Why this Gosport High Street store is moving to Southsea next month

AFTER more than 30 years in Gosport High Street, a record store is moving across the harbour to Portsmouth.
Reflex Records in Gosport High Street. Picture: Chris MoorhouseReflex Records in Gosport High Street. Picture: Chris Moorhouse
Reflex Records in Gosport High Street. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Reflex Records will be moving to Palmerston Road, Southsea, in October, with the manager citing a '˜dying high street' as the reason behind the move.

Paul Potter, 56, who has managed the shop for just under 10 years, blamed online retailers such as Amazon for undercutting high street shops, causing damage to shops across the country.

Mr Potter said: '˜The high street is dying.

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'˜The unspoken truth is that Amazon doesn't pay tax and can afford to undercut the high street.

'˜We see people come in and scan items using the Amazon app '“ they are looking for a better deal.'

Mr Potter also said that changing trends have impacted the record trade, with vinyl less popular than it has been in the past few years

He said: '˜The vinyl trend is slowing up - hard copy music sales dropped 33 per cent last year because of how dominant music streaming is.'

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The site in the high street is under expired lease with the landlord looking for a new leaseholder.

Without an owner, the site is at risk of joining the other empty shop fronts on the high street.

Mr Potter added: '˜My landlord has been brilliant, dropping the rent a few years back and generally being helpful all round.

'˜There have been government policies to support small shops, the local authority has changed rates - but it was all too little, too late.

'˜The high street reached tipping point a while back.'  

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Reflex is currently offering a 75 per cent off clearance sale on some stock.

Gosport and Fareham customers will be eligible for a 15 per cent discount with proof of address.

The shop will have a stall at Gosport market in the high street every other Saturday.