Impact of FREE Parking on Trade

When we originally opened Angell Pets In 2009 it was in a location with ample FREE parking. This was our first location and so we had no idea how much the provision of this free parking was having on our trade. We knew that we were attracting a wide range of customers. Local foot and cycle traffic from the surrounding estates, customers from other areas of Gloucester and customers from further afield. However what we did not know was how much having the free parking was contributing to this business. When we were forced to move from this location at the end of the lease we found a larger shop close to the city centre but about a 100 yards from a large carpark. This was not free but had lots of spaces.

Moving locations effected our turnover significantly, as we expected it would, reduding it by around 40% in the first month. However, with hard work we were able to drive turnover back up to almost pre move levels over the next 6 months. Then Gloucester City Council, at the behest of the Quays, closed the carpark. The effect was dramatic and overnight. Turnover dropped by over 50% and nothing we could do would drive it back up, including having a FREE local delivery service. We did raise an objection to the closure beforehand but the response from the council was “we have done research and it shows the effect on local business will be negligible”. Well, we did not find a 50% reduction in trade negligible. We made a decision there and then to move again and find a location with free parking. However we were tied into a lease for three years before we could action a break clause so we ran our business on half what we were used to for two and a half years before moving again. We are still feeling the financial fallout from this.

free parking

Our new location in Hucclecote has plenty of FREE parking. It is also within walking distance of large residential areas and in a convenient location for access to customers coming from further afield by car or bus. We have been open here for 6 months now and takings have risen every month, without fail, since we opened. We have had a host of customers returning who used to use us but stopped when the carpark near our last shop was closed plus lots of new local customers and even more from other towns such as Stroud, Cheltenham, Hereford, Ross and Worcester. All have indicated that at least part of the reason for coming was ease of access and free parking.

Before writing this I did some research and worryingly, most of the advice councils use to determine parking policy suggests that providing free parking does not boost trade and that charging for parking does! Most also suggests that providing more spaces does not help and some even suggests that providing more spaces and/or free spaces actually drives people away. Well our findings aren’t based on surveys or questionaires but on real experience and data and I can assure the councils that customers don’t like having parking restricted or being over charged and that they really do appreciate having ample spaces offered to them for free.

I would suggest that until councils review the advice they are taking to set parking policy we will continue to see trade driven away from city centres. Great for business like us now though with ample free parking right outside our front door!

 

The Angell Pets Team

August Offers

Angell Pets August offers are now avaiable in store and on line. Some great offers again including some house flea treatments to help keep thge infestations at bay!

Eukanuba Active Adult

Eukanuba Active Adult Large Breed Chicken 12kg ONLY £29.99  RRP £44.99

Furminator Med

FURminatior Short Hair Medium Breed Dog ONLY £19.99 RRP £33.50

4 Fleas House Spray

4Fleas IGR Household Flea Spray 600ml ONLY £9.25 RRP £12.25

Burgess Cat Chick

Burgess Cat Chicken 1.5kg ONLY £3.75 RRP £5.25

Burgess Cat Salmon

Burgess Cat Salmon 1.5kg ONLY £3.75 RRP £5.25

Sausage Carry Bag

Hollings Sausage Carry Bag 1kg ONLY £7.99 RRP £10.65

Felix AGAIL Chicken

Felix AGAIL Tuna

Felix AGAIL Individual Pouch Chicken

Felix AGAIL Individual Pouch Tuna

Buy 3 for £1.20  RRP 52p Only available over the phone or in store.

Bakers Whirlers

Bakers Whirlers ONLY £1.00 RRP £1.89

Sizzler

Bakers Sizzlers ONLY £1.00 RRP £1.89

Barking Head

Barking Heads Bowl Licking Chicken (formally TLC) 2kg ONLY £9.99 RRP £12.99

Pointer Marrowbone

Pointer Marrowbone 2kg ONLY £3.99 RRP £5.89

Pointer Gravy Bones

Pointer Gravy Bones 2kg ONLY £3.99 RRP £5.89

Cesar ChickenCesar Lamb

Cesar Classic Chicken & Turkey

Cesar Classic Lamb & Chicken

Buy 5 for £3.00 RRP 89p Only available over the phone or in store.

Dreamies Chicken

Dreamies Chicken 60g ONLY £1.00 RRP £1.56

Dreamies Cheese

Dreamies Cheese 60g ONLY £1.00 RRP £1.56

Dreamies Salmon

Dreamies Salmon 60g ONLY £1.00 RRP £1.56

BM Home Spray+

Bob Martin Home Flea Spray+ 500ml ONLY £6.49 RRP £9.29

Harringtons Optimum Rabbit

Harringtons Optimum Rabbit Food 2kg ONLY £2.29 RRP £3.29

Harringtons Optimum Guinea

Harringtons Optimum Guinea Pig Food 2kg ONLY £2.99 RRP £4.49

Arden Grange Cat

Arden Grange Cat Chicken & Potato 2kg ONLY £8.99 RRP £12.96

 

The Angell Pets Team