Curly's Corner Shop, the blog!

Footfall down – foot safety up!

Footfall and customer traffic may be down compared to last year with reports suggesting that 8% fewer people went to the shops in the last few days, but those who did appear to be showing typical Geordie canniness by choosing more carefully where they shop.

Those wishing to consume just as much (or waste just as much) as last year apparently wish to do it at a reduced cost. Being no different from the average shopper, Mrs. Curly dragged me down to Lidl at Laygate and Iceland and Aldi on Chichester Road this morning where I was battered and bashed by trolly wielding speedsters intent on eating for the sake of humanity, and keeping the binmen employed during the recession. I was pushed shoved and manhandled around Iceland, had stubbled chins pushed passed my face on numerous occasions by those intent on raiding the freezers before I could get in to them,  I was almost laid flat in Lidl by some jokers wanting to get their hands on a duck or a £5 lobster, and asphyxiated in Aldi by the hordes fighting over Brussels sprouts.

I’d hate to think what it is like in Asda either today or tomorrow I only hope that Mrs. Curly is not intent on making any last minute visits!

I talk as though there is a huge rush to get to the shops and spend every penny, of course that is not the case, there is a huge rush to get out and buy as much as last year but to save as much money as possible. The retailers have helped by making some swingeing price cuts as many of them need the cash now to pay rents on properties that become due quarterly on Dec. 25th. some even need the cash just to be able pay the wages! However, we will still manage to eat far too much this Christmas, and for every three trollies that we fill we will disgracefully throw away the contents of one of them, as the produce becomes inedible before we get a chance to consume it. The shops are only closed for two days but we go through this ritual at Christmas and New Year every twelve months of believing that the shops are about to close for a week!

Trouble is, this year, some of them will not be reopening after the holiday period, Woolworths in South Shields will be closing on Dec. 27th. adding to the number of empty retail premises in the town centre, I feel for their loyal staff who face a difficult task in seeking employment in the current economic conditions. It may not be long before others are also closing their doors for the last time.

If you do have to go shopping today or tomorrow can I suggest that you wear your safety boots, in fact I would call them essential apparel for today’s conditions, three times I had trollies pushed over my toes this morning.

Footnote

Three places we visited, all jam packed, all had free parking! Something that South Tyneside Council might take note of.

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