Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Challenge for the retailers is that they need a critical mass of customers to keep the business going; unfortunately, a lot of people will use the on-site shops to look at stuff, then shop online for better prices.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Like it was in the old days when there were a lot more independent shops.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

I'm supporting my local 2 independent butchers, the bakers and the fruit and veg shop. I also support the oldest independent bookshop in the area plus the independent hardware store. All just a 10 minute walk from my house. Use them or lose them.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

All my local supermarkets had an in-store fresh Fish, meat and cheese counters but have been closed since coronavirus lockdowns, but Sainsbury's said they are unlikely going to open them when lockdown ends.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Good retailers like the archery shops I know keep customers because the customers want to keep the shops going. They are rare enough that if you make the journey you tend to spend your money. And in this market you can possibly but a little cheaper online and there maybe more options online but the difference for the cheaper items is small and for more expensive items you want the support of the shop.
Again it's value add - so, for example, if you switch from some Korean limbs to Hoyt (or reverse) do you know you likely need a new string even on the same size/weight because of minor differences in the limb horn. (I had some strings made that just coincidently work on both).
For arrows it's even more important to visit and buy from a store as (apart from basic/beginners) you get arrows cut to your length, weighted and spined to your bow and draw weight, once cut they need to be fitted to correct pile (point) and so on. Then you get to try them out to make sure it's all working OK and get you bow adjusted to new arrows. (I use wooden arrows so make my own at home from parts supplied, the options are less critical so I can order on-line and that's fine - those who are more demanding will go to store and select shafts one-by-one, checking straightness, grain similarities, spine characteristics etc. Again not something you can do on-line.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

I guess the Waitrose part of the group is helping to prevent more closures. There's also talk of having JL departments in Waitrose stores.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Canary Wharf like Kingston is actually the other way round - a John Lewis store with a Waitrose food hall in it.
Agreed on the size of Waitrose stores - most aren't very large so perhaps this will be a more overt click and collect?

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

The one near my Dad has an aisle for non-food stuff. Honestly not paid much attention to it so not sure how they pick what to offer and whether they're directly from JL stock or specific to Waitrose.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

This looks a good outcome.
https://www.theguardian.com/business...-lecture-halls

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

How is that a good outcome? A good outcome would be a shop still open, trading and not laying of staff, they didn't lose their jobs so nurses could be trained

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

I'm talking about an empty building being put to good use being a good outcome.

The nostalgic side of me would like Debenhams, Woolworths, Burton's, Virgin Megastore, Gadget Shop and Toys'R'Us to stiill be open. The realist in me sees a good outcome in the buildings being used constructively.

Re: Changes on the High Street
 

A good outcome would have been to put in place practices to stop this happening again, not celebrating the fact a tenant has been found, especially as they'd have needed a building anyway