Can businesses thrive with rising gas and electricity prices

Vincent Page, of Antiques on High, celebrates one year in business. Picture: Antiques on High (Image: Archant)

With the mainstream media banging the soaring utility price drum for the winter months, their forecast maybe a tad on the dramatic side and if they are to be believed, the whole country will be destitute by the New Year.

But, how could your business benefit?

There is no doubt that the price of gas and electricity has got completely out of control over the last few months but is it really as bad as we are led to believe?

Firstly, if you run a business, you will no doubt have signed a deal at an agreed price and if you were smart enough to sign that deal over a three-year period without the use of a broker driving you mad on the phone every five minutes then well done you.

And if coincidence dictated that you signed that deal before the prices took off then luck maybe on your side for the first time in a few years, but be warned, every utility company on the planet will be looking to extradite themselves from the contracts that are now appearing to tighten the grip on the finances of such companies.

While some people will moan for luck, others just moan and although none of us are happy about the situation there has to be an upside somewhere.

If things are to be as predicted then it is a very real possibility that it will be cheaper to turn off your heating for the day, go out and ensure you know where all the nice warm shops are and spend the day in them.

Even if you spend money buying things that you would maybe not normally buy you will have stayed warm all day had a laugh and a joke with the people in store and still be better off than staying at home with the heating on trying to stay warm.

Be rest assured our in-store heating will be on.