2021 - Retailer woe & retail sector chat
Discussion
Ian Geary said:
snuffy said:
Using microfiche that everyone else got rid of years ago ? So you failed to modernise and who do you blame ? Certainly not yourself it seems.
You're missing the point.How does a business modernise? They borrow money based on future gains, and repay it with the additional revenue or savings.
Local government can't borrow to run day to day services, and it's funding is reducing. Existing savings are being soaked up by increased demand each year, and council tax increases don't cover the difference really.
I am aware of private sector companies that still operate a patch work out outdated and incompatible systems, but it is much more common in local government.
And where do we turn for modernisation? Ah yes, the beacon of efficiency itself, the private sector.
Want to update your phone banking system to pay funds to a new account? £1k please.
Want to introduce technology that is already 5 years old? Ok, £1.2k a day consultancy charge, even though my team know the technology and know what's needed. Often, it was my team hand holding or pointing out errors to the software supplier rep.
The days of local government writing it's own software solutions have long gone (thanks to the crucible of capitalism and dogmatism of the Conservatives), so now we're just reaping what was sown with councils with outdated IT, asset stripped of talent, and never enough money to do the job properly.
Of course, sales and IT bods can have their £100k weekend toys, but they don't count right? But local government avoiding the race to the bottom on pensions (which for most members still remain "modest" is somehow bad?
Anyway, this is all off topic from a council increasing parking fees.
Only adult social care precept is ring fenced for adult social care.
Parking charges are ringfenced for highways and transportation purposes, but of course increasing income reduces the amount of subsidy required for transport and highways from elsewhere in the general fund, allowing that money to be used on other services.
Parking increases could well be a green wash..In which case we're lucky we live in a democracy, because voters can in fact choose who run the council every 4 years, and generally get the councillors they deserve.
They are not processing emails. But are sending reminders. This means that the email I sent them in January telling them of our new address was lost or not processed. For some reason when the new tenants did move in they closed our account and it seems did not send a final bill. Sent a new bill eventually to new house, and its all a big mess.
So now semi-sorted out. But I have to send them a copy of my notice and tenancy agreement when they will update our account to be accurate and sort out the money they owe me or put it on the new property account, to sort out the arrears, when I had been paying it on the wrong property.
So if they had read the email they encouraged me to send the accounts would be sorted.
if they would read the email that they want me to send quickly the accounts would be sorted.
But they won't so now instead of visiting my account one, they will have to visit it three times.
And they wonder why their phone line is busy. Idiots.
Wondering around Cork today for work. Came across Debenhams, which is a real wow building to me.
Again completely closed for good and laying empty. It got me thinking about how you repurposed buildings such as this? And the likes of Debenhams had some amazing property around the country. Likewise other big retailers that have gone to the wall recently.
Too big for another city center retailer.
Don't lend themselves to been partitioned. Even if they did partition, there are so many other similar sized retailers obviously struggling.
I imagine big retailers want large out of town, easy access and cheap to maintain and heat.
Hospitality? Hotel? Anyone investing in that the next few years would need balls of steel. Would a deep building like this lend itself for flats/hotel?
Offices? No demand for that anymore.
Reality? Left to go derelict?
Such a shame, Cork is a lovely place, but so many empty properties and big retailers gone it will take quite a lot to bring it back to what I remember it 15 years ago.
Again completely closed for good and laying empty. It got me thinking about how you repurposed buildings such as this? And the likes of Debenhams had some amazing property around the country. Likewise other big retailers that have gone to the wall recently.
Too big for another city center retailer.
Don't lend themselves to been partitioned. Even if they did partition, there are so many other similar sized retailers obviously struggling.
I imagine big retailers want large out of town, easy access and cheap to maintain and heat.
Hospitality? Hotel? Anyone investing in that the next few years would need balls of steel. Would a deep building like this lend itself for flats/hotel?
Offices? No demand for that anymore.
Reality? Left to go derelict?
Such a shame, Cork is a lovely place, but so many empty properties and big retailers gone it will take quite a lot to bring it back to what I remember it 15 years ago.
Biggy Stardust said:
HTP99 said:
Well our local Council are going all out to help the local shops in the town, just as they are preparing to open up on Monday...... Not!
Parking charges have changed from the usual £1.10 per hour to, min charge of £3 - up to 3 hours, increasing to £6 - up to 6 hours and then £12 for over 6 hours.
That'll be me and many others not popping in to do a few things which can be done in under an hour, whilst a grabbing a coffee from the local indepndant and a cake from the open air bakery.
Note that any extra money raised is to fund such things as adult social care. Therefore it is justified & acceptable.Parking charges have changed from the usual £1.10 per hour to, min charge of £3 - up to 3 hours, increasing to £6 - up to 6 hours and then £12 for over 6 hours.
That'll be me and many others not popping in to do a few things which can be done in under an hour, whilst a grabbing a coffee from the local indepndant and a cake from the open air bakery.
It is emphatically NOT going to fund pay & pensions for overstaffed & underworked council employees or fund stupid vanity projects.
IroningMan said:
After ten years of austerity hitting local government for six, using phrases like 'overstaffed and underworked' just makes you sound ill-informed at best.
Some are overworked in local govt. Many are institutionalised against the concept change in my view, but then nor are they rewarded for driving change.Vasco said:
eldar said:
Vasco said:
You don't think that some people might have run out of socks, pants, tights etc or just want something different for their wardrobe?
For the ladies at least it's probably a massive boost to feeling like they're getting back to something like normality. Anything that helps the mental state must surely be a good thing?
Supermarkets selling clothes have been open all lockdown. I'd go with feelgood, not need.For the ladies at least it's probably a massive boost to feeling like they're getting back to something like normality. Anything that helps the mental state must surely be a good thing?
Though I'm finding it hard to understand the attraction of Primark a 07.00 at -2c .
Always seems odd the amount of stick meted out to any business that is highly successful.
Promised Land said:
Who in their right mind queues for a barbers, I’ve used the same one for between 30-40 years, for the last 20 years he’s been appointments only, have a hair cut, he then slots you in for the next 4,5 or 6 depending on how far his book is made to, then just turn up on time, sit in the chair, 10 minutes later you’re on your way out.
Forget standing or siting around for half a day at the weekend for a 10 minute trim.
Women’s salons have been like that since the dark ages, why are some barbers still making clients sit in the shop for hours on end?
Queues outside the 3 local barbers when I went out yesterday morning. I was in desperate need of a trim, (giving Boris a run for his money) so decided to chance it last night. Walked in sat down and then immediately in the chair. All done in 15 minutes. Never understood the fascination of being first in when ir reopened as invariably stood for hours outside freezing your nuts off. Forget standing or siting around for half a day at the weekend for a 10 minute trim.
Women’s salons have been like that since the dark ages, why are some barbers still making clients sit in the shop for hours on end?
On the point of barbers making people wait. Unless it's "posh" they are cash in hand so no chance of them having digital appointment systems
anonymoususer said:
vaud said:
And the last thing a cash business wants is lots of formal records of appointments...
Across the country many hundreds of Ahkmed's and Mo's are nodding their heads in agreement. In fact they aren't too bothered if the folk getting their haircuts actually pay 'em at all In Kingston Hema shut down a few months ago and the rent is £360K a year plus £150K business rates. It is now a homeware shop selling the sort of junk you see on eBay. Oasis across the road is now a mobile phone repair/phone case shop.
Firstly it looks awful and really run down, but how do the numbers work unless they are literally paying no rent?
Kingston town center is starting to look awful, what with the two shops I mentioned above and the fact most of the shops on the road where the entertainer, Halfords, Chas Olson, Kath Kidson, Jessops, Laura Ashley etc. were are empty
anonymoususer said:
vaud said:
And the last thing a cash business wants is lots of formal records of appointments...
Across the country many hundreds of Ahkmed's and Mo's are nodding their heads in agreement. In fact they aren't too bothered if the folk getting their haircuts actually pay 'em at all I anticipate he will put his prices up soon to make up for the adjustment.
Joey Deacon said:
And that there are four other identical barbers in the same street? Plus a couple of vape shops, a couple of mobile phone repair shops and the old Top Man shop is now selling crappy homewares?
In Kingston Hema shut down a few months ago and the rent is £360K a year plus £150K business rates. It is now a homeware shop selling the sort of junk you see on eBay. Oasis across the road is now a mobile phone repair/phone case shop.
Firstly it looks awful and really run down, but how do the numbers work unless they are literally paying no rent?
Kingston town center is starting to look awful, what with the two shops I mentioned above and the fact most of the shops on the road where the entertainer, Halfords, Chas Olson, Kath Kidson, Jessops, Laura Ashley etc. were are empty
You’ve answered your own questions Joey.In Kingston Hema shut down a few months ago and the rent is £360K a year plus £150K business rates. It is now a homeware shop selling the sort of junk you see on eBay. Oasis across the road is now a mobile phone repair/phone case shop.
Firstly it looks awful and really run down, but how do the numbers work unless they are literally paying no rent?
Kingston town center is starting to look awful, what with the two shops I mentioned above and the fact most of the shops on the road where the entertainer, Halfords, Chas Olson, Kath Kidson, Jessops, Laura Ashley etc. were are empty
The Homewears shop will be paying next to nothing in rent and it deflects the rates liability from the landlord.
Kingston is looking very rundown I agree.
Thankyou4calling said:
Joey Deacon said:
And that there are four other identical barbers in the same street? Plus a couple of vape shops, a couple of mobile phone repair shops and the old Top Man shop is now selling crappy homewares?
In Kingston Hema shut down a few months ago and the rent is £360K a year plus £150K business rates. It is now a homeware shop selling the sort of junk you see on eBay. Oasis across the road is now a mobile phone repair/phone case shop.
Firstly it looks awful and really run down, but how do the numbers work unless they are literally paying no rent?
Kingston town center is starting to look awful, what with the two shops I mentioned above and the fact most of the shops on the road where the entertainer, Halfords, Chas Olson, Kath Kidson, Jessops, Laura Ashley etc. were are empty
You’ve answered your own questions Joey.In Kingston Hema shut down a few months ago and the rent is £360K a year plus £150K business rates. It is now a homeware shop selling the sort of junk you see on eBay. Oasis across the road is now a mobile phone repair/phone case shop.
Firstly it looks awful and really run down, but how do the numbers work unless they are literally paying no rent?
Kingston town center is starting to look awful, what with the two shops I mentioned above and the fact most of the shops on the road where the entertainer, Halfords, Chas Olson, Kath Kidson, Jessops, Laura Ashley etc. were are empty
The Homewears shop will be paying next to nothing in rent and it deflects the rates liability from the landlord.
Kingston is looking very rundown I agree.
Blib said:
hyphen said:
How does one pay next to nothing in rent to deflect rates liability from landlord? How do I find such an opportunity?
The tenant pays minimal rent but pays the rates on the building. Saves the landlord from suffering a double-whammy.hyphen said:
Blib said:
hyphen said:
How does one pay next to nothing in rent to deflect rates liability from landlord? How do I find such an opportunity?
The tenant pays minimal rent but pays the rates on the building. Saves the landlord from suffering a double-whammy.surveyor said:
Received a reminder for Council Tax at the weekend. Investigated and we have not paid any since February. Make a phone call today to the council tax.
They are not processing emails. But are sending reminders. This means that the email I sent them in January telling them of our new address was lost or not processed. For some reason when the new tenants did move in they closed our account and it seems did not send a final bill. Sent a new bill eventually to new house, and its all a big mess.
So now semi-sorted out. But I have to send them a copy of my notice and tenancy agreement when they will update our account to be accurate and sort out the money they owe me or put it on the new property account, to sort out the arrears, when I had been paying it on the wrong property.
So if they had read the email they encouraged me to send the accounts would be sorted.
if they would read the email that they want me to send quickly the accounts would be sorted.
But they won't so now instead of visiting my account one, they will have to visit it three times.
And they wonder why their phone line is busy. Idiots.
Happened to me in Manchester many years ago. Only found out that I was pay (the same monthly amount) on the wrong property when they sent me a summons for unpaid council tax. Trouble is they had automated the issuing of summons. Thousands went out across the city in a single day. Lovely and efficient. Only they had neglected to consider the consequences of people all then contacting them at once.... They are not processing emails. But are sending reminders. This means that the email I sent them in January telling them of our new address was lost or not processed. For some reason when the new tenants did move in they closed our account and it seems did not send a final bill. Sent a new bill eventually to new house, and its all a big mess.
So now semi-sorted out. But I have to send them a copy of my notice and tenancy agreement when they will update our account to be accurate and sort out the money they owe me or put it on the new property account, to sort out the arrears, when I had been paying it on the wrong property.
So if they had read the email they encouraged me to send the accounts would be sorted.
if they would read the email that they want me to send quickly the accounts would be sorted.
But they won't so now instead of visiting my account one, they will have to visit it three times.
And they wonder why their phone line is busy. Idiots.
Fortunately I had all the paperwork for both properties and submitted it with a long letter (ever the lawyer) explaining their errors. The poor harassed guy who phoned me up to apologise on a Sunday (as he and his term were working round the clock to deal with the workload) wasn't entirely pleased with his employers in the City Council..!
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