Changes on the High Street

[Sephiroth]

M&S is well up shit creek. Based on the Camberley site which we frequently visit, they hardly have 10% footfall in the main store. Mrs. Seph puts that down to M&S not having ladies' fashion right; hasn't that been the story for years?

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

M&S is well up shit creek. Based on the Camberley site which we frequently visit, they hardly have 10% footfall in the main store. Mrs. Seph puts that down to M&S not having ladies' fashion right; hasn't that been the story for years?

The Mrs has gone out of fashion, Seph, time for a new one.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by jfman

The Mrs has gone out of fashion, Seph, time for a new one.

Bet you daren't tell her that!

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by pip08456

Bet you daren't tell her that!

I daren't - or she'd change me on the High Street.

[Carth]

Originally Posted by jfman

The Mrs has gone out of fashion, Seph, time for a new one.

I've done a couple of trade-ins over the years, currently on my 3rd model.

Body work isn't as flashy as previous ones, headlights aren't as bright, and exhaust tends to blow sometimes. Darn sight cheaper to run than previous ones though

[Taf]

I've not been in the city centre for months. There was hardly anything there to draw me in. But I need to go in and do some banking, so I asked people I know, who go in several times a week for work.

"Stay away!" was the general answer.

All the arrows and lanes, 2 metre markers and signage are being ignored almost completely. Cyclists are riding anywhere they choose, ignoring the new cycle lanes and No Cycling signs. And even the sparse traffic is stop-start as buses block the roads narrowed to allow for cycle lanes and wider pavements.

Our local bus gets reinstated next week, but down to 1-per-hour instead of the previous 4-per-hour. Maximum passengers down to 12 from 30+, with no standing whilst the bus is in motion.

[heero_yuy]

Quote from The Sun:

Homeware retailer Oak Furnitureland has revealed plans to shut 27 shops, putting 163 jobs at risk.

The furniture chain is the latest business to announce store closures and job cuts in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, following in the footsteps of Boots, John Lewis and Pret a Manger.

It comes just a month after Oak Furnitureland was rescued from collapse in a pre-pack administration deal.

Oak Furnitureland was bought by hedge fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management for an undisclosed figure.

At the time, it was confirmed a review of its store structure would take place.

Oak Furnitureland confirmed the first phase of this today, and said the Covid-19 pandemic sparked “uniquely challenging” business conditions for its stores.

Not a massive job loss compared to some but more holes in the highstreet.

[denphone]

More job losses this time with Selfridges who are to cut 450 jobs.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...antly-12037780

Managing director Anne Pitcher said high streets were changing even before COVID-19 and the upmarket retailer has now been forced to make "fundamental changes".

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Not a massive job loss compared to some but more holes in the highstreet.

But how many of those are actually on the high street, as opposed to retail parks with the bigger stores and parking.

[Sephiroth]

This is just the beginning.

Originally Posted by Carth

I've done a couple of trade-ins over the years, currently on my 3rd model.

Body work isn't as flashy as previous ones, headlights aren't as bright, and exhaust tends to blow sometimes. Darn sight cheaper to run than previous ones though

To (mis-)quote Oscar Wilde

"To lose one wife, Mr. Carth, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.”

I always remember shocking one of the Admin support staff at a software house I worked at in the 80’s/90’s, when I was discussing an upcoming wedding anniversary, and I said "well, at least this marriage has lasted longer than the previous one", and she replied "how many wives have you had?", to which I quipped "my own, or other peoples’?"...

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

This is just the beginning.

Indeed. There is a lot more to come.

However, there is also a lot to come about what do we do to facilitate the recovery of the High Street.

I'd welcome that to reform the tax system against online conglomerates, who largely shift their tax burden offshore, in favour of local people in local communities running local businesses.

I look forward to the emerging forum consensus congregating around this... Carth, Seph, Nomad, Pierre (maybe) and the traditional socialist wing, myself, den, andrew, ianch. We all like this idea. Maybe not Old Boy....

Local jobs in local communities...

[nomadking]

Amazon UK DO NOT sell anything. They act as "fulfillers" or a marketplace to advertise, for others who pay the tax on those sales. Try doing a search for USB cables on Amazon. Over 50,000 varieties available. Need an HDMI switch, just 930 types available. Try getting just that level of choice on the high street, and certainly not at those prices. The items I've bought via Amazon have almost all, not been available on the high street, and the other items would've only been available using "mail-order" anyway.


The high street can't cope with the range of items available nowadays. It's as simple as that. AO.com has nearly 300 types of dishwasher available. How on earth could they exist on the high street? Especially if Boris insists lorries and vans aren't to be allowed to deliver the stock. Try getting a large fridge/freezer on the back of a cargo bike.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Amazon UK DO NOT sell anything. They act as "fulfillers" or a marketplace to advertise, for others who pay the tax on those sales. Try doing a search for USB cables on Amazon. Over 50,000 varieties available. Need an HDMI switch, just 930 types available. Try getting just that level of choice on the high street, and certainly not at those prices. The items I've bought via Amazon have almost all, not been available on the high street, and the other items would've only been available using "mail-order" anyway.


The high street can't cope with the range of items available nowadays. It's as simple as that. AO.com has nearly 300 types of dishwasher available. How on earth could they exist on the high street? Especially if Boris insists lorries and vans aren't to be allowed to deliver the stock. Try getting a large fridge/freezer on the back of a cargo bike.

Amazon does several things. It's correct to describe it as a marketplace and a fufiller. But it's incorrect to say Amazon doesn't sell anything. Capitalising something unfortunately does not make it correct. This is the extensive Amazon basics range, for example, https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Amaz...7?ref_=ast_bln

[tweetiepooh]

Local/small retailers need help with rent more than anything. If the units are all owned by big organisations that just want the income and keep increasing the rents it's only the larger players that can afford it and mostly they stay because other big players are there or it's linked with entertainment/food outlets.

But to really work shops, whatever size, need to value add. It's no good having a physical outlet just shifting the same stuff you can buy on-line cheaper and more easily. Smaller retailers can often do this better as they tend to specialise more and hire staff that know their stuff. They value add by providing detail and advice before purchase and great support afterwards even sometimes at their own cost, in the end it become more profitable because you get a great reputation.

One further problem for small shops at the moment is their very size. Archery shops I know of are reopening but by appointment only, and Saturday slots are like gold dust. And videos of shops with ranges show much reduced capacity and "freedom".