Edinburgh Evening News
26 May 2010
YET another Scottish souvenir shop has opened up on the Royal Mile amid a growing battle between budget tartan retailers.
The Singh Landa family has converted the former Wine Rack off-licence on the High Street into The Best of Scottish Discount Souvenir Factory Outlet, selling the same cheap kilts, sportswear and souvenirs that can be found in dozens of similar shops up and down the Mile.
Owner Gino Landa admitted that his shop was not offering anything new, but said the ongoing success of his family's existing shops and those of his rivals - chiefly the Gold Brothers - proved that the tourist appetite for budget souvenirs currently knows no bounds.
The Singh Landas' conversion of the shop, which closed last year following the collapse of the First Quench chain of off-licences, comes just months after the Singh Golds - headed by Surinder, Galab and Dildar Singh Gold - scored a lucrative double-whammy by buying out leases of the former Crystal Clear new age store and Wannaburger restaurant, both on the High Street.
The purchases took their portfolio on the Mile to 12 stores, half of them on the High Street alone. They also own several other stores throughout the city.
However, the latest purchase by the Singh Landas - headed by Balwindar and Sukhbir Singh Landa - takes their portfolio to 15 stores on or around the Mile.
Gino Landa said that despite their decision to open another souvenir shop, the family have attempted to keep their portfolio as diverse as possible.
He cited their Elgin Cashmere and Scottish Experience jewellery stores across the street as examples. The family also own the Courtyard Cafe on the Lawnmarket.
However, neighbour Annie McCaig, owner of the Bonny Blue Gallery, was not impressed.
She said: "I know these shops have their place in a tourist city like Edinburgh but there's far too many of them.
"Most of them are run by just two families and what amazes me is they seem to know when a unit is coming up before it's even gone on the market.
"A lot of my customers complain about it but it sort of makes my place even more special as they see me as a little oasis on the High Street."
Last month, officials at Edinburgh City Council revealed moves to dictate what kind of shops operate on the Royal Mile in a bid to overhaul its tacky image.
As the biggest landlord on the Royal Mile, owning, in whole or in part, 45 of the 129 available retail properties, it has the power to decide which tenants it leases to and what goods they are allowed to sell.
However, only around a quarter of the 40-odd souvenir shops on the Mile are owned by the council, and it holds little sway over private landlords as long as they stick to planning rules.
Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our view is that the range and quality of retail offerings on the Mile should be more varied and the council's planning committee should seek to develop, in consultation with the local business community, some recommendations and guiding principles over what stores are allowed to operate.
"The current set-up is ad-hoc, sporadic and doesn't represent the quality people would like to see.
"Having said that, it must be recognised that these shops aren't operating without trade. We're not saying every tartan gift shop should be closed down. If there's a market for it who are we to say no?
"But there should be a more varied offering in what has always been one of the city's most seminal streets."
CHECK THEM ALL OUT
BUSINESS ADDRESS PROPRIETORS
Gifts of Scotland 3 Canongate RaymondMargiotta
The Genuine Article 97 Canongate Margaret Johnston
The Pride of Edinburgh 133-135 Canonogate Steven & Diaman Singh
Neanie Scot 131 Canongate Kathryn Erickson
Simply Scottish 187 Canongate Luckwinder & Ratan Singh
Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers 189 Canongate Gordon Nicolson
I Heart Scotland 250 Canongate
Royal Mile Merchandise 11 High Street Stephen & Susan Scott
The Real Scot Shop 16 High Street Gillian / Rebecca Thorburn
The Scotland Shop 20 High Street GOLD BROS
Elgin Cashmere 1 28 High Street B & GS LANDA
Abercrombie Cashmere 46 High Street GOLD BROS
Really Scottish 50-51 High Street Gillian / Rebecca Thorburn
Scottish Gifts on the Netherbow 51-53 High Street
RoyalMile Jewellery 56 High Street GOLD BROS
Geoffrey (Tailor) Kiltmakers 57-59 High Street
JohnMorrison Kiltmaker 63 High Street GOLD BROS
The Wee Gift Shop 83 High Street GOLD BROS
Best of Scottish 97 High Street B & GS LANDA
Highland House 140 High Street B & GS LANDA
Stayedinburghcity.com apartment 150 High Street GOLD BROS
Argyll Cashmere 174 High Street B & GS LANDA
The Gold Brothers Shop 217 High Street GOLD BROS
Scottish Experience 324-326 Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
Wha's Like Us 328 Lawnmarket GOLD BROS
Royal Mile Armoury 334 Lawnmarket GOLD BROS
Heritage of Scotland 459-463 Lawnmarket GOLD BROS
The Shetland Connection 491 Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
Edinburgh Gift &Whisky Shop 495-497 Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
Crag and Tail Restaurant 503 Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
TheWeeWhisky Shop 515 Lawnmarket GOLD BROS
Simply Scarves 555 Lawnmarket GOLD BROS
James Court Factory Outlet 11 James Court, Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
Stayedinburghcity.com apartment 11/6 James Court, Lawnmarket GOLD BROS
RoyalMile Factory Outlet 13 James Court, Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
Courtyard Cafe 2 James Court, Lawnmarket B & GS LANDA
Self Catering Unit 2/9 Lady Stairs Close GOLD BROS
The Scotland Shop 107-108 South Bridge GOLD BROS
ScottishMills 20 Bank Street B & GS LANDA
Gold Brothers Shop Brodies Close GOLD BROS
Elgin Cashmere 2 Brodies Close B & GS LANDA
Thistle Do Nicely 3 & 5 Upper Bow B & GS LANDA
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