Changes on the High Street - Page 47

heero_yuy · 02-12-2020, 14:01

Quote:

Women's fashion chain Bonmarché has fallen into administration, putting more than 1,500 jobs at risk.

Bonmarché, which has 225 stores around the country, was owned by retail tycoon Philip Day.

His other chains - Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Peacocks and Ponden Home stores - collapsed into administration last month.

Administrators said the stores would continue to trade while options for the business were explored.

Damian Webb and Gordon Thomson of RSM Restructuring Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators of the firm, known as BM Retail Limited.

Clothing has been hit hard by Covid.

Sephiroth · 03-12-2020, 10:14

What happened at John Lewis Reading 02-December @10:00?

As some of you might know, I railed against the JL advanced book to shop system. This is what happened.

In my family, I refused to book a slot for myself though I wanted to go to JL when it opened. My wife and daughter wanted the assurance of a slot at 10:00 which, to my surprise, was booked on the evening of 01-December.

On the day, we all turned up at the front entrance to JL Reading at 10:00. Wife and daughter went in first closely followed by me - nobody else queuing for JL. I sailed past them while they were checked in by the clipboard person.

It's JL for whom I feel sorry.

Btw - it took an hour to get through the queuing system late yesterday evening for the Debenhams web site. I did buy three items. motivated by reductions which didn't actually reflect a "must sell" situation but nevertheless seemed good value for money.

**Chris** · 03-12-2020, 11:24

John Lewis was never going to be busy at 10am on a Thursday.

Sephiroth · 03-12-2020, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

John Lewis was never going to be busy at 10am on a Thursday.

It was a Wednesday and first day of opening after lockdown.

**Chris** · 03-12-2020, 13:15

... ok then, Wednesday.

And you have provided the evidence to discount your implication that first day after lockdown was going to make a difference.

Department stores aren't busy first thing in the morning, midweek. Everyone's at work. Anyone who's still furloughed by now hasn't got any money.

The virtual queueing system is operating at all times but is clearly intended to come into its own at those times when the store is busy, namely evenings and weekends.

Sephiroth · 03-12-2020, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

... ok then, Wednesday.

And you have provided the evidence to discount your implication that first day after lockdown was going to make a difference.

Department stores aren't busy first thing in the morning, midweek. Everyone's at work. Anyone who's still furloughed by now hasn't got any money.

The virtual queueing system is operating at all times but is clearly intended to come into its own at those times when the store is busy, namely evenings and weekends.

I just told it like it was. I'm not sure why you're bothering with my post in the way that you are.

Mr K · 03-12-2020, 13:34

Oh for lockdown again, traffic is appalling...

Do some online shopping, think of the poor white van drivers. Forget the High Street, it's history. Convert them all to nice parks

Carth · 03-12-2020, 13:47

I thought all the parks were being locked up and closed down due to vandalism, tits with no helmets riding mopeds, and druggies congregating there?

Or is it just this area that has a problem

Mr K · 03-12-2020, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth

I thought all the parks were being locked up and closed down due to vandalism, tits with no helmets riding mopeds, and druggies congregating there?

Or is it just this area that has a problem

Yes that's only Luton.

Hom3r · 03-12-2020, 14:17

While people make excuses and refuse to wear masks or just cover the mouth Amazon will be my shop of choice.

The only shops I enter are Supermarkets, as needed.

Luckily my Sainsbury's has the Lloyds pharmacy in it, and they do all our meds including repeats. They sorted out an issue where my DRS wanted a blood test for my Statins, but as I have no intentions of going inside a hospital full of people with no masks and coughing and spluttering.

Lloyds sorted this out.

**Chris** · 03-12-2020, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I just told it like it was. I'm not sure why you're bothering with my post in the way that you are.

Nice try, but last week you made a great big song and dance about John Lewis' virtual queueing system and now here you are bringing it up again. You posted it on a discussion forum ... so guess what's happening.

Sephiroth · 03-12-2020, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Nice try, but last week you made a great big song and dance about John Lewis' virtual queueing system and now here you are bringing it up again. You posted it on a discussion forum ... so guess what's happening.

... Yes, I stuck to my position and didn't book a slot. I then honestly reported what happened. You shouldn't be ridiculing me.

**Chris** · 03-12-2020, 16:20

Ridicule? Now who’s the snowflake...

It’s certainly getting ridiculous now, but my initial response to you was simply to suggest your observations were unsurprising.

TheDaddy · 03-12-2020, 19:56

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Originally Posted by Mr K

Debenham has been coming for a long time. A store that has totally refused to move with the times. The stores still look like they did in 1978.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

^^ Absolutely this. An appalling shopping experience, selling vastly overpriced goods. As you say a store that has stayed firmly stuck in the mud with little attempt to change or modernise. The demise has been long on the cards, well before Covid which as is many cases has simply accelerated the process.

I feel for the employees, but won't miss the store itself one bit.

You don't think it's got any thing to do with private equity getting their grubby paws on it, asset stripping and loading it with debt, they went from owning all their stores before they arrived to having to pay rent on them all once those vultures had picked it clean. I believe such shoddy practices have been legislated against as it can't be right thousands of people lose their jobs so a few people can be further enriched however given how these shysters like to get in with politicians how much teeth the legislation has remains to be seen.

1andrew1 · 03-12-2020, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

You don't think it's got any thing to do with private equity getting their grubby paws on it, asset stripping and loading it with debt, they went from owning all their stores before they arrived to having to pay rent on them all once those vultures had picked it clean. I believe such shoddy practices have been legislated against as it can't be right thousands of people lose their jobs so a few people can be further enriched however given how these shysters like to get in with politicians how much teeth the legislation has remains to be seen.

I agree that private equity severely crippled the business helping its demise. But there's no legislation planned to stop a retailer selling its freeholds or being over-burdened with debt.

Selling off the freeholds is exactly what Kingfisher did with Woolworths before it demerged the company.