Ranjan Patel used her first speech as president of London's Newsagents Federation this week to urge independent shopkeepers to use their imagination to win business from shoppers.
"We can exploit [our shops] by using our greatest gift, our imagination, ensuring the environments we create are interesting and inviting," she said.
On the street in London a day later I passed by an Italian deli, which was beautifully presented and outside had this little sign encouraging shoppers to book an Italian cookery course, under the headline I love Cooking! Make your own Italian dinner £35, it promised.
Further up the street, was a Mexican restaurant with fresh oranges and limes in boxes by the window...plus a mass of chilis. It was completed by an A-board outside saying that it was the Observer's best cheap eats in the UK award winner.
In between was a newsagent business with a Camelot national lottery station outside. Inside I was greeted by two signs on its magazine rack. One said: "No browsing." The other said: "Thieves will be prosecuted."
Perhaps the owner should talk a short walk up and down his own street and think about what he is doing to make his shop a destination for shoppers. He may have some problem customers but there must be an alternative to making your shop feel like a fortress.
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