19 Feb Securing a healthy future for Guernsey retail
The Guernsey Retail Group has received a variety of encouraging comments from some candidates following the release of its Manifesto for Guernsey Retail. It calls on candidates to bring bold, innovative thinking to ensure that Guernsey has a strong and healthy retail sector that meets the requirements of islanders and visitors.
The concise eight-page manifesto has been based on comprehensive feedback from Guernsey residents regarding current shopping habits, and how the local retail sector can evolve to meet the future needs and requirements islanders and visitors. It also highlights some concerns raised by Guernsey’s retailers. The document emphasises that Guernsey needs a healthy, vibrant, and attractive Town Centre and Bridge area, with a diverse mix of retail, hospitality, entertainment, and services that will appeal to both residents and visitors.
Malcolm Woodhams, Guernsey Retail Group Director, said “Last year we conducted a detailed survey to gather views on how the public wanted to see the Town Centre and Bridge area change, to enhance their appeal and increase use of these areas. Retail is a significant driving force in our economy and the Town Centre and Bridge area are clearly considered very important by the community.
“It is therefore vital that Guernsey is adequately prepared, to ensure it has a size, variety, and choice of retail to meet islander’s changing needs and expectations. Crucially, this manifesto reflects the opinion and feedback gathered from the public and from retailers, and we provide some solutions for Guernsey to have a thriving, attractive, and appealing town, with a healthy mix of retail, hospitality, entertainment, amenities, and services.”
The Manifesto for Guernsey Retail outlines several key priorities it wants the next States assembly to adopt. These include a strategic and collaborative approach to maintaining and enhancing the variety of retail outlets, ensuring a fair and level playing field for local retailers competing against off-island businesses, and enabling every Islander and business to make local purchases their first choice.
Mr Woodhams added: ” “The importance and value of a healthy local retail industry is sometimes overlooked. It directly employs 3,500 people, with considerably more employed by companies who provide support or ancillary services. Furthermore, excluding households and the public sector, it is the third largest contributor by sector to the Guernsey exchequer. Every pound spent with local retailers directly benefits Guernsey, and the local economy.”
Amongst targeted initiatives outlined in its manifesto, the GRG proposes greater encouragement and reduction in bureaucracy for landlords to fill empty properties/sites with active commercial businesses, and for budding retailers to open new physical stores. It also identifies the importance of a long overdue upgrade of Town and the Bridge, along with improved options for parking and access in these key community centres.
“This election presents the perfect opportunity for Deputies to secure a vibrant and thriving future for Guernsey’s retail sector, and drive changes to ensure more people will be motivated to regularly use the Town Centre and Bridge area, along with other shopping hubs. Our States has to lead the way with initiatives to maximise the opportunities for a strong and healthy retail industry, which is fit for Guernsey. We have been grateful for the many comments of agreement and support received so far from candidates” added Mr Woodhams.
“When it comes to elections, it can be a very daunting task for most people to find time to read through all of the candidates’ manifestos and build a shortlist of how to vote. So, we strongly urge anyone working in the retail sector, or anybody passionate about local retail and shopping areas, to take a look at our manifesto and then discuss specific points with candidates.”
The GRG sent a copy of the Manifesto for Guernsey Retail directly to all candidates, asking them to #BuyIntoRetail. The manifesto can be viewed on the Guernsey Retail Group’s temporary website here.