It can no longer be fought -glitzy retail chains are here to stay. And the siren song of low prices and familiar products is beaconing not just shoppers, but previous downtown businesses hoping to cozy up to giant retailers' advertizing power.
Those loyal to our town's centre are warning locals that the deserting of the ship may actually cause it to sink. But how can concerns expressed by such folks as the board members of the Downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA) be addressed? What can be done to draw shoppers, businesses and life back into the downtown?
There are certain steps a municipality's council can take, as one board member pointed to when explaining Nelson's decision to locate a Wal Mart on the far side of their downtown. "Getting a backbone" is the way it's been described. Council must put its foot down and force businesses to build where they want them to build.
Only, it's not that easy. 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 has lost more than one business opportunity by playing hardball in this way. And in the realm of politics, you can bet that sacrificing the entire community for the sake of its downtown is a sure way to lose support.
A surefire solution must be to throw money at it, and that's just what happened when the last council voted to support a levy on all downtown businesses (except, ironically, its biggest retail chains) to form the BIA. The imposed taxation was mired in controversy and very unpopular with some of the area's businesses, but it went ahead nonetheless, and since then the BIA has made its spending decisions through a board of seven volunteers.
They've brought a little life back to the downtown, but what more can be done?
Perhaps an education campaign is in order. Why should locals care if independently-owned businesses lose income to big box stores? On the surface it looks like large chains have a much vaster selection, lower prices, employ more people and are open seven days a week.
It turns out that often, the introduction of big box stores provides the promise of variety and lower prices, but at the cost of local expertise, quality choices and access to specialized items. In other words, the appearance of variety without the substance. Just like the fast-food restaurants, you can have it your way, as long as it is a hamburger on a bun. And often, Mom and Pop shop employees offer expertise, and better customer service where they feel taken care of by customers and owners alike.
In the end, the community will decide who it wants to support - but let's ask ourselves this: Do we really want to make a bunch of rich guys richer rather than give a leg up to a family struggling to keep its cherished venture afloat?
