It's time for little shops to go on the offensive

But as more chain stores move into areas traditionally characterised by independent traders, are our shopping areas in danger of losing their soul?

It is like the story of David and Goliath.

In one corner are the independent traders, a collection of quirky boutiques, working studios, co-operatives and cafes. Their rivals are the corporate giants whose shopfronts dominate High Streets.

In the past year, Starbucks, Yo! Sushi, Wagamama and another Tesco have opened in Brighton and Hove as part of the £14 million Jubilee library development.

In many places, the arrival of such chains is enough to create a stranglehold, forcing smaller traders to shut up shop.

But it is in Brighton and Hove where independent traders stand the best chance of survival.

Peter Stocker, secretary of North Laine Traders' Association, has run North Laine Ceramics in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, for 27 years. He is confident the area will continue to thrive.

He said: "I'm optimistic about the future. The chains haven't affected business too much and people don't come to North Laine to visit shops like that.

"It is insane for someone to go to a chain for a cup of coffee when there are so many individual cafs."

He said some shops which started as independent outlets, such as boutique Velvet, a haberdashery and clothes store, now have several branches in the city.

"Dame Anita Roddick opened the first Body Shop in Kensington Gardens in 1976.

She used to sprinkle a trail of perfume on the pavement for people to follow."

The big players have had some effect, mainly in terms of rising rents. Peter said: "The chain stores have put huge pressure on our rent. Property prices have gone berserk because it's a nice place to live and work, then commercial property prices go berserk as well.

"We're almost a victim of our own success. If you can't afford the rent, the landlord doesn't mind if you go because people are queueing to have a shop here."

The traders' association launches a website this summer, which will give a virtual tour of the shopping area.

Peter said: "It's a way of persuading people it's worth coming here. It's hard to get into Brighton and then you have to pay £12 to park. As a city we need to be considering park and ride and other ways of getting people in.

"Smaller traders are also getting more savvy to the internet. Even if you don't sell products on it, you need to use it to make people aware of your presence."

Next month, Ed Birch will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the One40Five store in Sydney Street, Brighton. The store has been online for two years and, as well as selling clothes, the website has a radio station and blog updating visitors.

Ed, 38, said: "The last six months have been the worst I have seen in ten years but it's the website which is saving us. It's definitely the way forward.

"North Laine and The Lanes are the jewel in the crown of this city. People don't come here to go to Tesco or Starbucks.

"Other cities are becoming so sterile. Unfortunately, I see Brighton becoming like that if things don't change." Many people have boycotted the chain stores in favour of local businesses.

Musician Jess Eleini, 19, of Hampton Place, Brighton, said: "I don't think anybody should go into chain stores and they should all be closed down. It completely ruins the area."

Sharon Thomas, chairwoman of the North Laine Traders' Association, quit her job in London five years ago to open the Off Beat Coffee Bar, in Sydney Street.

Sharon, 41, said: "I think people who like individual shops and cafes will keep coming and people who like chains will go there. There's room for everybody.

"Chains have more resources and they can afford higher rent so that is worrying.

"There are still independent traders moving in all the time and doing up shops so that has to be a good thing."

Infinity Foods, a co-operative set up by students in 1971, in North Street, Brighton, is a few doors away from Starbucks and Tesco Express. The impact of business has not been as bad as feared.

Liz Cotton, 37, a member of the co-operative, said: "We were concerned originally but now we almost complement each other. Our core product is organic foods and that is not something Tesco does a lot of so people might go there for their staple shopping and come to us for extras."

A Starbucks spokeswoman said: "We believe there is plenty of room in the marketplace for a variety of coffee retailers, including Starbucks, independently-owned cafes and other speciality coffee houses.

"We believe that we have helped stimulate the growth of the whole sector, with independents and branded coffee houses alike benefiting from this growth."

A public meeting about the ongoing closures of shops, services and facilities and the knock-on effects - a problem dubbed "Ghost Town Britain" - is being held at the Brighton Centre in Kings Road.

On May 18 at 7.30pm councillors, MPs and representatives from Friends Of The Earth and the Local Works, the coalition behind the Sustainable Communities Bill, will discuss the bill and how to engage people in decision-making and the regeneration of their area.

Friday, May 5, 2006