The Credit Crunch and the High Street
A lesson using this BBC 'microsite' (? - it's more than an article) about how the credit crunch is affecting
business owners on a Hampshire high street.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7656423.stm
Aim
To encourage students to realise that there are winners and losers in all business circumstances - even in a
recession.
Procedure
Lead in
Ask how businesses are doing in the recession [students are likely to say that businesses are going to
struggle as people spend less. Some may be able to develop this - e.g. businesses can't get loans to help
their cashflow. Probably few will identify winners]
Predictive task
Divide students into small groups (2s, 3s). Give groups a picture of one of the businesses featured on the
BBC web page (you can personalise it more by giving the name of the business owner. They have to predict
how the business is finding the recession, filling in the form (found on the easilyinteractive.com website).
Finding out
Now use the Internet to find out what the real business owner/manager believes. Give this a time limit of 5
minutes since students need only find out about one business.
Sharing information
Next group members join with people from other groups to share their experiences. So new groups will
comprise 3 or 4 people who know about 3 or 4 different businesses. This could be done in the same way as
before: guess how a business is finding the recession then the 'expert' confirms if you are right or not.
Homework
Imagine you are the owner of another business on the high street (bike shop, clothes shop etc.) and write
about your experience in the last 6 months and your view of the future.
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Butchers
You are Jamie Webb. You have worked at John Wildman & Sons, the butchers on Shirley High Street,
for 2 years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Cafe
You are John Hanna. You have owned Tucks Café on Shirley High Street since January.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Charity shop
You are Debbie Neary. You have worked at CLIC Sargent, a charity shop on Shirley High Street, for 9
years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Discount store
You are Peter Gallagher. You have run Shirley Market, a discount store on Shirley High Street, for 15
years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Greengrocer
You are Phil Rolf. You have worked at Jim Rolf, the greengrocers on Shirley High Street, for 28 years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Tanning salon
You are Jenette Burlingham. You have owned ‘Tan’, a tanning salon on Shirley High Street, for 5
months.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Mobile phone shop
You are Natasha Hint. You have been in charge of Carphone Warehouse on Shirley High Street for 2
years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Pub
You are Kerry Hewitt. You have been landlady of The Crown, a pub on Shirley High Street, for 4 years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The Credit Crunch and the High Street
Restaurant
You are Mr Tang. You have run the Little Buddha restaurant on Shirley High Street for two and a half
years.
How has the Credit Crunch affected your business? Think about:
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs:
The reality
Number/types of customers:
Sales:
Costs: