Sweet shop closes after significant drop in sales

Shame this store has closed, however, sweets seem to me to be an impulse purchase. This location was a bit out of the way and again whilst the town is relatively wealthy, we don't have a huge population compared to Chester and Stockport where this firm has other outlets.

The obvious reason why it closed was that the sweets were very overpriced!! It was not the kind of shop I would take my grandchildren to even though they liked certain varieties. There are other shops selling the same product but cheaper.

Shame, yet another independent bites the dust! I have read comments already on here saying his prices were too high etc.., there's always an excuse why the good people of wilmslow don't support these independents? When these independent retailers set up there dreams in wilmslow, they put every thing they have into making there store work.. If you don't get people though the door you'll never survive! Making excuses that they were too expensive is a cop out!! We're talking about sweets not dresses or shoes, ridiculous excuse for failure to support.

26th February 2014
"I have been interested in opening up a shop in Wilmslow for a while but have waited to find the right premises and believe the one we have chosen is perfect for us. We feel that Wilmslow has a great community vibe about it and is a great place to shop and eat."

When 100g of their sweets are virtually twice as expensive as the shop on Water Lane that isn't a cop out excuse, that's sensible budgeting! I always try to support independent shops but when they come to Wilmslow and think we don't know the true cost of goods, then that gets me annoyed.

Jason. Its not a cop out, its the truth. Sweets in these types of shops are expensive. Sadly it was only a matter of time that this shop would close.

very unappealing shop compared to some of the other Sweet shops ie Mr Simms. Not a good position in the town either. Sorry that things didn't work out and that they don't want to waste any more time on this shop......

Soooo predictable. £25000 plus to operate without wages. Shops selling items priced at a couple of quid have to sell hundreds per day. See the new card shop. Rent, rates (robbery), power staff etc. I guess at £150,000 per year to open. How many cheap cards do you have to sell to justify opening. I calculate around 100,000 transactions per year to be viable. 300 per day or almost one per minute!!!!!!!!

@Jason Lyons

If you have to appeal to shoppers to buy from you out of sympathy, then there is something very, very wrong with your business model.

Ultimately, we will get the shops and town center we want. It's the most democratic process I can think of as shoppers vote with their feet and wallets every single day.

The kind of feedback seen here is valuable and should be welcomed even if you don't agree with it. I am sure that others thinking of setting up a shop would be reading with interest and the feedback may help them.

This shop seemed to be about twice the price of the equivalent shop in Macclesfield (albeit with less stock and choice). It is a novelty purchase and once the novelty wore off, it did not have enough customers in Wilmslow.

I remember GBK, and thought that once you have visited a couple or three times and tried a few burgers and fries combination the novelty was gone. Although I liked GBK, I grew tired of the menu and obviously others did too. GBK prospers in high population or tourist density areas but a town with only 30,000 residents and no tourism, no chance?

A shop that keeps customers coming and doesn't make them think, inadvertently or not, that customers are supporting it by paying over the odds is what we need. Shop keepers and restaurateurs who want to provide value and service are welcome to Wilmslow. Those who see us as all wealthy and stupid with money will pay the hard way - with failure.

what does the town want mark?? The town has had some good multiples & also some very good independents over time, Strada closed? Macdonalds closed? Henry lloyd closed? Bank fashion closed? these are major players on the high street, however they can't make there business work in Wilmslow why? Simple answer footfall is poor!

Strada was a fast food joint disguised as a restaurant, food made off-site and reheated in a microwave from what I could gather. The staff were lovely but good riddance to that business model! If I want microwave food I know where to get it. McDonalds also not missed here but Jason's point is valid. Not enough footfall for that chain here either. Even the tiny Subway is empty half the time.

That said Marple has a smaller population but is is a great town for shopping, lots of independents a couple of bakers, grocers, two master butchers and even an independent book shop, but notably only one supermarket (in the Town Centre) and no out of town shopping (that I have noticed). I bet the rents are lower too so, if I wanted to set up a small shop, I would head for somewhere like Marple. The parking is dirt cheap - more of a token payment - and if you don't have change and don't mind a short walk there is a free car park too.

It would be good if landlords allowed some 'pop up' shops so entrepreneurs can give it a go without over extending. They are a great idea for seeing if there would be demand for a new shop and also the landlord would have someone to pay the rates whilst they are looking for a more permanent tenant.

Strada wasn't just not making money in Wilmslow, it was not making money anywhere, therefore its parent company sold it on and the acquiring company decided to restructure the business by closing down very many restaurants. It is still, however, operating in some places. Just an aside...