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Nice, one of Google Maps…

Interesting one on scale

So what do supermarkets offer us and why?

All under one roof- no need to travel between several specialist retailers, therefore saving time.

A wider range of goods- due to large stores, they have more display and storage space.

Value for money (?) - the power of supermarket retailers means they can buy in bulk from producers and wholesalers, then pass on the discount to consumers. This perspective would be different though if you spoke to a farmer. (Why?)

Easier access – usually close to main roads and offer large free car parks, to reduce the friction of distance and encourage that bulk buying.

Environment- undercover, heated, security, music, pleasant lighting, all encourage us to feel safe and buy more.

Opening hours- longer opening hours, including 24 hour opening, is attractive shoppers, particularly regular shift workers.

Loyalty- supermarkets have been keen to exploit customer loyalty, loyalty cards with generous, and not so generous, discounts encourage us to keep shopping!

Supermarkets are a rival to the traditional High Street independants and even multiples, (anyone been following the news about how Nottingham’s Boots has been coping with the supermarket challenge?) this has often resulted in their decline, but in some High Streets multiples have come to dominant, this cloning, is not to everyones’ taste, but that’s another post.

One for the year 11 ‘old skool’. Have a play at stop disasters can tell me know you do….

An extended piece of writing on shopping habits,found under work set, let’s get into writing a good structured answer.

Geographers away on the army visit, let us know how it’s going?

  The doughnut effect is the name given to the increasing movement of retail from the C.B.D. (Central Business District) to the outskirts (rural-urban fringe) of the cities.

Obviously, cars have been the factor that have fueled this process, as well as, the attraction of an out-of-town site for retail.

This movement of retail can have positive and negative implications for the C.B.D. and the rural-urban fringe.

C.B.D.

Negatives

• Less customers, as people shop at out-of-town locations.
• Multiples no longer maintain their thresholds, they close or relocate.
• A declining choice of shops for people who use the High Street, particularly those who are less affluent and less mobile.
• Local independant stores that are ‘anchored’ by multiples and need their passing trade, lose business and close.
• Loss of employment.
• Shops are left vacant or replaced with those that offer ‘tacky’ or cheap products.
• A decline in tax revenues.
• Less local government income to spend on the environment.
• A declining environment, litter, vandalism, results in more retailers moving away from the area.
• Basically, the ‘Death of the High Street’.

Many of you would recognise this downward spiral as the negative multiplier effect. This is your classic case study of Dudley and Merryhill.

Positives

• It may encourage local councils to diversify the local economy, the development of leisure and entertainment facilities (?), hopefully these will attract people back to the centre.
• The local council may also be encouraged to develop the environment to attract back both customers and multiples, by developing the features of out-of-town shopping. (More about this later…)
• Less congestion of the High Street, may make it pleasanter to shop and easier to access (?)

Rural-Urban Fringe.

Negatives

• Loss of greenfield land and damage to associated habitats.
• Increased congestion and pollution.
• May encourage associated developments, such as housing, and therefore urban-sprawl.

Positives

• May provide much needed employment.
• May encourage the development of public transport to outlying areas.

Any others?

The doughnut effect has been much more prominent in American cities, but as Geographers in the U.K., we can learn much about the dangers of granting planning permission on greenfield sites, without careful thought about the impact on the C.B.D. . In the U.K. planning permission has become stricter with regards to develop on greenfield sites, in order to encourage the use of brownfield sites, hopefully as a growth pole for urban regeneration.

So on balance, is out-of-town worth it?

Some ideas to consider and reflect on from today. Generally….

People tend to do their ‘main’ shop at one major multiple.

1. Multiples such as Tesco have a number of departments, such as Butchers, Greengrocers, etc under one roof.
2. This is more convenient and reduces time shopping.
3. They also have a wider range of products, because of the size of the stores, they have more display space.
4. They can also sell products at cheaper prices, they can buy in bulk and have larger warehouse facilities for storage.
5. They also have longer opening hours which may fit in with shift work.
6. They are also more accessible than the traditional high street, due to free car-parking and close locations next to major roads.
7. Many multiples have customer cards, that offer discounts for loyalty. 

People tend to be shopping less frequently.

1. People tend to buy in bulk for their ‘main shop’, meaning they have to shop less.
2. People can buy in bulk, because they have cars, shopping can be transported home with ease.
3. People can also buy in bulk, because they have storage facilities, such as fridge and freezers.
4. It is economical to buy in bulk, major multiples tend to attract shoppers by offering discounts on multiple purchases, such as BOGOF.
5. Increasingly people are paid monthly, therefore they may choose to do one ‘main shop’ each month.

People are travelling further for their shopping.

1. People have cars!
2. People are more willing to travel further for their shopping, it is economical to increase the distance travelled to reduce their purchase costs.
3. Many of the larger out-of-town supermarkets are located next to major roads, such as motorways. This reduces the friction of distance, they are more accessible.
4. Out-of-town supermarkets also offer free parking, which encourages people to use their cars.

Now one to consider, which came first, the car or the out-of-town supermarket?

Next… the attraction of out-of-town…. 

A bit behind on the blogging posts, but you need your planning hat on here.

Access

Shopping centres require good access, this reduces the friction of distance, so anywhere close to main roads, or with tram or train access is advantageous.

You will also require roads that are free from congestion.

You will also require good access to allow delivery vehicles to supply the retailers with ease.

Good access and a reduction in the friction of distance will also extend the catchment area of the centre.

Good access will also be needed during the construction of the centre.

The site

Flat and devoid from the risk of flooding will make construction easier and less expensive.

A surrounding pleasant environment will also be attractive for investors and shoppers.

A large site

A large site has several advantages.

This allows for the building of a large centre, with of course will allow a large variety of multiples to be accommodated.

A large site also allows for greater storage space, meaning shops can stock a larger variety of products.

A large site also allows for a large car parking area, obviously free and readily available, car parking allows better access and encourages people to buy in bulk.

If there is space around the site, it may allow for expansion at a later date or encourage the investment of associated retailers.

Greenfield ‘v’ Brownfield

There a number of pros and cons to each. (Just some random quick thoughts- it is after parents’ evening)

Brownfield site

Against

• The site may need to be reclaimed from it’s previous industrial use, this may be expensive.
• It may be difficult to market such a development on a former industrial site, the environment may not be particularly appealing.
• Access to the site may be restricted due to its urban location, I.e. congestion.
• Land costs may be high in central urban areas.

For

• As a former industrial site, it may be easier to receive planning permission, particularly if unemployment is high. Local government may be keen to have a new regeneration project.
• Infrastructure may already be present.
• The site may provide access to a large urban population, hence custom.

Greenfield

Against

• Planning permission will be more difficult, Government is not keen to encourage urban sprawl and the encroachment of rural areas.
• Infrastructure may not be present.
• Access may have to be improved.
• Damage to the environment and potential public protest.

For

• Cheaper land costs, due to less competition.
• Easier access away from congested urban areas.
• Larger sites.
• More pleasant environment.

Socio-Economics of the area.

Obviously you want your centre to have customers, so you are going to have to think carefully about the socio-economic profile of the area.

Does it have a high income level? – therefore the ability to spend!

What is the unemployment rate? A double-edged sword, high unemployment would mean a reduced capacity to spend, but it may provide willing workers and potentially make planning permission easier.

What professions are dominant in the area? – young professionals with leisure time and high disposable incomes?

Do people own cars?- thereby the ability to buy in bulk.

What is the dominant demographic in the area? Would a centre in a predominantly student area be the correct customer base you are looking for?

Doughnuts, Tesco and Cloning tomorrow….

Well, five hundred and one…

And a nice bit of slumping, via GGIP.

And a nice bit of slumping, via GGIP.