The death of the high street.

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Whilst I agree with what skwdenyer is saying, it is not really analogous to the situation that caused the GFC. It may cause problems of its own, but the cause and repercussions will probably be different.

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I’ve just been into Flannels, a former high-end clothes shop which is now owned by Mike Ashley.

Bloody hell.

If Sports Direct is where street drug dealers buy their hoodies, Flannels is where they will now go once they’ve gone up in the world. It’s like a jumble sale but with Gucci.

If that is what he plans to do to HoF it won’t be pretty.

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Stan the Bat said:

gizlaroc said:

Aquilea said:

Nice idea in theory (to stop workplace commuters taking up all the spaces I am guessing), but why four hours and not three or five. IMO four isn't quite long enough if you want to have a leisurely shopping trip and maybe grab a bite to eat as well - the clock-watching would take the fun out of the experience for me.

It may sound harsh, but it is to stop the closest car parks filling up with staff doing morning or afternoon shifts, which tend to be 9-2pm or 12.30-5.30pm.
The car parks that are a 5-10 minute walk can be used by staff, but you really want to try and leave the nearest car parks free for customers if possible.

Four hours free seems to be the perfect answer to me.

I wonder whether it could be longer - 6 hours, but from 13:00 for example. It would thwart the work parkers whilst giving shoppers long enough to spend an afternoon shopping.

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gizlaroc said:

saaby93 said:

Well why didnt you tell him that

He actually said at the time "I'm not buying at moment, I was just seeing if that was like to one I had seen on their website. Nice jacket."

That was when I said, well if you want it let me know and I will do you a proper deal.

I think a lot of the time people are just browsing, some of the price points are not prices that many can just grab as they like it. I reckon more often than not with prices over £200 odd, people come in and say "I say that xxxx the other day and think I need to try it on again as I really liked it."

There is a fine line between being laid back and being pushy and making yourself seem like all you care about is the sale here and now.

In that particular circumstance could you have said, "go away and think about it. But I'll put it to one side for you until tomorrow and you can have it for £250 if you come back"? He's have thought you a bloody nice chap, would probably have bought the coat and would likely have come back next time he wanted something.

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gizlaroc said:

So said:

In that particular circumstance could you have said, "go away and think about it. But I'll put it to one side for you until tomorrow and you can have it for £250 if you come back"? He's have thought you a bloody nice chap, would probably have bought the coat and would likely have come back next time he wanted something.

I was paraphrasing a bit because I'm on a forum.

I guess it was not till I saw him again that I thought "I could have done that for £250. Just get it cleared."
At the time I was thinking do a deal, maybe 20 or 25% or so.

Having said that it sold anyway and my manager did it for £375, it was £425 not £450 thinking about it.

But the point was, sometimes we don't like to ask in store.
I know when I bought some speakers the other week, I didn't want to mention to the guys I buy some kit off that I was buying some Quads as they were 25% off a brand new pair shipped from Quad. They probably prefer I ask, but I didn't want to be in a position where I had to say "Sorry, going to use someone else as a bit cheaper."

People don't like to be rejected.

If they can see that Shonkywear.com has got the jacket at £250, most people will buy there and be reluctant to haggle in your shop where there is a risk of you laughing at them publicly. Now I know you wouldn't do that, but it's what people have in their heads.

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mike74 said:

My high street and local supermarkets definitely aren't as busy as previous years.

Yet still Christmas seems to somehow draw out the people who quite obviously never leave the house the rest of the year and subsequently have no concept what so ever how to... drive, park or make their way around supermarket aisles without being bumbling dithering morons.

Yes the dithering morons have been out in force, I’ve noticed that. Elderly gents in hats behind the wheel and transfixed in shopping aisles. I doubt they have the spending power to save the high street.

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I am having lunch in Tunbridge Wells. Happily the high street appears to be thriving. I am not sure about the whole or the town, but the high Street definitely.

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So said:

I am having lunch in Tunbridge Wells. Happily the high street appears to be thriving. I am not sure about the whole or the town, but the high Street definitely.

All of which said, Reiss, J Crew and Kath Kidston have pulled out of RTW of late. Are they brands that are too “in the middle” for the town? It seems a town of two centres, one wealthy and the the other not. I wonder whether high and low end works there, but MOR struggles.

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Personally I think we should see a review of Sunday trading laws too. Some people are busy six days a week and Sunday is the only day they have to shop.

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janesmith1950 said:

he argument against this has been that retail employees have the right to a day/time off. The counter argument is they should have the right to work the hours and earn more money (than they can at present). These people would then pay more income tax and NI and, invetiably, VAT. Shoppers would have thought convenience of being able to view all 7 days of the week as ordinary shopping ones.

In these times I don't really get why society is told by the government when it can and cannot visit a shop.

My understanding is that it’s that, the unions and small shops not wanting the competition.

Easy enough to get round one would have thought. Shop workers to have limited working hours and allowed Sunday off if they’ve religious beliefs. Convenience stores will survive on range and location I would have thought.

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walm said:

Also - Patisserie Valerie died yesterday.

It went into administration. So for now it will continue selling appalling coffee and mediocre cakes to fat women.

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Biker 1 said:

My experience with local Hermes driver is excellent, but Yodel on the other had - what an absolute shower of st....

Couriers are the weak link in an otherwise convenient way to buy.

When buying from any supplier who uses UPS I don't even bother using my home address anymore, because it is completely beyond them to deliver efficiently. I give the address of my local UPS drop off. On one occasion I forgot and used my home address, they still delivered to the drop off - they simply cannot follow basic instructions.

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Thankyou4calling said:

Retailing has changed massively.

I’m 52

Back when I first started work in the 80’s I had more disposable than I do now!

I absolutely loved going shopping

The local high street was chock full of shops selling stuff you could only get I you went to town.

Shoes? Curtess, dolcis, saxone, Freeman Hardy Willis, Russel and Bromley, Faith . You actually went to a shoe shop FOR SHOES! Now? They’re gone.

It was wonderful walking from shop to shop, they all sold different things so you went in and tried things on

On a Sunday the shops were closed so it was nice ho window shop and see what you might get hen you were flush

W H Smith was a special shop. I used to go to Richmond, they had lovely pens, stationery you couldn’t get elsewhere it was great

Now the high street is tat. Full of shops selling tat.

But the Public gets what the public wants

They don’t want to go into Hepworths and buy a nice suit, they don’t want to go into Dewhursts and buy chops they don’t want to go to oddbins and buy a bottle

We want cheap. If something is 10p more people avoid it

I know there are exceptions

I still enjoy shopping

But it’s not what it was and nevervwill be .

Do you remember when all this was just fields?