Don't sell the steak, sell the sizzle.

I was saddened today to read of another casualty in the current 'credit crunch'. It appears that consumer restraint on spending has forced the closure of yet another high street store. 'Pound World' opened a branch in Poole, Dorset in June 2008 and enjoyed a myriad of customers. It seems that patrons couldn't get enough of the value for money that the store offered.

Business was booming at 'Pound World' with the seven staff struggling to compete with the demand.That is until '99p Land' opened up a branch across the road.

Mum of four, Samantha Bright (!), 36, commented that, 'Pound World couldn't compete on price.'

In a painful wrench of customer loyalty, 'Pound World' saw its once happy customers switching affiliation and crossing the road to shop at the fiscally sound '99p Land'.

Karl White, a '99p Land' customer spelt out his reasons for shifting his allegiance,

'The more you buy for 99p, the more pennies you save. I have just bought six items so I've saved 6p!'

I'm sure that I am not the only one hoping that normality can be restored as soon as possible. A return to the days where '99p Land' and 'Pound World' can co-exist like Ted and Ralph on The Fast Show.