Items with a value of over £15 (it used to be £18) attract VAT at 20% from those retailers based in the Channel Islands . This is being done away with from April, 2012, and all items will have VAT to pay. It'll be interesting to see how many of these companies cease to operate from the Channel Islands after April.
Online sales are knocking out high street businesses. 4 long established Estate agents have closed in our high street. Retail boutiques are almost non-existant. No white good shops except sold in supermarkets.
We are left with takeaways/supermarkets/charity & service industry shops.