Poole businesses on surviving difficult times

While some shops are feeling the impact of rising costs, changing shopping habits, and the ongoing effects of Covid, others seem to be coping just fine.

But even those who aren’t yet feeling the squeeze are apprehensive about the coming months.

Read more: Christchurch High Street traders on how business is going

Ross Diamond, who owns Waves, an independent retailer of surf and skateboarding clothing and footwear, said: “At the minute, we’re ok. October is a quiet time for us anyway, but I think it is going to be pretty brutal this year.

“It’s still quite early, but I think January and February will be when I start to notice people pinching their purses.

Kingland shopping district (Image: NQ)

“I don’t want to say it hasn’t dawned on people yet, but I think they’re still happy to spend a bit of money. I think after Christmas it’ll be tight.”

Waves is one of the independent retailers in Poole’s latest shopping district- Kingland.

Ross added: “I like to think that being independent we can adapt a bit easier. When somethings not working, we can change things.”

Read more: Beales boss backs claim that Bournemouth town centre is 'dying'

Other businesses in Kingland weren’t as concerned about the future. Stu Cake of Bare Necessities, a zero-waste shop, said: “I’m not worried at all. It’s only going up for us at the minute. My industry is not feeling too much of a crunch from suppliers.

“Poole itself has an odd footfall. There’s no pattern in trade, there’s no trends, but I’d say footfall has increased.”

Over in the Dolphin Shopping Centre, Valentina Shoes also continues to see a high footfall.

Dolphin Shopping Centre (Image: NQ)

Owner Tina Williams suggested that businesses in Poole, like her own, had benefited from failures elsewhere in the conurbation.

Tina said: “There’s nothing left in Bournemouth, so customers are coming to Poole.

“Poole has so much going for it. What’s happening in Bournemouth, Poole will benefit.”

Tina also claimed that people feel more ‘comfortable’ shopping in Poole, adding: “The shops in Bournemouth have closed because owners are sick of their customers coming in and saying, ‘I hate coming here, I feel harassed, the towns filthy’, whatever the reason.

“I don’t think woman feel safe shopping there, so they’ll go where they go comfortable “And the car parking is a lot cheaper here, and we have public toilets that are spotless, that you don’t feel afraid to go in.”

“There’s a huge number of reasons why people are coming to Poole.”

Kingland shopping district

The Daily Echo asked the Poole Business Improvement District (BID) what they knew of the situation in the town.

Jacqui Rock, Poole BID Lead, said: "It is evident businesses are struggling and our economy needs high street businesses to be on an equal footing with larger businesses. 

"To this end Poole BID, alongside other BID partners across the UK, is backing the #BusinessSOS campaign.  

"This campaign is calling on the Government to deliver support to our retail, hospitality & leisure businesses so they have every chance to survive following the rise in energy costs."