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Flagship store's trade blow
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| THE SHOWROOM: Pavilion Interiors |
AN upmarket interiors store has not sold a single kitchen - despite being open for eight months.
But bosses at Pavilion Interiors, Church Street, Blackburn, insist they are staying put, despite the situation which they describe as a "disaster".
Manager Joanne McMillan said the removal vans parked in Church Street on Wednesday were taking away the shop's kitchen stock and replacing it with bathroom equipment, which was proving a better seller.
She denied the goods offered in the store were beyond the price range of people in the area.
She said: "It just wasn't attracting the right people. It's been a disaster. We were not really a specialist kitchen outlet, and people prefer to go to places like B&Q. All this area is getting done up, so I would have thought once it is all up and running we will do better."
Last November, East Lancashire's King of Wallpaper' John Wilman, said that only three people a day were going into the shop, which opened last summer. Among the items for sale were Aga cookers, which cost thousands of pounds.
Mr Wilman, behind the Coloroll wallpaper brand in the 1980s and 1990s, insisted there was a place for the store in the town. He claimed that parking problems and building work at the shopping centre opposite were also hitting trade.
He said: "I argued bitterly with my friends that Blackburn was going to develop into a good place.
"The will is definitely there. They are trying to improve it."
The business also offers interior design consulting, and sells wallpaper.
The shop is one of three occupying the council's flagship Pavilions buildings, restored at a cost of £1.3million in 2004.
Mr Wilman, who is behind the store, was not available for comment.
1:03pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Open your eyes John on 2:22pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The people who can afford to shop here , do`nt want to go into Blackburn its a dump ..
The people who can afford to shop here , do`nt want to go into Blackburn its a dump ..
Posted by: jerry, blackburn on 3:43pm Thu 27 Mar 08
all you people that think there is no wealth in blackburn think again, sure there are people on lower income, but to suggest that ALL people in the town are poor?? ridiculous, look at pleasington, langho and beardwood, all with extortionate house prices. all this lack of trade is down to that pillock ANDY KAY who has destroyed the whole essence of the shopping center with their ring road. there seems to be no life left or vibrancy.
Blackburn was a great place to shop for designer clothes, half of them have shut down, it was also a great night out and now its like a ghost town.until someone with retail skills comes in and understands the retail ethos it will be impossible for Blackburn to compete with Preston, Bolton and Trafford center. i must add that Preston and Bolton have traffic flow through their towns so they create a sense of a shopping experience, all Andy Kay is done is rip up roads and cut them off to traffic. i hope the new council can get someone decent to do a job to help generate business as opposed to fulfilling their own ego.
all you people that think there is no wealth in blackburn think again, sure there are people on lower income, but to suggest that ALL people in the town are poor?? ridiculous, look at pleasington, langho and beardwood, all with extortionate house prices. all this lack of trade is down to that pillock ANDY KAY who has destroyed the whole essence of the shopping center with their ring road. there seems to be no life left or vibrancy.
Blackburn was a great place to shop for designer clothes, half of them have shut down, it was also a great night out and now its like a ghost town.until someone with retail skills comes in and understands the retail ethos it will be impossible for Blackburn to compete with Preston, Bolton and Trafford center. i must add that Preston and Bolton have traffic flow through their towns so they create a sense of a shopping experience, all Andy Kay is done is rip up roads and cut them off to traffic. i hope the new council can get someone decent to do a job to help generate business as opposed to fulfilling their own ego.
Posted by: Scooby, blackburn on 7:44pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Nice to see you're not blaming the kids who gather on Church Street anymore then!
It's not the right kind of shop for Blackburn town centre, and should never have opened.
Nice to see you're not blaming the kids who gather on Church Street anymore then!
It's not the right kind of shop for Blackburn town centre, and should never have opened.
Posted by: angry on 12:07am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]Council bosses have refused to reveal whether all the stores are currently paying a reduced rate.[/quote]
What do they mean they refuse to reveal. That is our money and we have a right to know. Who do these people thing they are.
Council bosses have refused to reveal whether all the stores are currently paying a reduced rate.
What do they mean they refuse to reveal. That is our money and we have a right to know. Who do these people thing they are.
Posted by: queens park resident, blackburn on 8:24pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]angry[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Council bosses have refused to reveal whether all the stores are currently paying a reduced rate.[/quote] What do they mean they refuse to reveal. That is our money and we have a right to know. Who do these people thing they are.[/quote] the company would have not moved into a dead town centre unless the wheels had been greaed somewhare along the line.brown envolopes for everyone
angry wrote:
Council bosses have refused to reveal whether all the stores are currently paying a reduced rate.
What do they mean they refuse to reveal. That is our money and we have a right to know. Who do these people thing they are.
the company would have not moved into a dead town centre unless the wheels had been greaed somewhare along the line.brown envolopes for everyone
Posted by: Blondie on 9:53am Sat 29 Mar 08
This business is in the wrong town.
People who can afford to shop at an upmarket interior shop don't visit Blackburn and no wonder.
This business is in the wrong town.
People who can afford to shop at an upmarket interior shop don't visit Blackburn and no wonder.
Posted by: southernjessie, Somewhere in the South on 1:40pm Sat 29 Mar 08
An up market shop like that in BBurn. LOL.
An up market shop like that in BBurn. LOL.
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