Creasey’s boss hits back at criticism of island’s retail sector
Friday 4th September 2009, 11:30AM BST.
TONY CREASEY has defended Guernsey’s retail sector against claims that it does not meet islanders’ needs.
A report commissioned by the Co-op to back its Leale’s Yard development said the top and bottom of the clothing market were not fully catered for.
The Creasey’s boss (pictured) had seen the report briefly when looking at the Leale’s Yard plans.
‘They compare Guernsey to towns in the UK all the time but it is not possible simply because we are an island,’ he said. ‘We cannot grow our market to make it more attractive to the next town.’
‘I don’t think these people understand just how small the catchment and market is in Guernsey.’ He had seen a list of shops the developers suggested bringing to Guernsey.
‘There are a lot that have already got a presence here, through shops like mine, and there are others that have been and gone away.’ He said 60,000 people could only support so much retail, and doubted huge chains would find enough of a market on the island.
‘The bottom end will now also be provided for by Peacocks, which is going into Alliance, and there are other shops that do and have catered for that market,’ said Mr Creasey.
‘Companies here like Samuel Pepys, Miss Nob and similar shops would be very disappointed to hear it said that the top end of the market was not catered for, and to some extend my own business too – we have a number of top-end brands.’
The outline brief for Leale’s Yard development did not show anything like the amount of retail that was now suggested, he said.
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If the big chains move here and find there isn’t enough market then that is their own fault.
I would imagine Mr Creasey is worried primarily about competition, not the criticism at the retail sector.
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I was in Guernsey the last Bank holiday together with my family . There is nothing much to spend . The island is boring, things are expensive ,I could have a better bargain with the same brand that is availabel in the UK and have more choices. Condition of roads are appalling. Overall is a waste of money for on trip. Tourism promotion about Guernsey is completely misleading .
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Well what a surprise
Creaseys do not like the idea of competition from the proposed development…..
I am sure much of what you say is because you like any other business man want to protect the business you have
but surprise surprise other business people want that same business
does it matter what is currently provided
when they approved the expansion of B&Q everyone knew that the product range would improve and we have seen other business’s go
the same is happening with the development of the friquet garden center Martels has closed and other smaller units can not compete with either price or range of goods
people will decide what is good value and what range of goods they want to purchase
“to critise a report” is not really the issue
the issue is freedom of choice let them develop
and let people choose where they shop
this will ensure good healthy marketplace and a broader range of goods…. hopefully
finally how many shops and franchies’s do Creaseys currently own and run… obviously a good business man who understands the need to defend his own Market
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I doubt Mr Creasey is losing much sleep over this. I was involved in the market redevelopment and none of the big UK stores had any interest in moving to Guernsey. The shipping costs and rent were too high and the customer base was too small.
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Vested Interest – I agree that Tony Creasey is only looking after himself (understandably) but I do think that there are other considerations here that mean that we cannot adopt the usual free-market policy of let the businesses stand or fall by their appeal to customers. We live on a small island with limited resources. If we build a big white elephant which kills off town shops, but which itself then dies, what happens to the town shops that died first?
This sort of development needs to meet a defined need, not be a speculative “build it and see what happens” kind of development.
The Bridge could do with a revamp, but I am a bit concerned that this proposal is out of proportion with what is likely to be sustainable.
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Adventure – I am sorry that you have left disappointed but it is a little ironic that you choose that name and yet the things that you focus on are shopping and driving. I hope that you did more than that during your time here and got the chance to explore the island properly – maybe take advanatge of some of the natural playground and have some adventure of your own.
You don’t say where you are comparing Guernsey to in order to find it boring. The island is what you make of it. As for the roads, they may be narrow but I have never encountered a serious pothole in Guernsey, unlike many roads in the UK.
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@Adventure
Next time you take a trip I would advise doing a little research. If you came here for the shopping then you are bound to be disappointed.
I am interested to know exactly what you expected from the holiday?
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‘I don’t think these people understand just how small the catchment and market is in Guernsey.’
These words are rather hypocritical coming from Tony Creasey, the man single handedly responsible for the final demise of the old Best Foods store when he opened his fancy M&S outlet up the road in St Martin’s.
When his own business stood to gain he was more than happy to see unbridled competition within that ‘small catchment and market’ he talks of. Now the boot is on the other foot he wants to see a spot of government intervention to stop the competition. Vested interest all over!
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Adventure – yes of course Guernsey is boring – no cliff paths, no nice sandy beaches, no parks, no museums, no historic sites, no art galleries, no Saturday markets, no nice restaurants and cafes, no vistor attractions at all in fact!!!
If all you look for in a holiday is cheap shopping then perhaps you would rather stay in the UK and take a holiday to your nearest Primark.
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Here’s some bumf. Apparently there’s nothing wrong at all with retail in Guernsey.
http://www.guernseytrademedia.com/mediarelations/pressrelease.aspx?articleid=250
Perfect. Can’t wait. In fact are we becoming TOO popular with shoppers? I was talking to someone yesterday and they said children as young as twelve were shopping! Is the UK culture infecting us? What next?
I mean, it’s a slippery slope. A twelve year old shopping for bangles leads on to teenage delinquency. Teenage delinquents become terrorists who want to destroy our ways of life. Including smoking in pubs and releasing facts on how bad alcohol is for you – vile things like that. This is what will happen if we let the Co-op try and invest in Guernsey.
You have been warned.
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Well Adventure with a bit of luck you wont be coming back.
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Unfortunately the island shops dont cater for me, I find that I can purchase the same goods, cheaper online even including the postage charges to the island. More choice, and very quick delivery is the norm.
I used to purchase all my vehicle spares from the local dealer, but now also purchase online, or on ebay. I dont have to traipse around town after looking for a parking space, I can do it from the comfort of my sofa. We only purchase food and DIY products locally.
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Adventure probably came on a one day visit (maybe on a Sunday?). Obviously Butlins would be a better option for his adventurous spirit.
As far as shopping is concerned, I think Guernsey does quite well really. If you don’t like what is on offer then hit the internet, which is more convenient anyway.
Dont think that Creaseys was to blame for the “demise” of Best Foods. Wasn’t Alliance it’s owner?
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Yes I totally agree Adventure. The Government could have done more for tourism. Not many people know about Guernsey as compare to Jersey Island I must say. That’s right John it was unexpected and will never choose that island for the next trip unfortunetly.
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@ Labour and Adventure, I agree the Guernsey Government could do more for tourism, such as restoring many more historic buildings but that’s about it. The Island speaks for itself with its beautiful coastline, as many have said, if you’re wanting to do shopping over here, why didn’t you do some research before coming on holiday, this isn’t a place to get good cheap deals.
I find what Tony Creasey is saying here is very hypocritical, as many have said above. But I don’t think Yeale’s Yard will help with cheaper shopping. The rent needs to come down in town.
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What we need for tourism is more accommodation, which has gone down from 25,00 bed nights to 4,500.
Also the stupid regulations have to be looked at.
When you go to France and stay in hotels or Gites, that accommodation would be closed and has been closed in Guernsey. I have been involved in tourism for over 40 years, and people are turned away, because we don’t have the bed nights available. I agree Guernsey has so much to offer to those, who love the Island like us.
As for shops in this Island, because of the economy of scale, they can’t compete with the Internet or large retail. If you look at the facts, and try to imagine running a small retail, you can see this. The one thing buying local does is the money,circulates the Island tenfold, which benefits all of us, rather than to vanish, with no benefit apart too the individual.
Buying local is about caring for your community and all the young, old and everybody else,
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Adventure – what utter rubbish you talk. i live in london and would give anything to return to the island, how you can say that it is boring is beyond me. i was in guernsey less than a week ago and found i didnt have enough days to do everything i wanted. as for the roads i never saw one pot hole all the time i was over there and i have low profile tyres on my car so i feel everything, ok the lanes are quite narrow but that is the natural beauty of the island it isnt trying to keep up with the uk. might i suggest you visit benidorm for your next holiday and you could wear your hankie around your head and spend all day visiting English pubs and cafes because that is obviously the sort of holiday you are looking for and to be honest with you i think guernsey would be better off if the likes of yourself never visited it again.
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I’ll give Mr Creasey an example of one of his own shops!
Me: I’ll like to buy a Jane pram system.
Shop: We don’t have them in stock but we can order them.
Me: Ok. How long
Shop: 6 weeks!
Me: Off to Internet. Ordered and delivered in much less time!
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Let’s face it, Tony Creasey’s opinion on the matter is hardly impartial.
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Although Tony Creasey is hardly impartial, he does have a point that another large retail development in Guernsey is unnecessary. Of course if the Co-Op want to build one well that’s their funeral and frankly none of his business.
Local retail doesn’t meet islanders’ needs but the problem isn’t a lack of shops. Due to the global marketplace people can get better choice and cheaper prices elsewhere. Building more shops won’t change that, it’ll just spread the remaining local custom even thinner leading eventually to more business failure and another ghost town like St Peter Port is rapidly becoming.
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One thing is lacking in this debate and that’s the view of a Consumer Group.
There’s something Roy Bisson does ( Guernsey Consumer Council?)every now and then; unfortunately his political affiliations appear to impede his credibility.
I’ve discovered http://www.consumer.org.gg/ which seem not to have sat since 2004? Not sure if it’s the same as Roy’s outfit?
What is certainly required is an independent, democratically elected, group that reflects islanders opinions and and can be co-opted into land use, retail development debate.
Ask the the obviosu pros and antis on various subjects doesn’t achieve much apart from a headline.
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