Jul 22, 2010

Retailer aims to buck trendBy Bryan NelsonJohnOGroat-Journal.co.uk

A Wick retailer is fighting apathy on the High Street – by opening a new department.

Morag’s Gift Shop, due to open on Monday, July 26, above the established Morag’s Café, aims to bring some activity back into the town centre by catering for a wide age group.

“We are trying our hardest to get trade back on this end of the street,” said proprietor Morag Mackenzie. “We have to give it a go.

“People seem to have given up, they seem quite dispirited. The apathy here is quite frustrating.

“With McDonald’s (bakery) closing and Woolies shutting almost next door, our end of the street is becoming pretty dull.”

The venture by Miss Mackenzie and partner Andrew Bacon will create one new job as other staff are shuffled to accommodate the expansion.

Stock for the outlet will include greetings cards, wrapping paper, handbags, pictures and frames, posters, pop art and modern jewellery. “You have got to take risks. It really is nothing ventured, nothing gained,” said Miss Mackenzie, who put a lot of the town-centre apathy down to the presence of Tesco.

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