This, ladies and gentlemen, is your high street. No prizes there. You recognise it. It's familiar. I could just as easily have put up a picture of the Landgate, the Strand or Needles Passage. "Yes, that's Rye" you would say.
Just over a year ago, I wrote a series of articles about the state of the hospitality industry. Hospitality is my primary expertise, but since joining Rye News, I have expanded my remit to include the many shops and businesses to be found in Rye. As you know, we are fairly rare in being a champion of independent retailing. The daily stresses and struggles of a shopkeeper are similar, whatever you actually sell.
Since Christmas, I know of two local businesses that have ceased trading and one restaurant in Hastings. I also know of the many businesses that are officially or unofficially on the books of local estate agents.
And then there's the loss of the Brewery Yard Club. As we know, this has nothing to do with lack of business, inexperience or bad management. Jane Brook is exactly the kind of energetic, dynamic, powerhouse that this town needs and thankfully for us, she is the right person to head the Chamber of Commerce at this difficult time.
There are many reasons for a business to fail, but most of them resort back to money. No money to pay staff properly, so they leave; no money to pay for additional staff, so the existing team leave and the business has to reduce its hours or close; no money to restock, so no customers; no customers. A business draining the owner's personal finances; online sales making a physical shop a luxury; the bricks and mortar being more valuable than the turnover; inadequate rent, leading to the realisation of an asset. Just as everyone's story is deeply complex, so are the myriad reasons to take that ultimate step and close.
The picture is not all bad. I also know of three businesses that have opened up recently and another that has expanded; two of which are hospitality businesses and a further catering business moving to larger premises in Hastings.
But I implore you, just as I did a year ago, to keep shopping locally, as much as finances allow; or to support Scallop Week, or the jazz and arts festivals. Because every shop or business owner is also someone else's customer and the breaking of that chain has disastrous consequences. There is no one who isn't impacted by the current cost of living crisis, but try to alter your habits, with your neighbours and your town in mind, if you can.
I went to the Brewery Yard Club yard sale last weekend. Jane had organised it with the same precision, energy and good humour as any event that she puts on; Elise, her right hand, by her side as ever. A cold, dark, empty shop is always depressing, but I was struck by the sense of sadness voiced by everyone who had turned out to show their support. For those of you who missed it, there will be another sale this Sunday, January 21 between 10am and 2pm.
Jane and Elise aren't going anywhere, but if we don't keep supporting the small businesses of Rye, very soon we won't recognise our high street anymore and this last picture, will become the rule rather than the exception...
