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Submission 36
Good evening,
Sat reading the JEP I come across the article "Retail industry review launched".
To cut to the chase, I moved to the island c.10 years ago and immediately the frustration of no Sunday retail hit me. I'm sad to say that opinion hasn't changed, even though many have tried to identify the positives such as a forced day of rest.
Jersey absolutely needs overhauling in so many ways to modernise and this is exactly one of them. My personal situation is "I enjoy shopping" but I work mon-fri 0830-1800 and sometimes Saturdays, and that's not in town. When do I get to enjoy my shopping? A limited 52 days at best in the year if I didn't work on a Saturday. So instead I shop online because the online retailers actually honour the VAT difference that other local consumers also recognise but more importantly the tourists, and these retailers are open 24/7!
Hearing many a tourist say something along the lines of "I though we were going to get some good deals here as it's only 5% GST instead of 20% VAT," leaving disappointed to go and shop online where "it's cheaper to get it delivered back home."
Also, as an keen DIY'er, those said weekends where I choose to enjoy the weather on the Saturday, I'll then undertake the jobs to be done at home on the Sunday while the weathers bad. Come 1030 I need a box of screws or a specific tool for example, "I know, I'll go to the DIY shop".
But wow, in Jersey you have to wait till next weekend to complete a job because the DIY retailers don't open on a Sunday like the rest of Jerseys retail industry.
I get it, Jersey is Jersey and it's lovely because it's Jersey, that's why I came here. But why delay the inevitable? There will be Sunday trading here within the next 10-15 years so why not speed it up and capitalise on it. And while you're at it, address the retail industry, make them understand that a higher volume of consumers paying the smaller profit margins, actually creates better profitability than a low volume of consumers paying excessively high. Attracting less and paying high does not produce the same turnover or attractiveness to consumers.
Let's sort it out, and don't let this become another member of the public taking time to give feedback that's is constantly ignored. I look forward to a reply to at least acknowledge these points.