Tartan Gift Shop closing

[ozone]

And on that last note....anyone know if he's having a sale? The vultures can be circling as soon as we know this information.

[TheKiltedWonder]

And on that last note....anyone know if he's having a sale?

Ok, so now I don't have to feel so guilty. At least I wasn't the only one who thought that...

Honestly though, I wonder if the "tartan tat retailers" whom he blames are actually responsible. I honestly can't see someone with the money and inclination to buy a proper kilt from his store choosing to settle for a 20 pound acrylic kilt-approximation. It seems to me that if these shops didn't exist, then he might gain a small amount of money from tourists looking for something small to bring back, but I can't see him gaining too many more kilt orders.

I'm not saying it's not unfortunate, but what if it's not these low-end shops? What if it's the American dollar that's doing him in? On 31/10 the BBC reported that the pound had risen to it's highest point against the dollar in 26 years. With the exchange rate over two dollars a pound, I can see why Americans in Scotland would be cutting back on large expenditures. And that's the ones who actually make the trip. Plenty of other tourists who might be filling the streets of Edinburgh, buying from shops like his are staying within the US.

I dunno that's just my two cents.

[RockyR]

That is a HORRIBLE shame... I met Graham Muir when I was in Eddinburra 2 years ago and Kelly and I wandered into his shop. He was a VERY nice man with a fantastic talent. I hope he moves his shop to another region but remains in business.

[auld argonian]

In the interest of saving space, I won't quote TheKiltedWonder's above post...I always wonder how the business model works for small retailers who work in a niche market.

So one would think that, in the case of the custom woolen kilt business as it exists in the here and now, the business would be made up of regular local customers, mail order or internet generated business from outside a certain radius and the odd walk-in who just happens to be passing by and decides that he's interested in a kilt.

Of the "walk-ins" some what will be the percentage who will hear a price and think that they can make do with one of the 20£ kilts from down the block. You will get those who understand the difference and will opt for "the genuine article" because they see the value of wool versus a synthetic. I wonder what the percentages are?

There are obviously several other variables: do they do the rental/hire side of the business or do they have gift items other than kilt stuff available...etc. I wonder if there's anything in their having "off the rack" on hand...some of the proprietors might think that that would be unacceptable but I would think that it might sway the walk-in who wants to leave with a kilt and sees the value of going with a natural fiber instead of synthetic.

It's always a shame when things like this happen...the world is a little poorer for the loss of those special small businesses.

Best

AA

[RockyR]

Snip:

There are obviously several other variables: do they do the rental/hire side of the business or do they have gift items other than kilt stuff available...etc. I wonder if there's anything in their having "off the rack" on hand...some of the proprietors might think that that would be unacceptable but I would think that it might sway the walk-in who wants to leave with a kilt and sees the value of going with a natural fiber instead of synthetic.

Yes, he had LOTS of other items available... granted, it was a small shop, but he had brooches, shirts, sgian dubhs, and other "touristy" type stuff available. Kelly and I bought shirts and a Luckenbooth brooch from him while there.



Does anyone have a link to the article itself other than just the clip?

[TheKiltedWonder]

Here you go:
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ed...?id=1806732007

In the article he seems to mainly be complaining about a loss of kilt orders, that's why I questioned how many kilt orders he lost to the other shops. No doubt his touristy-things suffered a hit from the low end stores. Still too bad that he couldn't find a niche for that store, but he's keeping his other store open I believe it says.

[Galician]

I agree partially with Wonder, I myself have wondered how the plummeting value of the dollar might effect Scottish artisans.

On the other hand, while I understand that a guy often can't walk into a story and plunk down a grand for a quality kilt right off the bat, I would ask how many folks would even considering saving up for one as a goal. I think that if enough men had taken that approach, the quality producers like this gentleman might be able to hold on through the tough times of the world economy at present.

[ozone]

Ah, the Pound vs dollar discussion.....

I think that the dollar's fall (based on reading the Economist and other such rags) is indeed playing a factor in situations like the tartan gift shop. I was recently in Costco and saw some GREAT deals on french wines. The euro's rise has hurt that industry as well. Plus, having a good growing season caused over-production. Anyway, most wineries, like kilt shops are indeed small business operations.

We forget how much crap (kilts, wine, cars, shoes, skis, etc) we Americans buy from abroad until we no longer feel comfortable buying it because of exchange rates. I think that the tartan gift shop's story is probably the first of several (unfortunately) in the coming months and years.

The USA is orders-of-magnitude a bigger market for kilt stuff compared to Scotland. Perhaps the owner of the tartan gift shop should consider re-locating to the US? It wouldn't be the first time someone found better fortunes in the USA compared to their "old country"

[Scotus]

I am pretty sure his other shop is not a kilt shop. Graeme had quite a few other things in the shop, including a good many sporrans at reasonable prices. I not only bought my first 8 yard kilt from him, I bought my first sporran from him too. He is a man who knows a lot about kilts. I really wish him the best in his future endeavors.

[gilmore]

While it is unfortunate that a maker of quality kilts is going out of business, such is the nature of the free enterprise system. If some one sells something that is marketable, he will make money. If he doesn't, he won't, and others will.

I think it was Oleg Cassini, Jackie Kennedy's couturier, who said something like if you make your living from one person, you ride home on the street car with many people. If you make your living from many people, you ride home in a limousine by yourself.