Carol Bairstow and Lesley Gregory are firm believers in an independent spirit which will ensure the future of retail shopping remains strong in the island.

Both women run their own shops and are keen advocates of the principle that ’bricks and mortar’ and ’shop local’ are here to stay in the face of the threat from online companies.

Mrs Bairstow, the woman behind Pure Inspiration gift shop, in Parliament Street, Ramsey said: ’I believe in the shopping experience and that special interaction you have with customers.’

And Miss Gregory, proprietor for 46 years of women’s clothes shop Dolce Vita, in the same street, said: ’I believe people still want that personal attention. I’ve seen the highs and the lows over the years and I’ve learned to adapt to the changing times.’

They spoke to Business News after four ’household name’ shops in Strand Street and Duke Street, Douglas, that were part of Sir Philip Green’s failed Arcadia Group, closed.

The brands Wallis, Burton and Dorothy Perkins have been snapped up by online retailer Boohoo.

The island’s Topshop and Topman store closed a few days earlier but the building’s owner is in negotiation with another shopping group from across.

Andy Corrie, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce retail committee, acknowledges there are challenges facing shopping in the island but believes there is still cause for optimism.

He told Business News: ’There will always be a place for tradititional bricks and mortar retail. But the retailers that will succeed and thrive in the future will be those who are able to adapt and revise their business model to cater for the changing demands of the customers.

’We are in a world where convenience is very important. We live in a digital world where people can order online and have things delivered to their home address.

’But in terms of the traditional retail sector, people need to be adaptable and their businesses need to react to customer needs and they may need to consider doing some online offerings and delivery services etc.

’But they also need to offer something in store that’s unique, that is well priced and certainly the service they provide will be a massive differentiator, that personal service from the retailers will be very important.’

Asked if he saw the situation as a rallying cry to Manx business people rather than relying on UK chains he said: ’I would absolutely say that we have got some fantastic local businesses on this island.

’You only have to take a walk down Ramsey high street to see the variety of local independent businesses.

’We have got a thriving high street there which is made up of almost all unique Manx businesses that are offering something different from the national chains.

’And in some ways I feel that Douglas town centre has become quite generic and representative of similar high streets throughout the British Isles.

’And there is an opportunity to do something different with local businesses in Douglas, even in the clothing shops arena.’

He said that it was largely out of the island’s control what happened to shops that were part of a UK chain. Their fate was largely dictated by what was going on across the water.’

But he added that we could ’support and nurture’ the local Manx businesses.

He said he would urge the Manx public to spend their money on island and visit local businesses that they might not have been to before.

He sent this message to shoppers: ’Try somewhere different, you might find that you like it and have an enjoyable shopping experience.’