Woodwares closing / Sainsburys coming to Portobello

[seanie]

And fund those tasteless leaflets they handed out at Towerbank.

[minnie1957]

Apologies for wrong information regarding the owners of the ocean terminal. I was told this by several people so beleived it. I shall research before I post the next time just in case someone reports me for blatant lies

I love Portobello High Street and I love the way it still has a village feel to it. Its a shame that small traders have great difficulty in surviving. I still think the Council could do more to help Portobello but its been that way for a long time and I dont expect that to change in the near future. I personaly do not think that small business should feel threatened by Sainsburys, in fact I feel that it will bring more people into Portobello who will then notice the small independant shops. I hope so anyway. I would shop anywhere rather than Scotmid for many reasons.

[wangi]

I have received the following leaflet from PPS Scotland on behalf of Sainbury's: (click image to view as PDF)





They are inviting comments to: emma.megaughin@ppsgroup.co.uk; 0131 226 1209; or Freepost RTAG-ZUJB-HSKC, PPS Scotland, 27/2 George Street, EDINBURGH, EH2 2PA

Portobello High Street, Edinburgh
Sainsbury’s is planning to open a new Sainsbury’s Local at 222-228 Portobello High Street. Our proposed convenience shop is currently a hardware store and with the owners retiring this year, Sainsbury’s is delighted to have the opportunity to take a new lease of the property. The opening will ensure the premises do not remain empty for any significant period of time helping to support the vitality of the area. It is part of Sainsbury’s on-going programme of investment in high street locations.

The new shop will bring greater choice to local residents and complement the specialist retailers that already operate in the area as well as helping to attract additional footfall.

What to expect from a Sainsbury’s Local
Our Local shops are designed for people ‘topping-up’ their main food shopping. As they are aimed at people living nearby, the majority of our customers travel to our convenience shops on foot. Our convenience shops generally trade from 7am-11pm, not on a 24 hour basis. The shop will stock a range of everyday products including:

• •meat and fish
  •fresh fruit and vegetables
  •snacks and ready meals
  •drinks
  •small in-store bakery
  •newspapers

Employment
We always seek to employ from the local community and expect local jobs at this location to increase from 4 to over 20. Sainsbury’s provides real jobs and real career opportunities and every colleague is encouraged to progress their career. Sainsbury’s has a wide range of colleagues at a senior level who began working on the shop floor. Putting our colleagues first and improving their working life has resulted in Sainsbury’s becoming the first, major food retailer to achieve Gold Recognition in Investors in People.

Sainsbury’s in the community
All our stores support a nominated local charity and Sainsbury’s runs a nationwide ‘Active Kids’ programme that helps invest in sporting equipment in schools. To date, Edinburgh schools have benefited from more than £620,000.

Access and deliveries
Our experience shows us that Sainsbury’s Local shops typically serve a localised area, with the majority of trade coming from residents living within walking distance.

We always operate our stores with respect for our neighbours and are committed to keeping any potential disruption to an absolute minimum. Sainsbury’s will deliver once a day to the front of the shop with additional deliveries from our suppliers for bread and newspapers.

Responsible retailing
The shop will be operating in the heart of Portobello and we therefore recognise that we have a role to play in promoting responsible retailing. We are proud of our record as a responsible retailer and we really try to make a difference in the communities in which we operate.

• •At Sainsbury’s, we want to help our customers make informed decisions about the food and drink they buy
  •We promote a culture of responsible drinking
  •We operate a robust policy governing the sale of alcohol called ‘Think 25’, whereby all colleagues are trained to check the age of anyone buying alcohol if they appear to be 25 or under
  •We use the traffic light system for labelling food, allowing customers to easily make healthy choices when shopping
  •We are the world’s largest retailer of Fairtrade products
  •Sainsbury’s is committed to sustainability, and has recently been recognised as Europe’s biggest solar panel operator
  •We always seek to play an active role in the communities we serve
  •We actively source local produce working with more than 140 Scottish suppliers and last year sold £660 million worth of products sourced from Scotland

[magbagpuss]

All good me thinks.

[wangi]

A meeting has been called by the Portobello Traders and Hoteliers Association to discuss the news that Sainsbury's Local are moving in to the High Street. It takes place tomorrow (Wednesday 5 September) in St James Church Hall at 7:30 pm. There will be an opportunity to discuss the pros and cons and members of the public are welcome.

from http://www.facebook.com/portobello.onli ... 8645248705

[geofflynn]

Ok, here's a link to a quick survey for Portobello traders, business owners and staff re Woodwares and Sainsbury's Local. So if you fall into one of those categories, please have your say. I'll publish an anonymised summary of responses online in due course. Please share. The more the merrier...

http://bit.ly/Q8NBBO

[Bob Jefferson]

Peter McColl tweeted earlier:

Speakers at the Portobello traders meeting. Lots of energy behind supporting the High Street against Sainsbury.

[Bob Jefferson]

[Pal of Porty]

Peter McColl tweeted earlier:

Speakers at the Portobello traders meeting. Lots of energy behind supporting the High Street against Sainsbury.

Here we go again!

[wangi]

Oh look, there's me - glad my ears were clean!

Latest from Geoff's survey:

Geoff Lynn I’ve been running a survey online since news of the Sainsbury’s Local opening broke in mid-August. That survey’s had 394 clicks and 237 responses to date. Of the responses so far 38.8% have said they were pleased or very pleased to see Sainsbury’s Local opening on Portobello High Street, 26.2% neutral and 35% unhappy or very unhappy. Amongst traders who have responded, views are more polarised:- 50% happy / 50% unhappy. Full results here → http://bit.ly/S2dQhi

Unsurprisingly vast majority at the meeting last night were against Sainsbury's Local moving into Portobello High St. The survey above was mentioned, and acknowledged that those at the meeting didn't necessarily represent all the views of Portobello residents (self selecting). I was disappointed to listen a couple of those present that those ambivalent or in favour the Sainsbury's proposal "just needed some education" (that rattled me; don't take it as representative of all at the meeting)!

There was a lot of chat about trying to stop Woodware's closing - alternatives... However in the end realism that isn't going to happen.

I really do hope there's not a negative "Portobello against" campaign as a result of this. It's the last thing we need. Pull together and do positive marketing of the strengths of our existing shops.

[magbagpuss]

Well said Wangi ! I do hate all the negativity that seems to exist. I feel what ever new idea/ concept was suggested a Portobello Against will spring up . There is nothing anyone can do as they have consent.there is a lot of positive in the situation , try and see it . Bet we find the gum bangers popping in for a packet of Parma ham and a grand rustic !

Yes some retailers may be worried but if they continue to offer the expert service they do there should be no or very little conflict of interest. A supermarket will find it hard to attain the level of knowledge all our specialist shops have.

Portobello is rapidly becoming the Nimby centre of the city . Thank goodness the trams were never considered this side of town . That would have been a rare stramash !!! What I want to know is when PAE is getting started , Portobello against everything . when it does I'm out of here . Let's just bring a bit of reality back to these proceedings

Finally I do not need some education thank you very much but know who does !

[magbagpuss]

Accept what we do well ,embrace it n smile it does not hurt !

[Franck]

I think it's funny that a group decided to have a meeting to protest about something they can have zero influence over.The deal is done, unless the woodwares chappie decides to reverse his decision, which would probably cost him money.

Some people need to get a life.

[Pal of Porty]

I will miss Woodwares as a shop because I loved the service and having worked next door for so long I got to know some of the staff quite well. I would however not dare to question any aspects of the commercial deal they have entered into as part of a retirement plan - totally, utterly a matter for Woodwares.

[bearcub]

It was only a matter of time...

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2510469

Portobello resident Diana Cairns said: “Most people at the meeting had concerns about the loss of vital services on the High Street and the impact Sainsbury’s would have on independent traders."

No mention in the article of Geoff's survey showing only 35% unhappy with Sainsburys arriving in the High St.

[Pal of Porty]

Portobello resident Diana Cairns said: “Most people at the meeting had concerns about the loss of vital services on the High Street and the impact Sainsbury’s would have on independent traders."

Most people at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous have a problem with drink but that is not necessarily representative of all the people in the community where they live!

[Jamesie]

Reading the piece in today's Evening News makes me glad I moved out of Porty. NIMBYism at its very worst. I do despair.

[lg1726]

Today I wrote to Maureen Child as follows:

Dear Maureen,

I read with some despair in the press the plans to mount a campaign regarding the plans by Sainsburys to open a "local" store on the High Street. For months now we have heard the local traders demands for more investment into the High Street, concern over the number of closed and shuttered up shops and continued frustrations at the arrival of yet more charity shops. There have been countless "campaigns" to regenerate the High Street, to see it as a viable area for business and for the community and now what we see is a negative protest attempting if not to halt it, then at least to derail it somewhat. The investment of such a big name onto our High Street should be heralded as an endorsement of a vibrant and viable place to do business; this will no doubt lead to increased footfall to the area which will have an undoubted knock on effect to the other traders. I'm willing to bet that the footfall generated on a daily basis to Sainsburys will be way greater than ever seen to Mica/Woodwares!

Like pretty much everyone else I do my shopping for the more mundane things in life such as loo roll, breakfast cereal and the like in a supermarket, but I still go to Findlays every Saturday and Williamsons and I always have and always will go to Fine Wine; I tried Victor Hugo, but found the young sales assistants most unhelpful and and largely uninformed on the produce and the new pet shop is never open at 9am on a Saturday and Earthy is way too expensive for what it has on offer. Shopping for the boring, but essential items has not taken me away from the independents. None of those mentioned sell these essentials, nor will they, so if they are not currently affected by our shopping habits how can it possibly be argued that the arrival of this new local Sainsburys will have such a massive impact on them?

Additionally, I do not recall any issue over the number of points of sale of alcohol when Fine Wine was granted a licence and as I recall at that time, Haddows was still trading and so it could be argued that such over provision was even more acute at that time. Also, unlike many of the local convenience stores on our High Street, Sainsburys will operate a stringent under-age sales policy and I for one would rather see six Sainsburys on the High Street with such policies than the existing points of sale for alcohol (Fine Wine excepted) where under age sales are not only common place, but widely known and largely unchallenged.

I was disappointed to see you quoted as follows - “The general consensus was that they want to object to these plans, and they know they will have to find reasonable arguments for that,” those in attendance at the meeting do not speak for all us in this regard and the recent surveys of both residents and traders/businesses back this up. Many of us welcome this development as a strong endorsement of the area, we welcome the investment into our High Street and we want this to send a message that Porty is a vibrant place for businesses to invest. This type of action suggests otherwise and I am at a loss to understand why we would seek to portray the High Street as hostile and negative to potential investors, large or small.

Quite apart for the issue of choice for the shoppers of Porty, we need this investment to help regenerate our High Street and we need this to send a message to other potential business, large and small that our High Street and Porty is welcoming and viable and this sort of action is not conducive to this. I sincerely hope that before any further action is taken in respect of this matter as a consequence of the meeting of last night that efforts are made to ensure that those taking it do indeed represent the views of all the community and that there is indeed a general consensus and I would be grateful to hear of your plans to represent those who welcome this development.

Regards

L

I await a response!

[seashell]

well said!

DC is the self-appointed 'rent-a-gob' for Portobello. I do wish the media would stop using her soundbites as being representative of the community.

[gillian]

Well said!! Ig1726

[magbagpuss]

Yup , well said Ig1726

[Puerto bella]

Well said indeed LG.

[Bob Jefferson]

I don't think we should take the campaign against Sainsbury's too seriously. In reality, what can the objectors do? Object to the alcohol licence? Very unlikely to succeed I would have thought. Object to Sainsbury's Local standard signage? I'm happy to argue for a more subdued approach to shop branding but I think it may well be in vain. Big companies usually get their own way with regard to this and Planning Enforcement seems to be fairly toothless, even when objections are upheld.

If Sainsbury's are smart, they will note all that is going on and start investing in the Portobello community. For a start, they could support Sarah Woodford in promoting Portobello as a shopping and tourist destination. They could employ local people. They could open a direct dialogue with us, their potential customers. Portobello is a different proposition to anywhere they have opened before. We are a special case and they will do well do heed that. It's not just about the price of a loaf of Hovis, though that's certainly part of the equation.

[lg1726]

I'm not taking their campaign too seriously and I won't lose sleep over it, it's a done deal, but I do think that it's important to point out that this is an opportunity for the traders and for Sainburys via PPS or who ever to understand that this action is not the widely view of the majority and the DC is not the Porty spokesperson, although I saw on the EN posts that you Bob would appear to mayor of Porty. Like I said previously, perhaps we need to start a campaign to stop the campaign!! First round on magbagpuss!

[magbagpuss]

Bob, in what way is Portobello different to anywhere Sainsburys have opened before? Not sure what you mean . Please could you clarify . Have they not had objections before now ? Just want to be clear . By "us" do you mean Porty online or a general consensus of all Porty residents , cheers for that !

[Bob Jefferson]

I have no objection to being the mayor of Portobello, but if that is the case I would like to know when I am going to be paid. I'm sure Boris doesn't do it for nothing.

[wangi]

Sainsbury's Comes To Portobello

So it has finally come to pass that despite years of resistance from local residents and traders, one of the big supermarkets have found a foothold in Portobello.

I attended the public meeting held last night on the 5th of September and listened carefully to the concerns.
Legally speaking there does not seem to be much to be done. The premise that Sainbury’s are taking over, the Woodwares Hardware store, has been signed over on a fifteen year lease and since it is already a retail property, there is no change of status involved as far as planning permission is concerned.

Local traders are right to be worried about the competition. It was acknowledged at the meeting though that some local residents will welcome the arrival of Sainsbury’s as it will also supply competition to the Co-Op Scotmid store.

Although there were a few ideas floated at the meeting, I suspect that most of them will prove to be little more than irritations to the major supermarket chain. That does not mean that they should not proceed of course; all is fair in love, war and high-street retailing.

....

from http://martinveart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/ ... bello.html

[Bob Jefferson]

I think that about sums it up and it's nice to see a note of realism from a local Lib Dem.

[gillian]

I really believe that EEN are having a laugh when they print the Porty Against stories. Not sure who the laugh is on but I'm certain they are at it. Maybe someone at The Scotsman is bored and they know they will get a giggle out of the comments page if they print yet another Portobello saga

[Bob Jefferson]

Bob, in what way is Portobello different to anywhere Sainsburys have opened before?

I think there are probably more people with an opinion per square metre in Portobello than anywhere else on Earth. That's not a bad thing. I think it proves we care very much about our community and the direction it is going. And we will start a campaign at the drop of a hat. For, against - it doesn't matter, we're ready to do battle.

By "us" do you mean Porty online or a general consensus of all Porty residents

I mean all of us, the community, their potential customers.

[Bob Jefferson]

I really believe that EEN are having a laugh when they print the Porty Against stories. Not sure who the laugh is on but I'm certain they are at it. Maybe someone at The Scotsman is bored and they know they will get a giggle out of the comments page if they print yet another Portobello saga

I heard the Editor is fed up with all the negative stuff and is keen to print some Positive Porty stories.

[magbagpuss]

Thanks Bob, that's all I wanted to know . Agree with you on the whole but there are always those who take it too far . Not seen so much interest for a long time .

[regent]

Local councillor Maureen Child was among those attending the meeting last night and said people in the area were determined to fight the plans.

quote attributed to maureen childs by the een
Maureen knew about Geoffs petition but still chose to give the quote above. What is that about?

[Bob Jefferson]

Who knows? Perhaps, as Sean has suggested elsewhere, she was expressing the view of the meeting. Perhaps she was caught up in the heat of the moment. But I agree that if she wants to express the views of the community, then it has to be a balanced statement. There are arguments for and against. There is no clear consensus.

[regent]

"If Sainsbury's are smart, they will note all that is going on and start investing in the Portobello community. For a start, they could support Sarah Woodford in promoting Portobello as a shopping and tourist destination. They could employ local people. They could open a direct dialogue with us, their potential customers. Portobello is a different proposition to anywhere they have opened before. We are a special case and they will do well do heed that. It's not just about the price of a loaf of Hovis, though that's certainly part of the equation."

Now this is a well expressed view is it not? Staight to the heart of the matter! Liking this bob, straigth to the point!If she had said something like this I may even have considered thinking about whether to give her my second vote.