ISLANDERS are being asked to have their say on the future of shopping in Guernsey – including the proposed Leale’s Yard development.

Local research company Island Analysis is inviting everyone to help shape the retail sector in the years ahead.

The firm is providing some of the research for the strategy that Commerce and Employment will be producing for the sector.

It wants as many people as possible to take part at a time when the sector is at a critical point of its evolution, both locally and elsewhere.

‘The progressive emergence of new technological and internet-based retailing and related home-delivery services is changing the way that we research and buy many types of products,’ said Island Analysis head of research Michaela de Vial.

‘Some changes are more rapid than others and affect different age groups in different ways. For example, the switch of music from vinyl records, to CDs and now to downloads for the iPod generation has been driven by younger age groups, and has left many older, slow-reacting music businesses on their knees. Similar patterns have been repeated across many sectors.’

Island Analysis is surveying shoppers and retailers.

Shoppers can have their say during on-street surveys the company is conducting or online through islandopinion.com, a confidential option. The retailers survey will be hand-delivered to outlets including restaurants, food service and other service related businesses in Guernsey’s main retail centres.

This can also be completed online by calling Island Analysis on 716227 or emailing call@islandanalysis.com for a password.