‘Why do people shop in West Ealing?’ is the title of a survey late last year of 400 shoppers carried out by Brunel University on behalf of Ealing Council. The answer – buying food is the main reason people come to shop in West Ealing, but there’s a good deal more valuable information in the results of this survey than this one answer.
The final report is 20 pages long but here are some of the key findings from this survey:
What’s good about shopping in West Ealing:
1. Buying food was the main reason for people shopping in West Ealing.
2. Buying specific non-food items came second
3. Eating and socialising ranked third as a reason to come to West Ealing
Overall, West Ealing is liked for its varied, multi-cultural location that is good for food shopping, pubs, eating and socialising.
What needs to be improved about shopping in West
Ealing:
1. Better shop fronts
2. Improved cleanliness
3. Better safety and security
Interestingly, in an entry last December in his shopping blog (www.soultsretailview.co.uk/2010/12)
, expert retail analyst Graham Soult sees independent shops as West Ealing’s brightest hope. He writes:
‘Arguably, it’s West Ealing’s independent shops that give it the
brightest hope for the future. Walking through, despite the visible problems,
the area has a cosmopolitan and colourful feel, with ethnic food shops
displaying their wares in the street. The West Ealing weekly farmers’ market
in Leeland Road – which seemed to be well advertised when I visited – also adds to the area’s reputation as a mecca for foodies, and is apparently its trump card in attracting shoppers from other parts of London.’
WEN has been arguing for some years that West Ealing is a great place for food shopping and that we need to build on this strength as a central part of any plan to regenerate the high street. We’d love to hear your views about our shops. Use our forum to tell us where locally you like to buy your food, why and what you’d recommend others to try out.
David Highton
After reading this I had fresh eyes on The Broadway yesterday and certainly agree that West Ealing has so many varied and interesting food shops – and at reasonable prices too!
Nothing new here, W. Ealing has been known as a food shopping centre for generations.
Ealing Council should enhance this by setting up a street market for independant food traders, I’ve been saying this for years,
Get over yourself West Ealing, you ain’t never gonna be the Broadway!! do what you do best.
A thriving bustling street market will regenerate W.E at a stroke. What do you say nimbys? :o)
I agree that West Ealing has a wide variety of grocery shops, but these shops are much of a muchness, there is no clothing retail competition, it is not a place that you would consider to meet up with friends, I think it has changed for the worst over the last few years, it is extremely shabby and dirty, the park is not maintained well, a market would probably bring some appeal, but really it could thrive if small businesses were encouraged to invest in the shops and bring some variety to the neighbourhood.
There are too many pound shops, cheap shops and empty shops.