Britain is becoming a nation of 'clone towns' with retail multiples such as those in optometry taking over.
This is the opinion of a think tank which has claimed 42 per cent of UK towns have succumbed to 'a monochrome strip of global and national chains, somewhere that could easily be mistaken for dozens of bland town centres across the country'. It warns that a further 26 per cent are in danger of becoming clones.
Aside from appearances, the New Economics Foundation argues in a new report that independents are more beneficial to local economies as they employ more local people and services in the area.
Ruth Potts, co author of the NEF's report Clone Town Britain, told optician: 'The [optical] multiples are the type of stores we are describing. The thrust of our report is that the regulatory framework in the UK has allowed chain stores to dominate, and that domination is not good for the local economies or consumer. And just as the regulatory framework has allowed it to get that far, the right regulatory changes can turn back the tide.
'The argument that big retail is good because it provides consumers with choice is ironic, because in the end it leaves us with no choice at all.'
Go to www.neweconomics.org to see if your practice is in a clone town.
There all a clone not a strange town
