Can Ringwood locals save Frampton & Sons Ltd and do we want to?

Frampton & Sons Ltd sits in the heart of Ringwood high street and has been trading in the town for over 100 years and for many native Ringwood people there are lots of fond memories tied up in this old store.

The debate is raging on Facebook with opinion divided as to whether the store has ‘just had its day’, whether more could have been done by the Shop Manager to make the store more appealing to new, younger customers or whether its the fault of greedy landlords and the council ‘not doing enough’  to protect the town.

Yes, Ringwood is an old Market Town and this is good marketing for the ‘tourists’ but what do local people want? Loyalty to a brand or a particular store is what sells and I myself have my ‘favourites’ and it is usually because the people in the store are welcoming, the store is pleasing on the eye (and clean) and I can get what I want at the price I am willing to pay.  

Frampton’s does have very good competition to contend with like the huge Aivly store for country clothing etc and Pampurred pets also on the High Street that stocks lots of pet supplies, but Framptons is one of Ringwoods oldest stores so should we try to protect it or does Ringwood need a retail revival?

If the store does go is this going to leave yet another empty shop to impact negatively on the towns trade and tourist appeal? Does this highlight to us the possible benefits of 'The Big Society' where locals work/support each other with issues like this, take ownership and responsiblity for the way our towns are managed?

Can we save Framptons? If you want to keep this store from disappearing off the High Street please contact them to see what can be done.