circumstance blog

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January 20, 2004

go back

I haven't written here in a while, so I figure I would give it a go. Things have been pretty much the same, nothing new to report.

This afternoon I rode into town on my scooter, and I swear Jamie Oliver passed me on his scooter in Trafalgar Square, and then I followed him up Charing Cross for a bit. Being on the scooter you are much more aware of other people on the road, whether they are in a car or a two wheeled vehicle. Anyway, he was wearing a cream helmet with a light blue-stripe and I could have sworn it was the famous chef. Anyone know what colour helmet he wears??

I then went to Border's and got a nice wall calendar for the bargain after-Christmas price of £2. While I was there an American older woman stopped by the information desk to voice her disapproval of Border's being across the street from Foyle's, and how chain stores are driving independent bookshops out of business. She went on to say how where she comes from, in Long Beach, California, it’s a shame that it has been "allowed" to happen. I informed her politely that there are many successful independent bookshops in the immediate area, thriving ones. But she proceeded to complain, although I couldn't understand why she would come into Border's and complain the staff there, as if they should pack up and leave and send their CVs to Foyle's across the street because Border's ruined Long Beach for her. I think it is perfectly reasonable for any bookshop to want to set up business in Charing Cross, an area known for its bookshops, but I guess if you are a chain store you are supposed to stay out and stick to strip malls in suburbia to sell your wares. The Border's employee informed the woman that the previous occupier of the shop was a Books Etc. (which is owned by Waterstone's, the nation's largest chain bookshop) and that Border's isn't nearly as large as some of the other chains in the UK. This still did not please the woman, as Border's, she pointed out, is a multinational company. I think maybe she was just disappointed because she travelled halfway around the world only to discover, horrifically, that London is just like Long Beach, it has Border's and Starbuck's! Of course, if she would have only walked down the block, she would have seen dozen's of other bookshops, as well as a trillion other coffee shops. I think it just takes a bit more effort, and it's easier to complain.

The whole "all chain stores are evil" idea really gets me annoyed. I can understand how upsetting it is to see smaller, charming, quaint businesses driven out, but mostly I fail to see the benefit. I find it unfair to ban businesses from operating just because they are successful. If you offer better service, better products, better whatever, I think that people will seek you out, no matter if the price is a bit higher. (Am I the only one that hates to even walk into a place like ASDA, owned by Walmart, because the place is always a mess and no one is around to help you? So what if you save 5 pence for a loaf of bread, waiting in a long queue for 20 minutes isn't worth it.)

I once worked for a multi-national chain, and I found their business practices to be just as sound as when I worked for a small company of 10 people. In fact, the larger corporation had a wealth of benefits that the smaller company could never offer. Of course, not all conglomerates play fairly, (*cough* Microsoft *cough*) and I also don't want everyplace to end up looking the same. But I believe you don't have to fight such bad behaviour by doing more of the same and not allowing companies to prosper. I may be becoming a bit more conservative since moving to London, although I can say that the NIMBYs in San Francisco always turned my stomach.

Well there ya go, some opinion that I'm sure most of you who read this won't agree with. That's ok, there are many things you say on your blogs I don't agree with either!

Posted by shannon at January 20, 2004 10:22 AM

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