Originally Posted by
elZorro
I must admit NBT, I'm a little confused myself, over this issue. I don't like to see retailers that have been going for generations, steadily evolving to keep up, eventually succumb to low margins. I know what the old rule was: add a third onto the cost price. More if you could. Recently I heard of a retailer facing serious competition from another shop selling some of the same stuff over the road, but at cost.
Ideally provincial towns and the old centres of cities would have retailers prepared to spend on their fitout, and along with imported items, they'd be selling NZ made specialised items, ones that allow a margin and that are in demand because of their quality and value.
I don't like the tendency for empty lease shops, $2 shops, takeaways, second-hand shops to fill the centres of once-proud older shopping centres. I don't know what the answer is though. I do know that many of the landlords who own these premises don't seem to be that keen on keeping them externally tidy, and it doesn't help. FP might be able to provide his thoughts.