With the disappearance of big household names from our high streets in recent years, how are smaller but just as established independent businesses coping in uncertain economic times?
In Hull, House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams stores – once, of course, seemingly permanent fixtures of many town and city centres across the country have all shut up shop, seemingly for good.
Yet, as BBC News’ Kevin Shoesmith has been finding out, another big name – at least as far as people in Hull are concerned – has continued trading regardless of tough times, including war, and is now heading towards its centenary.
As I walk into Dinsdales, which claims to be England’s oldest traditional joke shop, customer Darren Norton, who has called in with wife Vicky, is asking the man behind the counter: “You haven’t any Terry Wogan masks?”
With a twinkle in his eye, manager Graham Williams replies: “You’re right, sir – we haven’t.”
Darren and Vicky are attending a Eurovision party and want to dress as the late broadcaster, famous for his tongue-in-cheek commentaries on the song contest.
They say they have been coming to the shop, founded in 1930 and nestled in the Hepworth Arcade in the heart of Hull’s cobbled Old Town, since they were children.
The front window – packed with eye-catching, novelty items and marvelled at by passers-by for generations – has remained pretty much untouched in decades.
