A soft spot for hardware stores can’t sustain them | Letters
Stephen Peckham says he found it impossible to compete with chain stores, while Elizabeth Monger recalls a shop that solved several problems. Plus letters from Nancy Johnson and Paul MichellFor...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Stephen Peckham says he found it impossible to compete with chain stores, while Elizabeth Monger recalls a shop that solved several problems. Plus letters from Nancy Johnson and Paul Michell For many years, I owned and ran a hardware shop of just the kind Adrian Chiles speaks of so fondly ( When I want to feel loved, I just go to a hardware store, 13 May ). It’s nice to see he makes an effort to support them but, sadly, buying a few hose fittings and a potted plant is not enough to see them survive. Ultimately, it became impossible for me to compete with the chain stores on big-ticket items and make a profit selling “’ose”, “plugs”, “Ps” and “four candles” , and so, like so many other small shop owners, I said “bill hooks!” and gave up the unequal struggle. Stephen Peckham Westerham, Kent Continue reading...