In the fourth of our five-part series looking at the changing face of Courier Country high streets, Michael Alexander takes the pulse of businesses in Perth.
The windows of Kerr Watson’s gift store are brimming with stock.
There’s glassware, tableware, collectables and wedding presents.
At first glance all seems well.
But at the top of the windows, prominent red and white signs betray the truth.
‘Everything Must Go! Closing Down’, they declare.
In just over a fortnight’s time, the family-run business which has been a fixture on Perth High Street since 1900 will shut its doors for good after being priced out of the city.
Changing tastes and the burden of business rates have been blamed for the demise of Wm Watson & Sons which closes on December 31.
“It’s sad, we have tried to keep it going, but it’s not feasible anymore, “ says Kerr Watson, 55, who joined the firm in 1981 to work alongside his father Bonar.
“Tastes have changed considerably over the years and there is no longer the demand for the quality ranges that we stock. But rates have been the biggest bugbear. Business rates have made the city centre completely unaffordable for most independent retailers.”
There’s no doubt these are bleak times for many high street traders – and as Brexit uncertainties bite, rising prices mean there’s likely to be less spare change in the pockets of shoppers as well.
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Read more on Our Changing High Streets here
National headlines were made recently when Perth lost its flagship independent department store McEwens of Perth which disappeared in May after nearly 150 years of trading.
More recently, Perth was identified in a Price Waterhouse Coopers retail report as having the second highest closure rate of any city or town in Scotland, with 12 retailers closing their doors between January and July this year linked to high business rates and “poorly organised parking”.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith warned that retailers in Perth remain “worryingly vulnerable”.
Yet the shoots of hope also exist with a number of new restaurants and cafes recently setting up at the east end of the High Street.
In contrast to Watsons, another long established family business, T. Paterson Jeweller, founded in 1832, has announced the largest expansion in its history.
The retailer is poised to extend into the former Campus Sports shop, with the hope that the move will be completed by summer 2017.
Managing director Derek Paterson, whose great-great-great- grandfather Thomas Paterson founded the business and moved into the current premises around 1870, told The Courier the revamp will hold on to the traditions of the existing premises, but with much larger windows will afford a much larger jewellers with a larger workshop space.
“People nowadays in jewellery are looking for something that’s different, that’s bespoke and it’s also nice for them to deal with the people that make it,” he says.
“That’s something we offer that many jewellers don’t.
“But when it comes to the bigger picture, I’m also quite positive about Perth. It’s a fast growing city. I think we need to attract visitors from other areas as well.
“Yes, a few businesses have closed, but probably a similar amount have opened to replace them. I still think Perth has an excellent independent offering. When you look at cities of a similar size I think Perth does outperform a lot of other similar cities.”
Mr Paterson believes Perth has a “good mix” of independent shops.
But more needs to be done to promote its centre, he says. Whilst the council is making improvements, he would like to see free parking on Saturdays. And he also believes business rates should be “re-assessed dramatically”.
Not everyone is convinced, however. Two customers not impressed with the modern High Street are two 70-something born and bred Perth sisters who asked not to be identified.
“Look at the state of the place!” one of the women, aged 74, tells The Courier as fiddle music from three East European buskers drifts through the cold air.
“Yes there are a few independents. But I think they’ve left it too late. We’ve got Markies. But that’s about it. It saddens me to see the amount of shops that have gone. There are too many charity shops and too many of those, what do you call them, those ‘puffing’ shops – those vaping shops.”
Dundee woman Sally Wilson has been running the VIP Vape Lounge on at the west end of the High Street since June. It’s one of three vaping shops to have appeared on the High Street in recent times. But despite early optimism, she too is now questioning whether the footfall exists.
“There is so much competition,” she says.
“I didn’t think it was too bad, then I went on holiday in September and another shop opened selling similar products.”
A couple of doors down, Perth man Darren Slater, 46, owner of Sole Saver which specialises in shoe and watch repairs and key cutting, is more upbeat.
Like Patersons, he believes it’s his reputation and quality products which help him stand out from the crowd.
Whilst shoe repairs cannot be done online, he has been Cupar-based Hoggs of Fife’s recommended repairer for the last four years, and gets a lot of shoes sent in by their customers.
But he says independents have been forced down side streets or into the west end of the High Street where he is because in the mid-section rates are “unaffordable and therefore unattainable”.
“That’s why there are so many empty shops, and temporary charity shops, because it’s still geared towards the big chains – many of whom went belly up during the recession. Until that changes the numbers of empty shops will continue.
“And a cheap all day multi-storey car park would be brilliant in this town. The prices they are currently asking for parking are excessive.”
Traditionally the Mercat Cross was the point to which goods were brought for sale on specific market days.
The medieval mercat cross of Perth stood in the High Street at its junction with the Skinnergate, until its destruction by Cromwells’s army in 1651.
The site where it stood is today marked by a granite octagon, set into the roadway.
But according to Perth & Kinross Council, there’s plenty to be positive about for the future.
Perth & Kinross Council’s Enterprise & Infrastructure Committee Convener, Councillor John Kellas says it is “fairly self-evident” to any onlooker that the variety and choice of retailing available in Perth is improving month on month.
He adds:“Whilst there will always be setbacks, it has never deterred us from having a positive programme of change that will lead to benefits for retailers and shoppers alike.
“I think it is always wise not to look at any individual figure in isolation but look at the contributions that will secure a long term benefit for Perth City and Perth & Kinross as a whole.”
Mr Kellas says Perth & Kinross Council works closely with Perth Traders Association which represents the city centre retail community to continue to grow the support available to businesses within Perth city centre.
Perth & Kinross Council is the only council in Scotland to have used the powers given to councils by the Scottish Government to provide Rates Relief support and a budget of £600,000 of support has been created, he adds.
“This rates relief has been warmly welcomed by Perth Traders Association and other business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce.
“Perth & Kinross Council have also committed to a programme of investment in improvements to the public realm.
“The current works in Perth’s Mill Street and the newly completed public realm in the High Street are just part of this programme.”
Mr Kellas said it had been great to see three new businesses opening alongside the new public realm at the bottom of the High Street. There has also been a commitment of £500,000 by the council for additional marketing of the city, he says, to drive footfall and encourage tourism and business conferencing to the city.
He adds: “This is an example of positive partnership working with a common purpose which will support the city and local economy it should also be recognised that over £1.5 million is currently being invested into the refurbishment of the city’s Canal Street Car Park to provide a better facility for shoppers and an additional 48 spaces have been created in the city centre following on from consultation with the business community.
“Evidence to date suggests that Perth is performing well in terms of vacancy rates. The city has low vacancy rates in its prime retail areas – with only five vacant units in the whole of the High Street.
“Of these vacant units two are currently planned for redevelopment. The latest figures based on activity up to the end of September 2016 show that during this period the same number of businesses opened as closed in Perth City Centre.
“Footfall variance year on year for Perth city centre is +17.2% whilst the UK trend to date is -1.7%.
“The wide programme of events that will be taking place during the Winter Festival will also help to support increased footfall and additional spend in the local economy. We will be continuing to work with all our partners to ensure Perth remains a destination of choice.”
