Free parking would be big help for shoppers
Wednesday March 17 2010
WEST STREET went into severe economic decline two years before the actual recession, David Jackson, Sapphire Jewellers, claims.
Along with his wife, he has been running the jewellers on the street for the past 10 years. 'We first noticed a deterioration in the business which had been good in 2005 and 2006. That was during the street refurbishment works and well before the actual recession hit the rest of the world.'
Business is so bad now in West Street that David, who employs four staff, says that: 'We are lucky to see a customer after 4.30pm in the evening and you can forget latenight shopping.'
In the boom
times, many of his customers included women who were going out for a night and would spend between € 50 and € 100 on a new pendant or earrings for their latest outfit. Now people are not 'treating' themselves and watching every penny.
Sapphire, who also have a shop in Skerries, have also noticed over the years that the business there is not as badly affected as West Street.
David would love to see the rates lowered, free or reduced parking in the town and while he doesn't think the farmers' market has brought much extra business his way, it's another incentive to bring shoppers back into West Street.
- Christine DOHERTY
