http://disqus.com/by/charlottecowell/enTue, 13 Jan 2009 07:51:27 -0000http://www.retail-week.com/backingukretail/index.html#comment-5090944<p>I do as much shopping as possible on my local high street in Berkhamsted, which luckily is a thriving place with a good mix of multiples and independents, a (recently revamped) Tesco convenience store and also a larger Waitrose. All of these sit happily side by side with footfall flowing between them, and they also benefit from regular speciality street markets at the weekends and plenty of good restaurants and cafes which bring visitors to town. Over the years, however, I have seen many independent retailers go out of business, often because of huge rent increases by unscrupulous landlords. One boutique in particular did a roaring trade for all of about 9 months, until the landlord walked in one day, commented that he didn't realise it was so doing so well, and promptly doubled the rent! It simply wasn't worth it for the retailer to stay in business so she shut up shop and everyone lost out. It's high time such business 'partners' learned to support rather than fleece each other. The good old saying 'united we stand, divided we fall' applies rather well in this case.</p>charlottecowellTue, 13 Jan 2009 07:51:27 -0000