Ghost Town Countdown – Another Wingham Business Closes

There is a notice on Gibson’s Men’s Wear front door, it is posted below.

Small retailers are feeling the pressure from “Big Box” stores and their push for online sales. Walmart and Giant Tiger both offer free shipping from their online stores. These companies no longer need to build a large store in your town to help speed the demise of tiny town retail.

WFP does not support or promote “Shop Local” but “Service Local”. Our economy needs to mature, and Retail will play a very small roll in our future economy. WFP strongly supports “Service Local” which includes restaurants, coffee shops, salons, maids, bakeries, producers, etc. Spend your money where it creates the most local jobs, the service industry.

Grossly overpaying for products in Wingham isn’t helping our economy, but the greedy retailer that gets to keep the massive margins they are accustomed to. I saved hundreds of dollars on my last tv, and Walmart delivered it to my door for free. I refuse to pay extra to shop in Wingham. I have been spending those savings in our local coffee shops, which employ many of our Community’s youth.

Another nail in the coffin of tiny town retail is that you can buy direct from the manufacturers in China, saving up to 90%. The products arrive at your door, or post office, directly from the manufacturer. The item has a lower carbon footprint since it doesn’t travel needlessly from sub-wholesaler to sub-wholesaler to wholesaler to retailer, each increasing the price before they move it along. Then you have to drive to the retailer wasting even more fuel and human resources. That vs saving 90% and having it dropped off on your doorstep. Tiny Town Retail is doomed, you should accept that as a fact.

If you feel guilty about shopping online, simply spend some of those savings in our local service industry. Go out for Chinese food, sit and have a coffee at Coffee Culture, get your hair and nails done for the holidays, make your own wine instead of paying the alcohol tax at the LCBO, get an accountant to do your taxes, hire a babysitter, etc. Tiny Town Retail will continue to wither regardless of your actions, don’t let our local service industry suffer the same fate.

NOTE: On a walk down Josephine Street at 6:30 the other evening we did a head count of all the people sitting in our local restaurants as we walked by. There were a total of 3 people, less than one per restaurant that was open. Stop driving to Listowel to shop, save your gas money and shop online and go out for a coffee or a meal with the savings.

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