Grass is not always greener on the other side of Princes Street - Kevin Buckle
Good news for Avalanche today as we finally have neighbours for the new shop. Jewellers Warren James have taken the unit next door, which just leaves one space between them and Sostrene Grene which I have heard is also now taken by another high street chain.
It would of course be nice to have more, smaller independents but realistically the centre is not a cheap place to be located and while Avalanche was very lucky to have been given plenty of time to build up business until we could afford a full rent in the current business climate, if the big boys are prepared to commit to a sizeable rent it would be daft for the owners to refuse.
In the five years Avalanche has been in the centre we have managed to gradually build to the point that we have now been able to invest in the new shop, obviously helped by the fact we were already a well established business when we moved into the centre.
It is difficult for new businesses to start from scratch in an expensive shopping centre and especially since the pandemic there is a dearth of small independents who are looking to move to the next level.
It does surprise me that my old shop is currently not under offer, unlike the other remaining units as it is a fantastic location and certainly affordable for an independent that already has experience.
King Pins has also opened recently and to be honest business- wise I haven’t noticed much difference either way, though I would expect it to be much busier at the times we are closed.
I did go along to the opening launch and had a go both at the bowling and the crazy golf, which I can see appealing to office workers looking for a night out after work on those rare occasions office workers actually go to the office rather than work at home.
I’m no expert on jewellery as I wear nothing except a wedding ring, but Warren James must be doing something right as they have over 200 shops and unusually are an independent family-owned business just a very large one.
The shop looks the part, having just been unveiled this week and certainly the transformation of the middle part of the Waverley Market from empty units after Superdry left to vibrant shops is now three quarters complete.
Sostrene Grene complete the transformation of the old Superdry space, which I don’t think anybody appreciated the size of until they left. And while I’m not a regular shopper for Danish homeware I did once get a useful picture frame there and I’m told it has the second highest figures of the entire chain.
In a final twist to the tale it was announced at the start of last month that the Superdry shop in the St James Quarter had suddenly closed its doors.
It was a very successful shop when it was in the Waverley Mall as it was then and some did have their doubts when it moved to the St James Quarter to open a “concept” store.
Superdry had a great location on the Waverley Steps and have learned the hard way that the grass is not always greener on the other side of Princes Street.