Should Chain Stores Be Regulated?

Should Chain Stores Be Regulated?
I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed how every city’s high street is a replica of another. It is not the buildings or grey one-legged pigeon that stays the same, but the shops. There is a ‘Primark’ on Oxford Street, London; Princes’ Street, Edinburgh; New Street, Birmingham. Accessible comparison shopping and bargains are a universal draw but walk a little further and you uncover side-streets boasting welcoming charms of quirky independent stores. Yet, recently, both of my local, family-run grocers twisted the ‘OPEN’ sign, ‘CLOSED’ for the last time. They were outcompeted by a Co-Op. So, are these chain stores, like Primark, piercing too many pinpricks on our community and should we regulate their ability to
As they often offer similar products, comparison shopping is simple. Prices stay low to keep you going to their store. In predominately independent areas, however, there is a butcher, a baker, and the candlestick maker. Comparing their prices with other similar shops is difficult due to the wide variety of goods and lack of online presence. Furthermore, following the ‘economies of scale’ paradigm, sizeable chains can buy more for less. When fixed costs (e.g. the goods’ factory lease) are spread out, product costs decrease for consumers. Regulate chains and they buy less stock. Affordable shopping just got harder; our receipts
In June 2017, when 255 individuals were left with ash in the place of possessions and memories in the place of loved ones, chains showed real humanity to the Grenfell Tower survivors. Tesco ferried free food in a truckload while Sainsbury’s supported a community club providing first aid. Some genuinely do want to benefit the community and not just during disasters but daily. While independent stores may support grassroots, chains support independent stores’. M&S is a leader in responsible retail, endowing grants of up to £50,000 for local businesses with access to advice on business planning, digital development and supply chains. It would be unwarranted to ‘handicap’ chains providing essential community service with a blanket regulation. Albeit not all chains push ethical policies. However, it is simpler to pressurise change in transparent public companies than a thousand local tea parlours or jewellery makers. Due to their public eye, chains must guarantee continued support. Following a global outcry against microbeads, a skin exfoliator and plastic fish food, Tesco quickly vetoed them from their products. In comparison, the wee corner store may not feel the need to change or show impassioned responses when