While many UK town centres are on their knees, those in France are thriving due to low rents and rates and a culture of using local shops rather than online giants...
more and more difficult in France too because people have less in their pocket,” he admits.
“But the internet does not have a damaging effect. We are well-known shop here in Amiens so we can trust our customers to keep coming back, especially for big occasions.”
Justin’s views are echoed by Chantalle Legoix, 53, who has managed her independent clothing shop Chantal & Vous on Place Gambetta for 34 years.
She tells me her clientele make a special effort to visit for advice, and garments that are not sold elsewhere.
So too for the famous Jean Trogneux chocolate shop, here since 1852, which has a constant stream of through the door as I chat with duty manager Stephanie Etroit.
“There are many retail parks outside the city centre, but there is only one chocolaterie like ours, so people always come here,” Stephanie says.
Justin, Chantalle and Stephanie all pay local council rent which is a fraction of UK business rates.
Chantalle’s attractive central location costs around £1,200 a year.
Robin, however, informs me he has to pay around £30,000 a year in rent and business rates for his two stalls.
Another advantage small shops have in France is that supermarkets can only open on Sunday mornings.
Parking in Amiens is roughly the same price as in Darlington, but public transport is cheaper.
Most French office workers have two hours for lunch, although they also work eight hours a day, so they can stop off for essentials without disrupting their time at their desk.
Figures from Ecommerce Europe show 36 million people shopped online in France last year, spending an average of £1,570 annually.
In Britain, more than 43 million people used the internet for shopping, and their average annual spend was more than double at £3,200.
French out-of-town supermarkets are never alternatives to local bakeries and butcher’s shops. Darlington fishcustomers Chantelle in her boutique monger Jon Liddle is well aware of the issues.
“I think it’s a lot more vibrant there in terms of people going to their local fishmonger,” he says. “We take a quarter of what we took 20 years ago. When I started out with my father it was great, but I wouldn’t dream of getting my sons into this business.”
Take any British city and compare it with its European twin and the picture is similar.
Darlington councillor Chris McEwan says British shopping habits
leave councils with “very little room for manoeuvre”. He thinks towns such as his can only arrest the decline by making shopping attractive. He says: “It’s about pricematching for people who want to shop local.”
On Grange Road, Helen Hawkins is sorting fresh stock at her designer interiors store Brown and Baxter, which would fit in well in Amiens.
“It’s a new venture,” says Helen, 42. “Our first year didn’t quite reach our expectations, but we are trying to get our name out there. It’s hard though when landlords can charge a fortune.”
For Helen and thousands like her, a French Revolution is required to save Britain’s high streets. JUSTIN BOURBAL SAYS FLORISTS IS DOING FINE
We are a well-known shop so we can trust customers to return