My daughter works at a supermarket, my son designs supermarkets and my wife can't wait to shop at Tesco. The couple would not have recommended that any of their children follow them into the business, although Nick would have made an ideal shopkeeper, they said. Just as with the closure of Mawson's pet shop in Walmgate last week, shopping habits have changed and the money is not there. It's no good going for long hours as a convenience store. Even Sundays have been taken away from us now.
Credit cards are the main thing.
People don't carry cash, but we can't afford to pay the bank charges on credit cards. We said we would carry on as long as people needed us, but they don't any more. People who have a corner shop, just spend a few quid a week in it to keep it ticking over.