Chilly economic wind blowing down the brae?
A Gurn from Nurn - News, opinion and pictures from sunny Nairnshire - keep in touch, bookmark the Gurn
A Gurn from Nurn - News, opinion and pictures from sunny Nairnshire - keep in touch, bookmark the Gurn
Aye, you'll need to wrap up warm
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised he lasted so long, never seen a customer in the shop in all the years it was open
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame as it was a nice shop with good items.
ReplyDeleteRegrettably, a small independent retailer in Nairn can't really compete on stock range and selling prices with the big chains. In this case, the problem is, I suspect, brought about by the arrival of a huge outdoor store in Inverness.
ReplyDeleteThere are only so many Nairn folk buying the gear to head for the hills every weekend. Sad, but true.
Goiod luck to the owner. He's tried hard here.
I think you sum it up very well Jim.A couple of years ago I brought a very good pair of walking boots from Ross Outdoors which I still have. I recently purchased a waterproof jackiet for hill walking but I went throught to the store you are mentioning to get that.
ReplyDeleteI've also brought stuff off the internet too. Just the way the world is moving. Less choice for us all in town now but everything is available from the comfort of our armchairs once the laptop is turned on. Hopefully someone else will be willing to occupy this shop on the brae and Baby Love/ former Ronnie Watson's too.
We will all miss the cheerie face at the window.
ReplyDeleteYes shame about the shop i wonder if there are as many people as there used to be stepping out doors or is it that walkers want to spend on electronic gadjets rather than buy new clothes.
ReplyDeleteRoss Outdoors is not closing down due to Go Outdoors in Inverness or other competition. One of his major suppliers who supply him with boots, rucksacks, climbing and this is now the third supplier to do this to him, due to the fact he is not ordering enough stock from them. So much for supporting small businesses.........
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ReplyDeleteDo newspapers publish everything they receive Action Man - especially from anon sources? Certain comments have been rejected in the past for various reasons and some will no doubt be rejected in the future.
ReplyDeleteAnyway thank you for your other comment but without asking the shopkeeper concerned for further details I wouldn't like to publish it immediately.
Chilly economic wind blowing down the brae?
ReplyDeleteTO CLARIFY OUR SITUATION. Yes, the current economic climate is not good for small specialist shop keepers like ourselves, but we were prepared to tighten our belts and ride it out! However, the manufacturers and distributors who supply our goods are NOT prepared to do the same, and demand that we order £5,000 (trade cost ex VAT) of goods a year, or they close the account!! Some are even saying £5,000 twice a year ordered 10months in advance!!! These are companies that we have dealt with regularly for over 8yrs, and paid within 2weeks! We deal with over 20 manufacturers and distributors, so this soon adds up and becomes impossible!!!!!
We have tried to find goods of the type and quality that our customers expect, but have not found a suitable manufacturer, or distributor, who is not starting to enforce the above conditions!! With Nairn being an IV postcode we are also penalised by having to order minimum amounts of goods (up to £750) before they deliver to us!!
We have never “just relied on Nairn” for our customers! For certain brands we are the only Industrial Rope Access & Arboricultural equipment specialist in the North of Scotland, dealing with Cairngorm Mtn., The Scottish School of Forestry, & Perth Council, to name but a few!!!!
I did not take the decision (to close) lightly, having put 13yrs of my life into Ross Outdoors Ltd.!! I have steadily built up a reputation for quality and service, and the company is financially viable! The policy of the shop was to offer a wide range of quality items, this is now, unfortunately, no longer possible!!!
I would also like to thank our customers for their support over the years. I have been overwhelmed by all the people who have been coming into the shop saying they are sorry to see Ross Outdoors Ltd., and all it stood for, close.
Yours,
David A. Ross (Director)
P.S. Please do tell me what “Action Man” is saying about me. I have nothing to hide!!!
Thank you for that David. Actionman was in fact saying what amounts to the same thing about your suppliers but in a much more abridged way. His comments are now posted. The Gurn was going to contact you to confirm his comments but your post does that and it will be immediately posted as an article in it's own right.
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