Retail/service store ideas for Waterford City Centre?

reni10

With all the small stores closing over the last few years in the Waterford City Centre and lots of stores vacant and for rent I thought it might be a good idea to pull the collective boards.ie mind together to look at some ideas for small retail/service stores that we all think would be good to see in the city centre or that we think other cities have and we are missing.

Who knows this might inspire someone to actually start something up and then provide a few well needed jobs in the area:)

I think there are enough bars, restaurants, cafes, newsagents etc. so what does the city centre lack?

I will try to get the ball rolling with an idea:

How about a walk in IT advice/repair service that can help you with things like iPhones, Laptops, portable electronics etc.
Like an Apple Genius Bar just on a smaller scale for any type of electronics.

Any other ideas out there?

Professey Chin

Along the IT lines I wish there was somewhere that didnt gouge you for PC/laptop components and actually stocked some!
I expect a bit of a markup but the only place atm is PC World and youre looking at paying about double the RRP for RAM, cables, Hard Drives, PSUs etc if they even have what youre looking for.

BBM77

I would love a sizable music shop. I miss going into a music shop and rooting through piles of CDs. I am somebody who bemoans the advent of downloadable music. In the big scheme of things I believe buying CDs was better.

CardBordWindow

BBM77 wrote: »

I would love a sizable music shop. I miss going into a music shop and rooting through piles of CDs. I am somebody who bemoans the advent of downloadable music. In the big scheme of things I believe buying CDs was better.

A lot of people are still mourning the loss of BPM.

wellboytoo

I disagree on the bars, the loss of the stand and Egans was a huge contributory factor to the nightime ghostliness of the City centre.

ComfyKnickers

wellboytoo wrote: »

I disagree on the bars, the loss of the stand and Egans was a huge contributory factor to the nightime ghostliness of the City centre.

I agree, there is nothing down that end of the town except T&H's. Waterford pub life is more or less centred around that one corner up the other end. Be great to see some pubs down in Red Square area with seating outside etc, not that we've had the weather for sitting out but you know what I mean.

Have to agree with a good music/dvd shop, Id love something like HMV to open, I love looking at all the boxsets etc.

reni10

Is there a need for pubs like Egans etc. in the city centre though as they have closed along with lots of other pubs all around the city in the last few years, I think there is just not enough people going out to warrant even one more pub anywhere in the city at the moment.

Same with a good music shop, they closed for a reason; iTunes and online downloading seem to have obliterated that type of shop so it would only work where you have a large population with a niche part that are looking for vinyl, CDs etc.

Same with anything like Movies/Video rentals/purchasing etc. Internet Downloading, Netflix, OnDemand TV etc. have made these types of stores no longer viable either.

What do places like Galway, Cork or Limerick have that Waterford is missing in terms of small retail/service?

Decibel Audio

reni10 wrote: »

Is there a need for pubs like Egans etc. in the city centre though as they have closed along with lots of other pubs all around the city in the last few years, I think there is just not enough people going out to warrant even one more pub anywhere in the city at the moment.

Same with a good music shop, they closed for a reason; iTunes and online downloading seem to have obliterated that type of shop so it would only work where you have a large population with a niche part that are looking for vinyl, CDs etc.

Same with anything like Movies/Video rentals/purchasing etc. Internet Downloading, Netflix, OnDemand TV etc. have made these types of stores no longer viable either.

What do places like Galway, Cork or Limerick have that Waterford is missing in terms of small retail/service?

The problem is , People and they should have let them build the new shopping center , That would pulled more people to shop here .

Jason Todd

We need something to really pull people into the city centre on a more consistent basis. I still know loads of people who love taking trips to Dundrum / ILAC / Stephen's Green / IKEA / McDonagh Junction etc. and thats crazy money leaving the local economy.

BBM77

Jason Todd wrote: »

We need something to really pull people into the city centre on a more consistent basis. I still know loads of people who love taking trips to Dundrum / ILAC / Stephen's Green / IKEA / McDonagh Junction etc. and thats crazy money leaving the local economy.

You are spot on there. Surly something can be done by somebody to get the Newgate Centre built. I know in the current economic climate it is unlike that all the units will be taken but it won’t always be the current economic climate and the units will fill over time. I mean the rubbish that was built over the Celtic tiger period and something that is viable even in the long term like the Newgate Centre doesn’t get built.

spookwoman

A big put off for people going into town is traffic and cost of parking. Add that to the price of the goods. For something that may cost €50 add parking petrol etc and then look at the price of the same item online is it really worth paying the extra? Is there anything that would draw the crowds thats not gawdy and overpriced.
I know buying local is good for the local economy but many don't have the luxury of paying those prices.

ziedth

I actually looked into setting up a retail shop at one point at the end of last year but luckily I got a job since. My theory was a shop that is like ibood.com in that you would have special offers that would change daily and only sell that product(or two) on the day. The mechanics of it weren't really within my budget but I genuinely believe it would work and like had been mentioned would bring people into the City centre.

Smell the glove

Would love to someone set up a place to buy good music, not the chart stuff available in golden discs. Preferably vinyl but with specialist cds too. Wouldn't even have to be a shop maybe just a stall in red square in the market that they have there,something like that surely would be do-able.

cococoady

Alot of people saying a proper music shop is needed. Is Rainbow Records not still open. I don't know what they are like in their but as far as I know they sell all kinds of music in different formats.

decies

Walking around the town the only people that seem to be doing any business is the cafes, some more than others . Mind you a decent chipper in the city centre ( not john street) could do very well, decent chips are a most. Are friends by the park and tramore are minting it by all accounts. In the current climate in Waterford city any business where you have a large amount of money tied up in stock is a definite no no.

Smell the glove

Rainbow is still open but the quality of records there is very poor. Lot of scratches /poor surfaces issues. Plus the selection is awful. You might find the odd decent record there but in my experience only one or two a year.

wmpdd3

I know this isnt the answer anyone wants, but I'd have to say H&M and New Look and more clothing chains, even just concessions in Shaws.

That IS what brings me into town, its the only thing that merits the parking cost etc.

A PC repair place wouldn't work as people like to park IN a store when they are bringing in anything more than a mobile phone.

I miss Pull and Bear too.

I think the re appearance of vintage stores in Michael st is promising. There should be opportunities down there with low rent short term rental units.

Nypd

AFAIK the shop next to rainbow records is opening as an IT repair shop, fixing laptop, phones etc

Max Powers

Nypd wrote: »

AFAIK the shop next to rainbow records is opening as an IT repair shop, fixing laptop, phones etc

There is a new IT repair shop on the quay near Jordans. Was previously a christian book shop.

Jason Todd hit the nail on the head of what we need, shops that pull people in from all around the SE....brown thomas, zara, adidas, H&M, obviously something like an IKEA would be amazing on the outskirts of the city

fricatus

decies wrote: »

In the current climate in Waterford city any business where you have a large amount of money tied up in stock is a definite no no.

You're dead right, but that's not just a Waterford thing - it's an iron law of business. If you have a low stock turnover, then you need big margins to cover your fixed costs, such as wages, heat & light, rent, rates, etc. If you have higher turnover then you can get away with lower margins.

Unfortunately those people looking for a good record shop, or somewhere where you can just drop in and buy computer parts are indulging in wishful thinking, unless they're prepared to pay a premium for the convenience. If you're just going to go in, mooch around, complain about the prices and then go home and buy online, that business is not going to be around for long.

I think a couple more cafés with street frontage down around John Roberts Square and Broad St would be great. Costa has added a great deal of atmosphere to the street as it is. A little bit more would be terrific.

Ultimately though, what the city centre needs most is a big "destination" shop like Brown Thomas. Alternatively, a good big shopping centre that can at least beat Newbridge or McDonagh, and provide a reasonable alternative to Dundrum for those not wanting to travel too far, is what's needed. Such a centre would need a good portfolio of major retailers, so the target would be to get as many of the shops on Dundrum's store directory as possible. Somehow I can't see us with a Harvey Nicks or a House of Fraser, but if we could get 60 or 70% of the names on the list, we'd be "suckin daysel".

ROCKMAN

Thinking old cinema here

But how about entertainment complex , Laserblast meets Waterworld (Drogheda)type thing , Lots of different attractions/ activities to suit all ages under the one roof. ( certain group activities could be aimed at getting older groups such stag/hen or corp groups into the centre of the city at night.
)

If a complex like this was opened it could lead to smaller retail/business opening up around it.

Jambo

fricatus wrote: »

I think a couple more cafés with street frontage down around John Roberts Square and Broad St would be great. Costa has added a great deal of atmosphere to the street as it is. A little bit more would be terrific.

A cafe owner mentioned a few weeks ago to myself that their is over 30 Cafes / Coffee type shops in the city centre alone , so going by that we dont need any more cafes.

What we do need is some of them to have longer hours , maybe a beer licence and most importantly for them to open on Sundays which imo is not happening at all in the city - other than in superquinn, the Crystal Cafe and Costa their is no other cafes open on a sunday and no where to get a lite lunch.

ROCKMAN

Jambo wrote: »

A cafe owner mentioned a few weeks ago to myself that their is over 30 Cafes / Coffee type shops in the city centre alone , so going by that we dont need any more cafes.

What we do need is some of them to have longer hours , maybe a beer licence and most importantly for them to open on Sundays which imo is not happening at all in the city - other than in superquinn, the Crystal Cafe and Costa their is no other cafes open on a sunday and no where to get a lite lunch.

Good point , maybe Sundays could become a starting point to trying to get people back into the centre ,start putting things on ,Sunday morning market , Bands in the afternoon/evening ,Open air shows/plays etc etc , Try change people views on the centre and attract families /visiters .

GrandBlaa

+1 to Sunday and - for the love of God - later opening hours... even till 8.00 or 9.00pm! I was mortified trying to explain to a friend visiting from US that yep, all cafes close at 5:30. That's just mad!

Also, either the retailers/council/whoever need to understand the 'destination shopping' mindset that will draw in the huge numbers.

Waterford is a very backward-looking city (not backward, but backward-looking) The big fuss at the moment is all about the 1k years of history and the Viking Triangle (which I think is marvellous and beyond impressive, btw). However, that angle is mostly for tourists and won't dissuade anyone from going to Kilkenny / Ikea / Dundrum to shop and putting money into the local economny and keeping businesses open. Heck people even take a spin to Clonmel for M&S and Easons alone (and Dove Hill en route).

Compare Waterford and Kilkenny (please, no cats/rats BS):

Transport:
Get the train to Kilkenny, right to McDonagh Junction.
Get the train to Waterford, walk over the bridge and down the quay (if you know the area). If it's raining, tough sugar! Are there signs to City Centre/main shopping areas? Is there a shuttle service from the station to the quay?

If you're driving, there's the issue of parking which, in Waterford, don't get me started. I don't know if the prices in KK are much better, but parking seems easier up there, somehow.

Ease of Access:
If I want to go to Next in Waterford... well, there's the microscopic women's store in City Center. And the children's dept a few doors down. And the big Next out by Ardkeen - but the bus service only goes to the hospital and never, ever keeps to its timetable.
You could get a taxi out, but why bother with that expense for one shop?
If you drove to Waterford, but weren't familiar with the place, you'd be hard pushed to find the 'big Next'.

TK Maxx, Yankee Candles, etc. (i.e. specialist stores that people actually travel to shop at) are nowhere near the centre of town if you want to walk. We would benefit hugely from a block of L'Occitane, Lush, etc. stores right in the middle of the city.

Customer Service:
I just gotta say, the service in places like Shaws and Debenhams can be dire. Not to say there's no crap service elsewhere, but I do feel a lot of those older, 'legacy' shops are like something out of Are You Being Served?

And I could go on, of course. But there are genuine reasons why people go 'destination shopping' and why Waterford is like a ghost town at times. But mostly, please open the cafes after 5:30.

[end rant]

ComfyKnickers

ROCKMAN wrote: »

Thinking old cinema here

But how about entertainment complex , Laserblast meets Waterworld (Drogheda)type thing , Lots of different attractions/ activities to suit all ages under the one roof. ( certain group activities could be aimed at getting older groups such shag/hen or corp groups into the centre of the city at night.
)

If a complex like this was opened it could lead to smaller retail/business opening up around it.

:eek::eek:

ROCKMAN

ComfyKnickers wrote: »

:eek::eek:

oops


but then again................

ComfyKnickers

fricatus wrote: »

I think a couple more cafés with street frontage down around John Roberts Square and Broad St would be great. Costa has added a great deal of atmosphere to the street as it is. A little bit more would be terrific.

I was saying that in another post, it's the perfect spot for a few bars etc. to put seating outside and create a bit of an atmosphere, as it is, everything in Waterford, from pubs to shops, is very spread out!

Then again, almost every building in John Roberts Square is occupied by a shop so it's probably never going to happen but even if the middle bit, the actual square had more things like the coffee station that's there with the seats outside, it would be lovely.

Don't know if any one else agrees but I think those trees need to be cut back massively, they take over the whole square and are just too much, I was upstairs in Supermacs last week and I couldn't even see out, they ruined a lovely view down the square.

Max Powers

GrandBlaa wrote: »

+1 to Sunday and - for the love of God - later opening hours... even till 8.00 or 9.00pm! I was mortified trying to explain to a friend visiting from US that yep, all cafes close at 5:30. That's just mad!

Also, either the retailers/council/whoever need to understand the 'destination shopping' mindset that will draw in the huge numbers.

Waterford is a very backward-looking city (not backward, but backward-looking) The big fuss at the moment is all about the 1k years of history and the Viking Triangle (which I think is marvellous and beyond impressive, btw). However, that angle is mostly for tourists and won't dissuade anyone from going to Kilkenny / Ikea / Dundrum to shop and putting money into the local economny and keeping businesses open. Heck people even take a spin to Clonmel for M&S and Easons alone (and Dove Hill en route).

Compare Waterford and Kilkenny (please, no cats/rats BS):

Transport:
Get the train to Kilkenny, right to McDonagh Junction.
Get the train to Waterford, walk over the bridge and down the quay (if you know the area). If it's raining, tough sugar! Are there signs to City Centre/main shopping areas? Is there a shuttle service from the station to the quay?

If you're driving, there's the issue of parking which, in Waterford, don't get me started. I don't know if the prices in KK are much better, but parking seems easier up there, somehow.

Ease of Access:
If I want to go to Next in Waterford... well, there's the microscopic women's store in City Center. And the children's dept a few doors down. And the big Next out by Ardkeen - but the bus service only goes to the hospital and never, ever keeps to its timetable.
You could get a taxi out, but why bother with that expense for one shop?
If you drove to Waterford, but weren't familiar with the place, you'd be hard pushed to find the 'big Next'.

TK Maxx, Yankee Candles, etc. (i.e. specialist stores that people actually travel to shop at) are nowhere near the centre of town if you want to walk. We would benefit hugely from a block of L'Occitane, Lush, etc. stores right in the middle of the city.

Customer Service:
I just gotta say, the service in places like Shaws and Debenhams can be dire. Not to say there's no crap service elsewhere, but I do feel a lot of those older, 'legacy' shops are like something out of Are You Being Served?

And I could go on, of course. But there are genuine reasons why people go 'destination shopping' and why Waterford is like a ghost town at times. But mostly, please open the cafes after 5:30.

[end rant]

What a list of petty complaints, Waterford is bigger than Kk, thats why you may need to walk somewhere off train. With your logic, the space between Heuston and O connell st would put people off Dublin shopping.

Service is bad across all of Ireland, its getting better though notably more in places like Waterford which are suffering more than Dub, cork, galway.

Parking is Waterford (€1 ph or 3.20 for day) is cheaper than KK with a wide selection of car-parks, onstreet, quays, square, railway sq, Bolton st, newgate, miller marsh. If you are having trouble finding a space in Waterford, then it must be Xmas eve.

Waterford has more shops and a better selection than anywhere else in the south east.

To say Waterford is backward looking is the usual 'grass is greener' tripe u hear everywhere you go, yes Waterford has problems, notably we didnt expand the retail experience significantly during the boom. This is largely due to McCannt and that eejit of a councillor stopping Newgate. If we had average employment and we supported the city centre more, it would certainly make it more vibrant and more shops would come.

libra02

Max Powers wrote: »

What a list of petty complaints, Waterford is bigger than Kk, thats why you may need to walk somewhere off train. With your logic, the space between Heuston and O connell st would put people off Dublin shopping.

Service is bad across all of Ireland, its getting better though notably more in places like Waterford which are suffering more than Dub, cork, galway.

Parking is Waterford (€1 ph or 3.20 for day) is cheaper than KK with a wide selection of car-parks, onstreet, quays, square, railway sq, Bolton st, newgate, miller marsh. If you are having trouble finding a space in Waterford, then it must be Xmas eve.

Waterford has more shops and a better selection than anywhere else in the south east.

To say Waterford is backward looking is the usual 'grass is greener' tripe u hear everywhere you go, yes Waterford has problems, notably we didnt expand the retail experience significantly during the boom. This is largely due to McCannt and that eejit of a councillor stopping Newgate. If we had average employment and we supported the city centre more, it would certainly make it more vibrant and more shops would come.

I totally agree with you. TK Maxx is not that far from town at alll with parking available in Milllars Marsh, Tesco gives free parking for 1-2 hours. If people are too lazy to walk from City Square to there well it says alot.

As you said people walk farther in Dublin from Stephens Green to Henry Street and don't complain.

Ireland and customer service do not go hand in hand, however Waterford is no worse than any place else.

I know alot of people from Dublin and up the country who think Waterford is great for shopping and love coming here - might be changed a bit now as a few shops have closed.

As another poster said we need shops like Zara, H&M, Mango opening here which would draw in crowds from around the area. Sure the units in Arundel SQ next to city square where supposed to be redeveloped into a huge H&M but have not heard anymore about it.

I will say high end shops like BT, L'Occtiane would not do well here in the city. I am from the city and do not mean to insult anyone but Waterford is know as a working class city and do not support big shops like that in general, even now in recession time the only "high-end" shop we have Tommy Hilfiger I say is barely surviving.
I know BT did look at having a small unit here years back but after research showed it would not be profitable for them.

We need to focus on getting mid range shops like Lush, New Look etc in as they are the ones which could thrive and bring more people into the city.

GrandBlaa

Max Powers wrote: »

What a list of petty complaints, Waterford is bigger than Kk, thats why you may need to walk somewhere off train. With your logic, the space between Heuston and O connell st would put people off Dublin shopping.

I've just spent the past week in Waterford with US friends - what might seem petty to you are genuine observations from showing newbies around your home city.

Also, when I arrive in Housten, the Luas steps in and takes me right from the door into the centre of things.

My point about the Waterford train station is that obviously we can't change its position, but we *can* increase signage from the minute people get off the platform and we *can* increase ease of access to the city by offering a shuttle bus to like the Clock Tower. Walking from the station to town in the pelting rain is a miserable experience, especially with luggage in tow.

Max Powers wrote: »

Parking is Waterford (€1 ph or 3.20 for day) is cheaper than KK with a wide selection of car-parks, onstreet, quays, square, railway sq, Bolton st, newgate, miller marsh. If you are having trouble finding a space in Waterford, then it must be Xmas eve.

Waterford has more shops and a better selection than anywhere else in the south east.

I never said anything about being unable to find a space, but that parking was a frustration. The larger and easily accessible carparks along the quay have odd pricing structures (e.g. €5 per day flat fee, targeted for tourists/workers, not shoppers. And the Clock Tower carpark is like €1.80 p/h)

Also, I especially pointed out the speciality stores we were missing - that visitors would miss from any other city, e.g. Easons. And we do have a good selection, just its spread out in an odd manner not convenient to pedestrians / day trippers / destination shoppers.

Max Powers wrote: »

To say Waterford is backward looking is the usual 'grass is greener' tripe u hear everywhere you go

Go back and read what I said, boy I actually clarified 'backward-looking', as in, making big of Waterford's past - which has been a huge success! Great for tourists and the new museums. But shopping and generating business in the sense of the local economy and keeping stores open is something overlooked.

It should be a joy to come to Waterford - an easy, accessible experience. And we are very close, just not quite there yet

libra02 wrote: »

I totally agree with you. TK Maxx is not that far from town at alll with parking available in Milllars Marsh, Tesco gives free parking for 1-2 hours. If people are too lazy to walk from City Square to there well it says alot.

Oh I totally agree that TK is actually really close - but people coming from outside Waterford aren't going to know that or know where the shop is. If you're in City Center, there's nothing telling shoppers of all the other great stores that we *do* have. Visitors/day trippers just don't know there's a TK Maxx and Costa a few minutes away - on a walk which takes them through some lovely parts of the city.

It's like there's tons of little 'shopping islands' around. They just need to be joined up together somehow. Perhaps something akin to the '1,000 years of history in 1,000 paces', which has been a success?

spookwoman

As a non waterford person and someone who is not a fan of shopping there is nothing in the city that would make me go into town.
Traffic along the queue and routes into town can be a damn nightmare. You get into the city centre and there is not much there. The square is occupied by a supermarket, a few clothes stores and some brick a brack shops. Porters for getting books avoid like the plaque as there is no space and always a queue a mile long. Red square what is there to draw anyone, a book shop and more clothes shops.
As someone said earlier people are lazy. We'll if your planning on going proper shopping that means a few hours, feet get sore, hands gets full of bags and kids in tow, its a real put off if your have to walk a good bit to get back to transport.
I'm not from cork but I have to say shopping in the cork town center is a dream. Everything is on the main street, including markets and restaurants. I've gone there just to do xmas shopping because of this and it takes a lot less time.
Nothing is centralized here, shops are scattered randomly through out the retail parks on the outskirts and for someone using a bus or taxi they are not going to go out to them.
Waterford is not just for the locals its for everyone,should be trying to draw people in and make shopping as easy and enjoyable as it is possible for them.