- Social media whizz Rosie Routledge talks Island business
- Salon owner says the high street needs fixing
- Warned hospitality is dying
- Taxis pricey – and no Uber
- Good news that the Dazzler food app will soon offer delivery
- No next-day Amazon culture
- Push to support local businesses
After moving from Dubai to the Isle of Man, 27-year-old content creator Rosie Routledge says the island offers community and calm.
But there are also day-to-day pinch points that can frustrate newcomers, not least in her age group steeped in the art of instant gratification consumer tech.
Coming from Dubai, she says, you can get everything on your doorstep, with taxis and food arriving quickly.
On the Isle of Man, she says, ‘taxis here is one thing that’s pricey’, and she has heard repeated calls for ride-hailing services.
Uber, Bolt and Free Now are popular ride-hailing services over the water, which use smartphone apps to connect passengers with drivers for immediate, pre-paid taxi trips.
But, she argues – somewhat counter-intuitively – the lack of certain mainland conveniences may be protecting local trade in the long-term.
Rosie contrasts the island with places where you can get Amazon straight away, saying that slower delivery means people still visit shops.
‘People should support local businesses where they can for sure,’ she adds.
Business bombshell: Rosie likes fashion but laments on striking a balance between online and High Street
Her comments also touch on the health of town centres.
Rosie says she does not see many high street clothing options and recalls seeing a video warning that the ‘High Street is dying’ and claiming ‘there’s like 17 shops shot’.
‘So that’s definitely something that needs fixing,’ she says.
Hospitality, she suggests, is under similar strain.
Rosie describes hosting a wine tasting event and hearing a blunt assessment from the venue owner.
‘….The owner had said the hospitality is dying,’ Rosie revealed.
In her view, that makes organised events more than a social extra.
They can be a practical way to bring people through the door.
She points to digital services that could help.
Rosie mentions an app called Dazzler, which she describes as ‘like an Uber Eats type thing.’
The Isle of Man-founded Dazzler service was launched a year ago, and is being rolled out across the island, and she says she wants to do more restaurant-review content to help people discover places.
Dazzler showcases the island’s food and hospitality sector with key data, such as menus and reviews, but is expanding from simple ‘click-and-collect’ take-aways to offer ‘door dash’ delivery.
She also highlights infrastructure pinch points that shape how people socialise.
Rosie says she had heard talk of a new cinema opening in Douglas, but was later told it might not be coming quite so soon.
And while she has had no travel disruption yet, she says she has ‘heard the ferry… I’ve heard is awful’ and that flights can be cancelled.
She also says the island’s image can mislead outsiders.
While the pace is slower, she notes visible wealth, pointing to ‘lots of beautiful houses’, and adds, ‘I think it’s also a tax haven here, I do believe’, which she thinks may attract some people from England.
Personally, she says the move has nudged her towards the outdoors: she ‘wasn’t interested in nature’ in Dubai, but now says she ‘really do appreciate’ greenery and walks.
Rosie says she remains optimistic, citing a strong community and the recent success of her Douglas-based salon Studio Aura, a beauty bar offering treatments such as brows and nails.
Studio Aura in the area
For her, the trade-off is clear: fewer instant options than Dubai, but more opportunity to create local experiences that keep people spending and socialising close to home.
- To read more about the adventures of influencer and entrepreneur Rose Routledge and her sister on Expose News……
DUBAI GLITZ TO MANX CALM: ROSIE, 27, BRINGS A LUXURY BEAUTY PLAY HOME
BOAT IN THE MORNING’: IOM NEWCOMER FACED CALLS TO LEAVE ISLAND AFTER TIKTOK BACKLASH
SISTERS’ WOMEN’S NETWORKING ON THE UP: ‘SIP AND PAINT’ EVENTS AIM TO BEAT ISLAND ISOLATION
