One of Tayside’s last high street field sport shops has warned letting businesses like PD Malloch collapse puts Tayside’s tourist economy at risk.
Malloch set up the Tay Salmon Fisheries Company in 1899, while continuing to run his shop in Perth city centre.
The shop closed on February 26, after 15 years in the control of the most recent owners, leaving the Fair City without a high street field sports specialist.
The company and its founder had become ingrained in Perth’s history, providing a wealth of local knowledge built up over decades for tourists visiting the region to shoot and fish but management admitted they could not compete with online retailers.
Only a handful of stores specialising in outdoor pursuits remain across Tayside, with surviving city centre shops in Blairgowrie, Dundee and Forfar.
The death of businesses like Malloch’s could lead to the demise of a section of the tourism industry that revolves around such stores, according to Robert Jamieson who run’s Blairgowrie gunmakers James Crockart and Son.
Robert believes local expertise is the key selling point for drawing in domestic and international field sports tourists.
Competing with online stores is difficult work for Robert, who says he has considered giving up his town centre spot for a unit at a retail park.
However, projects such as Perth and Kinross Council’s scheme providing grants for small business owners to spruce up their shopfronts have been praised by Robert.
However, he would like to see authorities step up the support for independent businesses.
“Our company dates back to the 1852. We do all we can to adapt by bringing in new ranges and stock.
“We have a lot of loyal customers but it’s difficult to compete with internet sellers on price who do not have our related overheads and offer no advice on how and where to use it.
“We continue to be well supported by local estates and try to reciprocate by giving details of them to tourists both in verbal and handout form.
“But if businesses like ours were to die, Tayside will lose a great deal of specialised knowledge.”
Blairgowrie and the Glens councillor Caroline Shiers said: “It is sad to see long established businesses such as PD Malloch closing down. Perthshire has a rich history for game, field sports and fishing and they have long played an important part in the local economy.
“The expertise that the people who have worked in these businesses, along with ghillies, game keepers and those who work in this sector have is not easily replaced.
“Working with businesses to invest in their shop frontage and this year investing in partnership with organisations like Blair in Bloom and other bloom groups is really important to creating an ambience in our towns which make people want to visit.
“We have also extended on street parking to an hour to encourage regular turnover of valuable parking spots. In addition, in Blairgowrie there is to be improvements to signage to car parks.”
