Mary Queen of Shops

[Bonnie Lass]

Just seen a short snippet about Mary Queen of Shops, (BBC2 Monday 9pm) who is this time trying to help small shops increase their turn-over. As small individual shops are disappearing with the ever increasing march of the supermarket, Mary wants to keep the struggling shops going.

How about Campbeltown promoting itself as "the home of individual shops" - improve standards, opening hours, customer service etc and you could be onto a winner. Holiday makers, love the idea of "private shops" - individual owners with indivual products for sale - if done with pride, enthusiasm and effort - the town could be onto a winner....

[Govangirl]

Bonnie Lass, I so agree with you there, good post. I think some of the individual shops you have are fantastic. I thought the gift shop with the wooden writing (treehouse?) had gorgeous things, there is a lovely wee gift shop that sold lovely cards, I loved the shop that sold the china and glass gifts and I was taken to a teashop with the most incredible handbaked cakes to die for. These are just a few I can recall but they should definitely be pushed more. Here where I live, we used to have lovely wee individual shops but with the building of our new shopping centre (which admittedly I love but are full of the bland, clone shops so dominant in our towns now) we have now lost them. Too many town centres have been destroyed by excessive retail development on the outskirts of town and we should be more sensitive to keeping our individuality.

[Bonnie Lass]

Thousands of businesses applied for Mary's help and only 6 were selected. A Gold Opportunity wasted, she could at least have tried a few loaves and see what demand there was for them. I felt sorry for the baker - he was so eager to try something new, can you image how boring his job must be after 30 odd years turning out the same loaves day after day - to increase variety would have been his idea of heaven

Those with allergies would welcome good honest home baked bread, I doubt the ready mix is preservative free

How Mary kept her cool I do not know - I loved the line "I could quite cheerfully put my head in that oven" an understatement I think.

[Bertie]

I think Inveraray has already gone down this route and seems to be doing ok. The old fashioned sweetshop, the Deli and Brambles to name a few. The sweetie shop was bouncing the last time I went in to by my MB bars!!

[Iain]

If Belgium is anything to go by, (chocolates, beer, Tin Tin comics, the manufacture of British arms at Herstal and the Antwerp diamond industry) quality, is the secret.

The majority of people will only shop at small shops for:
 Convenience.
 If the product is unavailable elsewhere.
 And more especially…, if they get better quality than much of the rubbish found in supermarkets.

The follow-up from these aspects are after-sales-services, friendly and professional advice…, and more especially, a smile.

[minsyb]

I shop at both the supermarkets and the local shops. I try to give the local shops as much of my business as possible however I do find it hard when they close at lunchtime and take a half day on a Wednesday as I work full time, 9 - 5. I noticed one of the shops on the main street opened on the Sunday of the 10K and it would be interesting to find out if they had much business but I do think that the traders should follow suit and open at every opportunity. For example, when the Waverley comes in!

[Bonnie Lass]

Thanks minsby - well said. I believe there are several touring coaches visiting Campbeltown on a Monday when some of the shops are closed - visitors are looking for things to buy and do... Perhaps someone can put me right if I am wrong...?

[Iain]

I had never heard of this "Queen Mary" and was surprised to find her on Wikipedia. Seems like a great idea ! We only have BBC1 over here !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Queen_of_Shops

As Minsby said, everything that the supermarket can't do is obviously an advantage. (tourists don't often visit supermarkets !)

[Bonnie Lass]

Her last series was indeed about Boutiques, this time she is trying to keep the independant retailer alive - looking forward to seeing the next episode.

Still available on iplayer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sr463/Mary_Queen_of_Shops_Series_3_Maher_and_Sons/

[Hels]

I agree with Mimsy - its difficult to support the small local shops when the opening hours don't accommodate locals, nevermind the likes of the Waverly and coach parties. Half day closing, and closing for lunch breaks is unacceptable in this day and age - given the options of hopping in your car, or ordering on-line instead.
I work in Lochgilphead a couple of days a week, and if I need to buy a gift that is where I buy it. None of the shops there close for a lunch break, there is no half-day closing and the majority of them stay open until 5.30. These are all small, independantly run, 1 or 2 man operations - the same as the ones in the town.