BIG UK retailers are killing off Guernsey businesses, according to a Town shop manager. The Lexicon’s manager Jeanette Hamon was speaking yesterday in the light of confirmation that WHSmith is opening a store at 18 and 20, Le Pollet, on Thursday 3 April.
It will sell books, stationery, cards, magazines, newspapers, entertainment and PC consumables - much of which is already sold by The Lexicon directly opposite.
Mrs Hamon said it was unfair that large UK companies were able to come to Guernsey and ‘do over’ small local businesses.
‘It took us 20 years to get the rights to sell newspapers and magazines and yet WHSmith seem to get all the breaks,’ she said.
‘We have spent a lot of money on establishing ourselves and I have been opening up at 8am to try to build up the business - it’s just not fair.
‘We also sell sports goods and then Sports Direct came in, so it just seems like one thing after another.’
The Lexicon staff were concerned that WHSmith might wipe them out, added Mrs Hamon.
‘There are quite a few of us who have been here a while and we are quite down at the moment.
‘WHSmith have all the buying power and they do their own brands as well. We’ll have to wait and see what promotions they do and try our best to do better.’
The WHSmith shop in Le Pollet will create 14 new jobs, including full- and part-time managerial and sales assistant positions.
The recruitment process has already started and anyone interested can apply on www.whsmiths
careers.co.uk.
A spokesman confirmed that the shop would be offering typical WHSmith promotions such as buy one, get the second half price from time to time.
Deputy Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer said it was unfortunate a UK retailer had taken the shop, but that was preferable to it being left empty.
‘Obviously I would rather see a local retailer moving in there and I hope that it won’t be to the detriment of local businesses,’ she said.
‘WHSmith have seen an opportunity, but at the end of the day it is down to consumers to decide where to shop.
‘On the positive side, at least they have an excellent reputation and I am delighted about the new jobs that have been created.’
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