Two big trends

It isn't often that two of the current major trends in retailing come together in the same story but I saw this today in Morriston Hospital in Swansea. First, many shops have had to follow the 'Use It or Lose It' or 'Save Our Shop' campaign as they have been hit by competition from large stores, the internet or changes in consumer shopping patterns. Second, many of those shops have been saved by local campaigns which have led to a rise in volunteer-run community or food co-ops, charity shops and other forms. Here however we have a volunteer-run organisation using a Save Our Shop campaign - primarily because the hospital is being rebuilt and the administration may prefer a commercial retailer in the new space.