The future of Trago Mills is still up in the air and it’s worrying locals. (Photo credits: Tia Boddey)
Falmouth is well-known for its independent shops and beautiful seaside high street. But in recent years, it’s seen several familiar stores disappear, from Wilko and Poundland to, most recently, Ann’s Cottage.
With Falmouth’s much-loved Trago Mills under review, questions about the future direction of the high street are louder than ever.
Falmouth’s Business Improvement District (BID) Manager, Keren Cooksey, says the closures are part of several pressures hitting businesses.
“Businesses are dealing with higher energy bills, staffing pressures, and national issues like the cost of living crisis. All of course this inevitably affects trading and ultimately leads to store closures.”
On the ‘Falmouth community info’ Facebook page, many users were quick to share their opinions.
One local, Clare Louise, says, “The shops we have in town aren’t really your “every day” shops anymore, unless you want a coffee or a trinket for your house. They are great when looking for gifts and I do try to use them but I don’t need to that often.”
Many users are also unhappy with the price of parking, like Lorraine Jenkins who said, “We need more free parking!! If you need just one thing, popping into town doesn’t make sense when you have to pay so much!!”
Antoinette Crook adds, “It would be nice if the commercial utilities, rent and rates wasn’t so high, you have to take in 3 1/2 – 4k month just to cover them and part time staff.”
Maya Jonah photographed in front of her shop (Photo credits: Tia Boddey)
Local business owner Maya Jonah, 27, owns an art shop and creative event space called Maya’s on Killigrew Street that offers casual, low-stress creative workshops for adults.
The shop has been running for almost a year but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
“It’s so sad to see so many businesses closing – it does make me feel anxious. If they can’t do it, why do I think that I could do it? If all these people can’t succeed, then why could I succeed? Why do I think that I’m different?”
Maya says that her business is not yet profitable but, despite her worries, she is “willing to stick it out” as long as she’s not losing money.
Like many others, Maya suggests that online shopping, accessibility, rising rents and bills, and the cost of living crisis are pushing many shops out of Falmouth.
“I understand why you might take the easy option and order from Amazon or anywhere online, and I get why that’s so appealing, but this is part of the reason why so many small businesses are closing.”
“When you spend £50 on Amazon, it is just a drop in the bucket for Jeff Bezos, and he does not care. But the customers that come into my shop, I know them. I know most of them by name, I recognise their faces and the people who came in on my opening day a year ago. You mean so much to me, and that money goes from you to me, and it supports me and my life and my business directly.”
Maya stresses how important ‘voting with your money’ is for a small town like Falmouth.
“We’re in a time where we don’t have a lot of control over what’s going on and the way life is going, but you can vote with your money. That is how you take control of the situation. If you want local businesses to stay open, if you want the cute cafes and the town centre to be alive, you have to spend your money there. It’s about putting it where it means something.”
BID manager, Keren, thinks that Falmouth is “in a stronger position” than other towns in the UK.
“Falmouth has a really strong independent offer and with that comes a lot of resilience. I do feel, personally, that we are going to weather this storm and come back fighting.”
BID are busy working away behind the scenes to keep the town vibrant and alive year round by “promoting the town nationally, running big events that bring in footfall, supporting local traders in a variety of different ways, and working closely with the council to push for things such as fairer rates and parking prices.”
Their current campaign ‘Falmouth After Five’ aims to encourage more locals to come into town and enjoy Falmouth’s hospitality scene and nightlife, and according to Keren, it’s proving to be “really successful.”
Keren says, “To the residents who worry the high street is declining, I’d say it’s changing. There’s a huge amount of activity happening behind the scenes and many local businesses are surviving and thriving. Your support really, really makes a difference.”