightman> > This topic's
messages may be viewed at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4OVqRHh6oxFhCnFqW1I6eU>

From: Cecilia Weightman Date: Jul 06 09:39 UTC Short link

Hi Matt

Generally it's problems with trade.  Talking to a
trader recently she bemoaned the lack of parking in
the immediate area.  Her shop is the sort that you
need to take your time in.  Before Wilkinsons opened
the previous owners used the roof top car park as a
paying car park which helped considerably.

That part of North Street is cut off from both East
Street and the other end of North Street even though
it links the two.  People go as far as the end of East
Street or Cannon Street and no further and similarly
stop at the Hen & Chicken.

This year, as part of the Visual Audit process, we are
calling in on traders and talking to them.  It's been
successful in East Street and we will be doing it on
North Street.  It gives us a chance to hear what
people have to say and if we can pass it on to a
person or persons who can help we do so gladly.

From: Emma Winfield Date: Jul 06 16:06 UTC Short link

It was my understanding from talking to Arabella that it was a rent rise that
just didn't stack up with income generation from the store that prompted the
timing of her decision to close and move when she did.  Perhaps others know
more about this?  I've recently started a business and on investigating decided
a retail unit in the area was not going to be sustainable for our business, so
we trade from a website and the Tobacco Factory Market, and customers can also
collect from my house in Ashton - everyone seems happy and it's going well, but
it's a shame we couldn't have a daily presence and be part of the activity on
North Street.

From: diane jones Date: Jul 07 10:10 UTC Short link

I thought Arabella moved to Exeter?  Not exactly seaside!  But whatever her
personal choices, the gossip I heard was that the final straw for her was
the lease coming to an end and the landlord wanting to raise the rent - in
line with what has happened in other premises in North Street.  Certainly
the last charity shop closure (sadly missed by many of us!) was totally
about unaffordable rent.

Being an improving area seems to have an inbuilt self-destruct when rents
become "up and coming".  Then of course the likes of Tesco can outbid anyone
else to start their usual trail of destruction against independant traders.
Diane Jones

----- Original Message -----
From: "matthew georges" <<email obscured>>
To: "Cecilia Weightman" <<email obscured>>; "Greater
Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum" <<email obscured>>
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Masala is Closing!


>
> Hi Cecilia,
>
> Any indication as to why Masala and the others are closing?  For example,
> the Natural Nursery shut down simply because Arabella wanted to move to be
> closer to the sea - so no reflection on the area.
>
> Matt> To: <email obscured>> From:
> <email obscured>> Subject: [GB-Forum] Masala is Closing!>
> Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 02:45:02 +1200> > I was in Masala yesterday and was
> saddened to hear that they are closing at the end of the month. It appears
> that two other shops close by it are also considering closing. The
> potential loss of three shops at that end of North Street is quite
> devastating. Oh, but not all is lost, we are getting Tescos...> > >
> Cecilia Weightman> > Info about Cecilia Weightman:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/ceciliaweightman> > This topic's messages
> may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4OVqRHh6oxFhCnFqW1I6eU>
----------------------------------------->
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> Matt Georges
>
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>
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From: Hilary Irvine Date: Jul 07 10:46 UTC Short link

I've just been into Masala and Nelly said that she was closing for 'business'
reasons. She had tried to sell it as a going concern via an ad in Trade-it but
no takers. Any takers here??? I was also chatting to the person who runs the
bath bomb shop and she is also closing, but for family reasons.

From: Emma Winfield Date: Jul 07 11:27 UTC Short link

What bath bomb shop?  I'm sad I haven't even spotted it.  Sadly, in our
investigations as a Community Trust at Seven Generations we realised that even
though eco things are 'en vogue' at the moment, there was no way Seven
Generations (Montpelier) could support a retail space in the face of online
competition and so it had to close.

The business model my new venture is adopting is mostly online selling but with
a presence at the local market.  And for paint, customers come round to my
house and select their colours, watch me mix it, and take it away with them.
It's not as visible or as 'slick' as having a shop on North Street would be,
but it's actually very sociable and I am getting to know many more local people
as we get known as a local small business, which people seem happy to support.

Maybe small business is going to need to move from a shop model to a market
model now?  This still fosters community relations without a huge financial
liability.  People couldn't be more friendly or interested in what we're doing,
and the market is really good fun for us and our customers, so I don't think
all is lost if local businesses can't physically be on a high street (although
I would much prefer it if we could be).

From: George Ferguson Date: Jul 07 17:00 UTC Short link

I spoke to Arabella just before they closed  whatever the truth about high
rents, and it certainly is a factor in some cases  it was in her case all
to do with their wish to Exmouth, which is beside the sea! Nelly at Masala
has simply found that the turnover/cashflow was not good enough  not to do
with rent review. She would however like to find a way of reopening in a
larger premises if the opportunity arises. There is a danger of too much
speculation being turned into fact.

All the best  George


> From: diane <<email obscured>>
> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 11:09:56 +0100
> To: matthew georges <<email obscured>>, Cecilia Weightman
> <<email obscured>>, Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum
> <<email obscured>>
> Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Masala is Closing!
>
> I thought Arabella moved to Exeter?  Not exactly seaside!  But whatever her
> personal choices, the gossip I heard was that the final straw for her was
> the lease coming to an end and the landlord wanting to raise the rent - in
> line with what has happened in other premises in North Street.  Certainly
> the last charity shop closure (sadly missed by many of us!) was totally
> about unaffordable rent.
>
> Being an improving area seems to have an inbuilt self-destruct when rents
> become "up and coming".  Then of course the likes of Tesco can outbid anyone
> else to start their usual trail of destruction against independant traders.
> Diane Jones
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "matthew georges" <<email obscured>>
> To: "Cecilia Weightman" <<email obscured>>; "Greater
> Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum" <<email obscured>>
> Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 10:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [GB-Forum] Masala is Closing!
>
>
>>
>> Hi Cecilia,
>>
>> Any indication as to why Masala and the others are closing?  For example,
>> the Natural Nursery shut down simply because Arabella wanted to move to be
>> closer to the sea - so no reflection on the area.
>>
>> Matt> To: <email obscured>> From:
>> <email obscured>> Subject: [GB-Forum] Masala is Closing!>
>> Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 02:45:02 +1200> > I was in Masala yesterday and was
>> saddened to hear that they are closing at the end of the month. It appears
>> that two other shops close by it are also considering closing. The
>> potential loss of three shops at that end of North Street is quite
>> devastating. Oh, but not all is lost, we are getting Tescos...> > >
>> Cecilia Weightman> > Info about Cecilia Weightman:
>> ">http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/ceciliaweightman>
<http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/ceciliaweightman>  > This topic's messages
>> may be viewed at:
>> ">http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4OVqRHh6oxFhCnFqW1I6eU>
<http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4OVqRHh6oxFhCnFqW1I6eU>
>> ----------------------------------------->
>> To post, send your message to: <email obscured>> To
>> leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"> in subject
>> line and send to: <email obscured>> > More info about
>> Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum: > http://
>> forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bemmy-forum> > E-Democracy.Org rules:
>> ">http://e-democracy.org/rules> <http://e-democracy.org/rules>
----------------------------------------->
>> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Invite your Facebook friends to chat on Messenger
>> http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/101719649/direct/01/
>> Matt Georges
>>
>> Info about Matt Georges: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/mattgeorges
>>
>> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3qCslpmLCqcrlHZwdlpvP1
>> -----------------------------------------
>>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>>  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>>  in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>>
>>  More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
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>>
>>  E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
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>>
>
>
>
> diane jones
>
> Info about diane jones: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/dianejones
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/NYKYPaIzsctp4WcH0cckB
> -----------------------------------------
>   To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>   To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
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>
>   More info about Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Forum:
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>
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