The only shop in Nailsea still trading from 50 years ago is John Brown the wonderful hardware shop on the High Street.

Currently there is nowhere in Nailsea to buy new clothes or shoes.

And if it hadn't been for the intervention of town councillor James R Turner who campaigned for the banking hub after all our banks closed we would have nowhere to talk finance or deposit money face-to-face. 

We do however have lots of charity shops, cafes and barbers.

And an amazing celebrity fish shop!

On another positive note Nailsea Physio is moving to bigger and better premises at Clevedon Walk, barber Hatti White is going mobile after the shock announcement Bennetts is closing and D'Lux nails & spa opens this week at Crown Glass shopping centre.

The shop Nailsea Physio is taking over was full of discarded carpets which they have been selling off at bargain prices.

Director Emma Klijn said: "We still have plenty of carpet samples some carpet off cuts and lino samples going for free.  
"Then there are off-cuts, rugs, craft fabric books and high quality fabrics for cushions, curtains and pillow cases going for as little as £2.  
"Please note this is not Mendip Carpets and that they are very much staying in business as they have had a lot people confusing the two stores and I would not want their reputation being damaged.  
"We are hoping to make the full move over late September to early October."

And like High Street shopping, newspaper sales are also in decline so love the special free delivery service offered to new customers by Maynews in Somerset Square.

Although we have several empty retail units this should all change soon with Broad St Hair and further along the High Street in the old insurance office next to the Royal Oak pub conversions are underway to provide new apartments mixed with retail.

The redevelopment into a mix of flats and ground floor shops on the old Weston College site has been stalled for lack of a housing association partnership.

It has been difficult keeping our shop listing page up-to-date especially the charity shops but it could be a bonus having some of the biggest pre-loved stores in North Somerset with the latest additions like Barnados and Farplace to be joined by GWAAC which is due to open soon.

This is because many have opened and closed like Gloden sun beds and there is a question mark over the TG Jones company which took over from WH Smith.

The rebranded company has not collapsed, but it is currently in a turnaround/restructuring phase, and a number of branches are expected to close as part of that process.

Quality Collectables moved upstairs at Crown Glass Place and when Poundland closes on Thursday, August 13, it won’t be long before it is replaced by a 24/7 gym.

Jetts is offering two hours free parking (everyone blames parking costs imposed by North Somerset Council and Praxis for the dramatic decline in footfall) and Pilate classes which must be galling for local keep-fit lady Mari Colio who only opened her Reset studio in June within spitting distance at Colliers Walk. See her special offer advertisement below.

What we do  have is lots of new houses with many more to come both in Nailsea and down the road in the village of Backwell.- hopefully this means lots of extra customers for our retail outlets.

Yes — online shopping is a significant threat to many high streets, but it is more accurate to say it is one of several major pressures rather than the sole cause of decline.

Have to admire the speech North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassen gave on the decline of High Street shopping to fellow parliamentarians, shared in video above.

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Why online shopping threatens high streets

• Convenience: People can shop 24/7 from home and often receive next-day or same-day delivery.

• Lower prices: Online retailers usually have lower overhead costs than physical shops and can offer discounts more easily.

• Wider choice: Customers can access products from thousands of sellers rather than being limited to what local stores stock.

• Price comparison: It is easy to compare prices across multiple websites, increasing competition for local retailers.

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Evidence of the impact

In many UK towns and cities, traditional retailers such as clothing, electronics, and book shops have reduced their high street presence while online sales have grown steadily. Shopping habits accelerated further during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many consumers became accustomed to buying online.

But high streets are not disappearing only because of the internet

Other important factors include:

• High business rates and rents

• Rising energy and staffing costs

• Out-of-town retail parks with free parking

• Changes in consumer behaviour, such as spending more on experiences (restaurants, gyms, entertainment) rather than goods

• Economic downturns and reduced disposable income

 

How high streets are adapting

Successful high streets often shift from being primarily places to buy products to being places to spend time. Cafés, restaurants, bars, hairdressers, beauty services, health clinics, co-working spaces, leisure venues, and local markets are becoming more important than traditional retail alone. Many retailers also use an omnichannel model, where customers browse online and collect items in store.

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A balanced judgment

Online shopping is a major competitive threat, especially for shops selling standardized goods that can easily be delivered. However, high streets that offer services, social experiences, local identity, and convenient in-person shopping can remain resilient. The real challenge is that online retail has changed the role of the high street, forcing it to evolve rather than simply compete on price and product range alone.