5 Bridge St., Cork.
I would have regularly passed this shop but would not often have parted with my money there - my sense of balance not being compatible with surfboards. However, recently I was very disappointed to see the sign. The format of the sign did bring a smile but the content was a not so gentle reminder as to where I do spend my money.
Reading in the papers or hearing on radio of the number of companies closing down is one thing but noting the shop open one day and closed the next has greater impact. This impact is heightened as I would regularly walk along Bridge St into the city centre. Shortly thereafter, I was walking on Academy St. and noted that all shops on the first half of the western side have closed. Washington St appears to also have high vacancy
Last year, those in Liam Russell bookshop did issue a tug on my conscience. They had a simple notice inside the door along the lines of – browse locally, buy locally. This hit home as I would browse bookshops anywhere as a pleasant means of passing time. This would sometimes result in a purchase. More often, it would result in a new title going on a list of possible future purchases.
I would have regularly passed this shop but would not often have parted with my money there - my sense of balance not being compatible with surfboards. However, recently I was very disappointed to see the sign. The format of the sign did bring a smile but the content was a not so gentle reminder as to where I do spend my money.
Reading in the papers or hearing on radio of the number of companies closing down is one thing but noting the shop open one day and closed the next has greater impact. This impact is heightened as I would regularly walk along Bridge St into the city centre. Shortly thereafter, I was walking on Academy St. and noted that all shops on the first half of the western side have closed. Washington St appears to also have high vacancy
Last year, those in Liam Russell bookshop did issue a tug on my conscience. They had a simple notice inside the door along the lines of – browse locally, buy locally. This hit home as I would browse bookshops anywhere as a pleasant means of passing time. This would sometimes result in a purchase. More often, it would result in a new title going on a list of possible future purchases.
As for the purchasing of the books on the list, the ‘where’ was rarely a major factor. The ‘when’ was of higher priority, generally reached as shelf of books to be read got low and funds were slightly above that level. The ‘where’ was regularly solved by an internet visit to Amazon.
On my last visit to Liam Russell’s , their latest ‘stand up for your community’ poster was on the door. It outlined
the multiplier effect and the value of local transactions - hitting home that the euro you spend could then be used in another local shop or to engage a local tradesman. Very laudable but the purchaser also needs to ensure
value.
A colleague recently advised of local website set up selling mobile phone paraphernalia. It is importing phone covers from China and is selling the exact same covers as are available in the shops. The website offers substantial saving on the exact same product. This is similar experience to my most recent visit to Liam Russell’s where I added to my list a book ‘The House on an Irish Hillside’ which they have for sale at €15.99 but which can be purchased on Amazon at about 60% of the cost.
I would most probably not know about the book if I had not seen it in the bookshop. If everyone bought books online then this bookshop would go the way of the Incide surf shop and so there would be nowhere to browse books, feel the paper, and even read a few pages to test whether it is for me. But am I willing to pay 50% extra for that privilege.
Personally, I do not think I will pay 50% but a small margin has to be acceptable if I hope for the city centre to continue as an attraction. I am not sure what margin I will find acceptable but I will be checking before each internet purchase.
To have continued trading over the past couple of years cannot have been easy so I do wish good waves for the proprietor of Incide but I do fear for yet another empty premises in the city.
On my last visit to Liam Russell’s , their latest ‘stand up for your community’ poster was on the door. It outlined
the multiplier effect and the value of local transactions - hitting home that the euro you spend could then be used in another local shop or to engage a local tradesman. Very laudable but the purchaser also needs to ensure
value.
A colleague recently advised of local website set up selling mobile phone paraphernalia. It is importing phone covers from China and is selling the exact same covers as are available in the shops. The website offers substantial saving on the exact same product. This is similar experience to my most recent visit to Liam Russell’s where I added to my list a book ‘The House on an Irish Hillside’ which they have for sale at €15.99 but which can be purchased on Amazon at about 60% of the cost.
I would most probably not know about the book if I had not seen it in the bookshop. If everyone bought books online then this bookshop would go the way of the Incide surf shop and so there would be nowhere to browse books, feel the paper, and even read a few pages to test whether it is for me. But am I willing to pay 50% extra for that privilege.
Personally, I do not think I will pay 50% but a small margin has to be acceptable if I hope for the city centre to continue as an attraction. I am not sure what margin I will find acceptable but I will be checking before each internet purchase.
To have continued trading over the past couple of years cannot have been easy so I do wish good waves for the proprietor of Incide but I do fear for yet another empty premises in the city.
