Local Glasgow businesses react to the decline of the high street amid Omicron

The pandemic has had a noticeable effect on Glasgow’s high street. In the last two years we have seen global chains like Topshop, Next, Debenhams and Thorntons close their doors for good.

Amid the recent restrictions brought on by the Omicron wave, it feels like the city has more empty units than ever.

But how have smaller, independent places coped? Sandy McLean, owner of Love Music. Picture by Colin Mearns.

Sandy McLean from record store Love Music on Dundas Street in the city centre said they opened in November 1996 and today business is “the worst it has been” in their 25 years.

He added that more people staying at home has stopped them picking up trade. 

Sandy said: “When were shut down last Christmas Eve in 2020, we had no warning. We got told we had to close until April 26, but I had a shop full of stock.

“Covid has affected all of our demographic. The biggest is the office worker who will come in on their lunch break or after work and spend £50 on music. We would have people from the Glasgow City Chambers or the Clydesdale office, but now so many are working from home.” 

Sandy added: “Our second biggest is commuters – again, they’re working from home. We’re right next to Queen Street Station and we used to have 10,000 people pass by every day. A lot of our purchases are impulse buys – people walk by and come in.

“But the trains are empty, and the offices are empty.”

However, Sandy considers that the store’s location may also be a reason for a loss in footfall. While Queen Street Station underwent a five-year rebuild, Love Music remained hidden in a construction site.

Sandy said: “When it was finished, they had changed the layout, so now commuters go straight out into George Square or Buchanan Street and don’t pass us as much. The whole area is struggling.

“Laura Ashley closed a while back, and the bookies is closing too after 50 years. My neighbour runs an outdoor adventure shop – that’s been there for 30 years – and he is struggling too.” Samantha Rose of Maia Gifts. Picture by Colin Mearns.

Samantha Rose, who has owned Maia Gifts on Bath Street since 2009, has noticed a change in dynamic in the city centre.

She said: “You could see the streets were a lot quieter in the winter months.

“November was poor for us, the run-up to Christmas was okay as a lot of people were buying gifts, but since New Year it has been very quiet.” 

Like Love Music, Maia Gifts relied on commuters as a main customer base and the increase of people working from home has affected footfall.

She added: “It’s been one of the toughest periods since the beginning of the pandemic. For a while people were doing their best to support local businesses when things opened again a few months ago, but I think that’s lapsing again. People are going back to old habits and shopping with bigger companies and online. 

“We originally thought of this a temporary measure but now it feels like it’s here to stay. It feels like the city centre is dying.” 

The team at Maia Gifts are uncertain what 2022 will bring for their store, not only in terms of customers but other practical elements of running a business. 

Samantha added: “We’re cautious in terms of what is coming next. There is a huge uncertainty with delivery of supplies, the number of customers, and finding suitable staff. There are less students in Glasgow, and it has been a real job trying to get temporary Christmas staff.

“There are a lot of things that are uncertain in running a business.” Steven Penman of Seamster Vintage. Picture by Colin Mearns.

In the Southside, Steven Penman is feeling more optimistic with the boost his customers have given him and his partner Debbie at their vintage clothes shop Seamster.

He said: “We have been cautious, but we feel things are generally improving now. Christmas was busy, but January was quiet, and it has sort of balanced out. 

“Of course, it would be busier if there weren’t restrictions – more people would have come in and bought outfits for Christmas nights out.

“But things seem more positive now, there’s a phasing out plan introduced, and it seems like we are going to adapt to live with Covid.” 

While things are more difficult for Samantha, Sandy and Steven are adapting to the change in the high street by increasing online orders.

Sandy now spends much of his time packing orders to take to the post office himself, and he has noticed a considerable demand for vinyl.

He said: “People love retro, we’ve produced 8000 orders in 12 months. When times get bad, you can either accept it, change it, or leave.

“We are changing. We’re doing more online orders. But it’s sad.

“I see places all around me close because there’s more online ordering, and I’m sick of people being positive about it. It’s terminal.” 

Meanwhile, Steven has done business online for some time and is both used to it and thankful for it.

He said: “We get a lot of response through Instagram, and we are grateful to all of our customers who have supported us in any way they can.

“The pandemic has seen a general increase in online shopping, but we’ve always sold online – even when we’ve been shut in the height of lockdown.

“We’re here and surviving and that’s all we can do.”