First retail ‘name’ to pop off 2018
Discussion
Thankyou4calling said:
Obviously internet shopping is playing a part in these retailers going to the wall but they are there own worst enemies.
Pretty much all the recent closures are truly appalling examples of retailing expertise.
Go in a Debenhams or HoF. They are not nice shops. Dreadful layouts, staff with little product knowledge, selling the same stuff as you can get at 20 other shops.
It’s easy to blame changes in customer habits but they need to look at why those habits have changed.
Often the answer is their own business model.
They have killed their own customer.
Agree, it's survival of the fittest and perhaps some shops have had it too easy for too longPretty much all the recent closures are truly appalling examples of retailing expertise.
Go in a Debenhams or HoF. They are not nice shops. Dreadful layouts, staff with little product knowledge, selling the same stuff as you can get at 20 other shops.
It’s easy to blame changes in customer habits but they need to look at why those habits have changed.
Often the answer is their own business model.
They have killed their own customer.
Where I live, Kingston, there are two department stores virtually next to each other. Bentalls (part of Fenwick group) and John Lewis. They both seem very attractive stores and appear to be doing well
Debs are one of the worst for over inflating prices for sales.
I once got a pair of so called half price jeans. Under the reduced sticker was the original sales price what was no far of the sale price.
They have tried to con shoppers for years with changing promotion prices. They need to seriously buck up their ideas if they want to survive.
Also some of there shops are disgusting and falling apart. They need an image make over.
I once got a pair of so called half price jeans. Under the reduced sticker was the original sales price what was no far of the sale price.
They have tried to con shoppers for years with changing promotion prices. They need to seriously buck up their ideas if they want to survive.
Also some of there shops are disgusting and falling apart. They need an image make over.
SydneyBridge said:
Agree, it's survival of the fittest and perhaps some shops have had it too easy for too long
Where I live, Kingston, there are two department stores virtually next to each other. Bentalls (part of Fenwick group) and John Lewis. They both seem very attractive stores and appear to be doing well
Kingston has had it easy too though - Westfield has now opened a John lewis.Where I live, Kingston, there are two department stores virtually next to each other. Bentalls (part of Fenwick group) and John Lewis. They both seem very attractive stores and appear to be doing well
hyphen said:
Kingston has had it easy too though - Westfield has now opened a John lewis.
They are also going into Croydon which is about the same distance in the other direction, and they could move to Guildford when HoF or Debenhams finally fail. The latter would probably be the worst one as far as Kingston goes because a lot of people from north Surrey probably use it as their main shopping centre.I think that they are all living on borrowed time - most of my John Lewis purchases are collected from my local Waitrose and I only live a 10 minutes walk from the JL in Kingston. I go in for a browse occasionally and might buy something then, but I don't think I'd bother at all if it wasn't so close. Then again, I'm not really the shopping type.
I called into local Debenhams to see if I could get a t-shirt my son wanted. None in store so they suggested I went online. Website kept crashing and was about to give up but thought I’d give it one last go as it was the one he wanted. Discount had kicked in so I got it for £8 rather than £13, albeit with £2 click and collect fee to add. When I went to collect it I was given a £5 voucher without asking so I cheekily asked the assistant for another, which he gave me. Free t shirt! Winner!!
kingston12 said:
They are also going into Croydon which is about the same distance in the other direction, and they could move to Guildford when HoF or Debenhams finally fail. The latter would probably be the worst one as far as Kingston goes because a lot of people from north Surrey probably use it as their main shopping centre.
I think that they are all living on borrowed time - most of my John Lewis purchases are collected from my local Waitrose and I only live a 10 minutes walk from the JL in Kingston. I go in for a browse occasionally and might buy something then, but I don't think I'd bother at all if it wasn't so close. Then again, I'm not really the shopping type.
JL Is here for the long term.I think that they are all living on borrowed time - most of my John Lewis purchases are collected from my local Waitrose and I only live a 10 minutes walk from the JL in Kingston. I go in for a browse occasionally and might buy something then, but I don't think I'd bother at all if it wasn't so close. Then again, I'm not really the shopping type.
Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
kingston12 said:
I think that they are all living on borrowed time - most of my John Lewis purchases are collected from my local Waitrose and I only live a 10 minutes walk from the JL in Kingston. I go in for a browse occasionally and might buy something then, but I don't think I'd bother at all if it wasn't so close. Then again, I'm not really the shopping type.
Why do you think they send out the monthly free cake and coffee vouchers to the (free to signup) JL card holders! Send to me and my OH, so either we end up going or she meets a mate there and uses mine.Doesn't even make any sense, as the travel and parking costs more than the cake
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 19th June 23:07
Thankyou4calling said:
Go in a Debenhams or HoF. They are not nice shops. Dreadful layouts, staff with little product knowledge, selling the same stuff as you can get at 20 other shops.
I went to the Hof on Oxford Street the other day, needed a belt for work trousers. The building is covered in some weird silver wire mesh, like it wants to keep pigeons out or has loose render falling off and wanted to protect the public, not sure which
The shop itself inside is very dark. They went bold for a black theme but just doesn't work for me.They also didn't have any of their own branded stuff, was all concessions. They didn't have a belt section either, were belts in the different brands corners, and were not nice. Shop was busy with people as everything was reduced for closing down, didnt actually look like a bargain, any of it.
Brooking10 said:
JL Is here for the long term.
Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
I think they are here for the long term, and deservedly so, however, it's going to be increasingly difficult to attract footfall to the only retailer left on the High St. Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
In days of yore the High Sreet was a confection of individual businesses, maybe it needs to get back to that point in order to survive.
There's a place for Amazon, just as, I think, there's place for the (individuality of) the High Street.
If we don't encourage that individuality, rest assured, the internet will be our only choice.
Brooking10 said:
JL Is here for the long term.
Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
Indeed, I meant that all of the traditional town centres are living on borrowed time. Definitely agree that JL will be one of the last stores around as they decline.Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
hyphen said:
Why do you think they send out the monthly free cake and coffee vouchers to the (free to signup) JL card holders! Send to me and my OH, so either we end up going or she meets a mate there and uses mine.
Doesn't even make any sense, as the travel and parking costs more than the cake
Those vouchers seem to be purely to offset the cost of parking. I’m not sure why JL doesn’t offer free parking in it’s own car park to people who spend £x in the store.Doesn't even make any sense, as the travel and parking costs more than the cake
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 19th June 23:07
tumble dryer said:
Brooking10 said:
JL Is here for the long term.
Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
I think they are here for the long term, and deservedly so, however, it's going to be increasingly difficult to attract footfall to the only retailer left on the High St. Takes difficult decisions when it needs to away from the glare of the markets, has built a brand on customer service and expertise, has a strong web offering and above all has been very careful about it’s physical expansion.
In days of yore the High Sreet was a confection of individual businesses, maybe it needs to get back to that point in order to survive.
There's a place for Amazon, just as, I think, there's place for the (individuality of) the High Street.
If we don't encourage that individuality, rest assured, the internet will be our only choice.
The service aspect of JL always seems over-rated to me - they do what they have to do, nothing less, but nothing more either. We've been completely stone-walled by them several times. Once where they, in writing, quoted the law at us. We've never had a "surprised & delighted" moment.
even the least savvy customer can see straight through Debenhams.
they constantly have a sale on, so noone buys anything non-sale as you know the following week will be blue cross or whatever so they just save up existing custom - if they haven't disappeared to the internet in the mean time.
the sale is never even that good, it doesn't survive a price match for branded goods.
the concessions are often duplicated in the same centre with a far better merchandised offering direct.
the stuff that used to be 'premium' like john rocha is now just bog standard stuff you would normally associate with M+S, but more expensive!!!
the products are just naff and the store offers zero that other stores in the same centre do, at a lower price.
there just isn't a business case, IMO
they constantly have a sale on, so noone buys anything non-sale as you know the following week will be blue cross or whatever so they just save up existing custom - if they haven't disappeared to the internet in the mean time.
the sale is never even that good, it doesn't survive a price match for branded goods.
the concessions are often duplicated in the same centre with a far better merchandised offering direct.
the stuff that used to be 'premium' like john rocha is now just bog standard stuff you would normally associate with M+S, but more expensive!!!
the products are just naff and the store offers zero that other stores in the same centre do, at a lower price.
there just isn't a business case, IMO
“Staff at discount retailer Poundworld have been told "closing down" sales will start on Thursday.
However, administrators Deloitte stressed that no stores were "definitely" closing and that the search for a buyer continued.”
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
However, administrators Deloitte stressed that no stores were "definitely" closing and that the search for a buyer continued.”
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
Was in Guildford today trying and failing to find a pair of black chinos that wasn't designed for a stick insect and nearly every single clothes shop had some form of sale on including Gant and Timberland.
The usual suspects, Debenhams & HoF, had big discounts across the stores.
Tough times.
The usual suspects, Debenhams & HoF, had big discounts across the stores.
Tough times.
BlackLabel said:
“Staff at discount retailer Poundworld have been told "closing down" sales will start on Thursday.
However, administrators Deloitte stressed that no stores were "definitely" closing and that the search for a buyer continued.”
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
They had 'Administrator's Sale - 30% off' signs up on Monday.However, administrators Deloitte stressed that no stores were "definitely" closing and that the search for a buyer continued.”
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
BlackLabel said:
“Staff at discount retailer Poundworld have been told "closing down" sales will start on Thursday.
However, administrators Deloitte stressed that no stores were "definitely" closing and that the search for a buyer continued.”
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
Are they going to re-brand as 50penceworld during the sales?However, administrators Deloitte stressed that no stores were "definitely" closing and that the search for a buyer continued.”
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
Mothercare closing 60 stores, raising money, tough climate etc
http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/mothercare_plc/...
http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/mothercare_plc/...
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