Star comment: Shopping around for new ideas

Unfortunately it is impossible to tell whether an idea is good or bad until they have been tried out.

But if they try out no ideas at all, they will be swept wherever the difficult economic climate and the tough trading conditions will take them, and will find themselves with no paddle if that direction happens to be towards the rocks.

The latest trading figures from the department store chain Debenhams showing a big slump in pre-tax profits point to a picture which will apply to many retail outlets which have prominent High Street positions or, as is the case with Telford’s Debenhams, a prestige site in a shopping centre.

The chink of light in the figures is that sales are up by two per cent. However the rise in inflation on the back of the weaker pound has increased costs.

A period of uncertainty due to contemporary developments in European affairs – yes, the B-word – is likely to continue for some time to come, so it is time to wheel out those good ideas.

With the tidal wave of online shopping, physical shops are having to learn to be something more than places to shop. Some have rather nice cafes, for instance, to draw people in to linger.

Debenhams is to open gyms in some of its stores, part of a strategy to perk up its fortunes. Will it work? Nobody can confidently say, but it can be confidently said that if it would have worked and yet it is not tried, then an opportunity has been wasted.

Shropshire still boasts many wonderful independent retailers who offer something unique to the shopping experience. They too cannot assume that being different is enough in itself and have to be open to innovation, although being generally smaller stores they have perhaps less scope for taking what might be perceived as a risk with an untried idea.

Go to the High Streets and shopping centres in the pre-Christmas rush and you will find bustling crowds of shoppers which will make it seem that all is well and there is nothing to worry about. Beyond the activity will come the figures which will show in economic terms whether they are keeping up their vitality and appeal. People still like traditional shops, but they do have to evolve and adapt to this economic climate change.