At the end of last year, Woolworths’ stores started closing down all over Britain because the Woolworths group announced its intention to enter administration, due to its large debt. All stores had closed by 6th January 2009 including the Surbiton branch. After remaining vacant for nearly one year due to the severe financial crisis, it was announced that a 99p Store would be opening in the place of the old Woolworths – one of the largest shops on Surbiton High Street.

On Thursday 12th November earlier this week, the store opened with bargain hunters eagerly waiting outside for the shop’s opening. With Christmas approaching, many people came to try and get bargain gifts for 99p or less. Lots of people on the high street have welcomed the new store with open arms, saying it will bring more potential customers to Surbiton. It also provides a place for people to buy cheaper items, saving themselves a bit of extra money. With a range of over 4,000 products, there should be something for everyone. Another group of people who may benefit from this are the current unemployed of Surbiton. The 99p Store has been the first major shop to open in a long time on Surbiton High Street and many jobs will be available to people who have lost their jobs over the past year of the ‘credit crunch.’

Not everyone has appreciated the store’s arrival to Surbiton High Street. One member of a Surbiton Community Website wrote, ‘There goes the neighbourhood,’ suggesting the new addition would lower the tone of Surbiton. It has also come as a huge disappointment to the smaller shops in Surbiton. As some individuals will be more interested in the price tag on certain products, rather than the products themselves, the 99p Store might ‘steal’ customers from other shops, thus forcing smaller independent shops to close down. A resident of Surbiton has labelled the opening as ‘A complete waste of Surbiton High Street’s prime location.'

There is no denying the fact that the 99p Store will allow residents of Surbiton to save money as Britain has not completely recovered from the ‘credit crunch.’ However, this might take business away from other shops on the High Street just like Tesco will eventually do on Tolworth Broadway. Hopefully, the smaller shops will not suffer from this and if we’re lucky, the Surbitonians will be able to save a pretty penny this Christmas.