Anyone know Blackburn?

[reddA]

I'm really wondering if i've made the biggest mistake of my life, I've started a business in Blackburn using my life savings and my inheritance (my dear mum died in January), I fell in love with a pretty crappy building and am renting it but hope to buy it in the future, it's cost a fortune to just renovate and make it half decent!

In the past 3 months whilst renovating I've had grafitti sprayed alll over the shutters, the brand new CCTV camera stolen and just today someone has stolen the lead from the roof overnight!! The heating has stopped working and the Highways authority are being a PITA over parking even though there is a huge carpark next door, it's just so dissheartening, I am nearly over budget for the start up and feel like everything is going wrong.
Some things are going great but every step forward seems to be quashed by local scum and their costly petty vandalism and the council really not supporting new business
Not sure why I'm posting - just a vent really

I'm sorry - where about in the town is your shop?

I used to live in Blackburn - escaped in 2004 though.

You've not said where in Bburn?

I don't really know Blackburn tbh, it's near the fire station, there are a lot of hostels but also a lot of lovely small business people that have stopped to ask what I'm turning the building into, i'm just wondering if i've chosen a really bad area! Thanks for the replies so far, I appreciate you taking time to respond :)

Where in bburn are you??? DH Works in housing in the area ATM and grew up there too

I'm from Blackburn don't live there now. I am sorry what has happened to your business so far. hope you get some good luck soon.

Out of curiosity What's the business OP?

I lived there a long time ago but iirc i think the red light district was by the fire station.

Good luck with your business and sorry to hear of the trouble you've had.

Strange place to invest your life savings if you don't even know it. I'm from near there and can't stand Blackburn but it's very tribal like that. Some locals will love it. It's got its problems with depravation, racial divides etc but so do plenty of big towns. On the plus side it is big so a sizeable audience for whatever it is you're up to. Still a bit random though, probably should've researched it more beforehand.

What's the business OP? I moved away from Blackburn a few years ago for work but regularly come back to see parents, would like to pay a visit once you're up and running! Good luck.

Agree with a previous poster - the first station was the red light district.

Are you on the industrial estate by the fire station or on King William street (I think it is called that) where the Postal Order & Cathedral are?

Have you really invested everything in this business in Blackburn? If you have I'd honestly cut your losses ASAP and head over to Barrowford or Clitheroe or Whalley or Rawtenstall or anywhere in the Ribble Valley.

I have relatives from there. Just had a quick look on the may and agree it's a bit of an odd place to open a shop. Are you on Darwen Street, or behind there really close to the fire station?

Where are you from originally? Blackburn is quite an insular area, from what I recall. I do wish you luck, though x

Do what Agatha says.

Hang on a sec. You've spent a fortune renovating a building you're only renting? I hope you have a very secure tenancy!

Beatles sang about 4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire.
A Day in the Life.
Sergeant Pepper's Heart Club Band.
1967.

I'm from Blackburn, moved away YEARS ago. The area you talk about is a really rough area, it's the red light district, full of drugs user and other anti social people. Very strange place to start a new business, what made you choose that location?

Blackburn born and raised. I left at 18 to go to college and have never returned. I have the same questions as the others - is it Darwen St near the Cathedral area, or further towards Bolton Rd? What’s your foot traffic?

I was actually back there last year and was shocked at how downtrodden and abandoned it seemed; however that might be the dearth of pubs/bars that I used to go to, and the council has put a fair bit of money in. Can I ask what your business is? If it’s one that relies on “naice” clientele, you might want to consider somewhere like Clitheroe, or even Darwen. But I’d imagine you get decent foot traffic where you are too.

It’s hard to give more exact advice without knowing the business. One thing I will say - I was self employed for a while. It didn’t suit me and although I was starting to make money, I closed it down and got a regular job. Changing direction doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

Really sorry I haven't been back online, we opened the business properly last week and it's been hectic! Thank you for all of the replies, I don't really need footfall, I don't want to say what business it is as i've been on MN for donkeys years and don't want to be seen to be advertising!

The actual business is doing great, on target in terms of the business plan etc. it's just the hassle of petty crime that's driving me mad, it seems to have calmed down, apart from a guy pissing up against the building the other day - willy out - lovely! bleugh... I just didn't know the area tbh, but fingers crossed it seems to be ok at the moment.

Need to get the roof sorted and the landlord is being very unhelpful, insurance company are trying to wangle their way out of it, building is covered in scaffolding and the heating doesn't work... but I'm going in and carrying on with a smile on my face!

Advertising is a nightmare, how do people find you? have tried adverts in the Blackburn Telegraph and LEP and have talked to Local radio for a quote but it's not really generating much interest so far, have Facebook page etc. I'm hoping the radio isn't too expensive as I think that will be a good way to advertise.

We're targeting the whole of Lancashire not just locally, I had a lovely guy come in a couple of days ago and he was great and likely to be a good customer :) Maybe I'm just being impatient lol, thanks again for your views, I really like the building and location so I'm not giving up yet!!