2021 - Retailer woe & retail sector chat
Discussion
I don't see how many gyms are going to survive till April or whatever.
Even when they opened from LD1, they were mostly deserted; then a few months later LD2.
Now their busiest time of the year, the New Year, is gone for them too.
Gyms were closed for nearly 5 months in LD1, being some of the last places to reopen end July.
Add on being closed till April and that's 9 months out of 12 closed.
Even when they opened from LD1, they were mostly deserted; then a few months later LD2.
Now their busiest time of the year, the New Year, is gone for them too.
Gyms were closed for nearly 5 months in LD1, being some of the last places to reopen end July.
Add on being closed till April and that's 9 months out of 12 closed.
A lot of gyms will close down.
Many don’t make much anyway and during the closures many customers have found new ways of keeping fit without the gym.
Cycling, walking, home gyms, using the park. All of these have had a big uptake taking traditional gym users out of the market.
If you took 100 people then 15 will go to the gym no matter what, another 15 won’t go no matter what. That leaves the maybes in the middle. A good number of those will move into the “No matter what” category.
Gyms are right up against it.
Many don’t make much anyway and during the closures many customers have found new ways of keeping fit without the gym.
Cycling, walking, home gyms, using the park. All of these have had a big uptake taking traditional gym users out of the market.
If you took 100 people then 15 will go to the gym no matter what, another 15 won’t go no matter what. That leaves the maybes in the middle. A good number of those will move into the “No matter what” category.
Gyms are right up against it.
I sold my home gym stuff as we got 2x peloton setups. Sold a rower, weights, bench, x trainer, bike. Got back 60% of what I paid for them 6 years ago and was staggered. Lots of people switching to home exercise.
But just like how you can do a zoom and drink almost for free - and it can be fun - people will want the experience of going out again to the gym. Classes, meeting people, showing off, getting spotted for weights, the atmosphere etc. Not much cop at home
But just like how you can do a zoom and drink almost for free - and it can be fun - people will want the experience of going out again to the gym. Classes, meeting people, showing off, getting spotted for weights, the atmosphere etc. Not much cop at home
In Jan/Feb 2020 I noticed a 24 hour gym was getting ready to open near home. I was interested as this meant I could work out before I got home from work at night and it would have suited me.
In early November they started work on the place again, have then had a lockdown and now Tier 4 to contend with.
I’m all for sensible precautions but I’m not sure that hospitality, leisure or retail has been the main place people contract the virus.
In early November they started work on the place again, have then had a lockdown and now Tier 4 to contend with.
I’m all for sensible precautions but I’m not sure that hospitality, leisure or retail has been the main place people contract the virus.
jakesmith said:
I sold my home gym stuff as we got 2x peloton setups. Sold a rower, weights, bench, x trainer, bike. Got back 60% of what I paid for them 6 years ago and was staggered. Lots of people switching to home exercise.
But just like how you can do a zoom and drink almost for free - and it can be fun - people will want the experience of going out again to the gym. Classes, meeting people, showing off, getting spotted for weights, the atmosphere etc. Not much cop at home
Some people will manage with zoom classes but a lot won’t, like me. I haven’t the space or the willpower to keep up with classes at home, and really miss my regular group classes. And that’s just for the solitary stuff like yoga, what about things like martial arts?But just like how you can do a zoom and drink almost for free - and it can be fun - people will want the experience of going out again to the gym. Classes, meeting people, showing off, getting spotted for weights, the atmosphere etc. Not much cop at home
eltawater said:
It's going to be pretty grim for anywhere that's still in tier 3/4 for the next few months with valentines and mothering Sunday coming up 
Thats the whole country now isnt it except maybe Cornwall? Im in West Yorkshire and have been for quite a while now it seems. To be honest Tier 3 doesn't seem too bad at the moment compared to a lot of the country.
Jamescrs said:
Thats the whole country now isnt it except maybe Cornwall?
Im in West Yorkshire and have been for quite a while now it seems. To be honest Tier 3 doesn't seem too bad at the moment compared to a lot of the country.
Hospitality is going to miss out on people going for a romantic meal out, entertainment and going for mothering sunday meals etc. Places like Clintons and Card Factory are going to be missing out in tier 4 areas compared to the likes of Tesco or the online card places. That's a lot of missed opportunities at a prime time of the year.Im in West Yorkshire and have been for quite a while now it seems. To be honest Tier 3 doesn't seem too bad at the moment compared to a lot of the country.
I drove from the motorway into Warrington yesterday an was amazed how many retailers there are. We are a nation of shop chains. Would it be such a bad thing if we had a bit of a reset in that regard?
Vast truck networks delivering processed prepacked foods nationwide to plastic chains and soulless endlessly marketed vast open doors shops blasting air conditioning or hot air around the clock?
Maybe instead of over consumption we stop the franchise/chain model and learnt to love something else again.
Vast truck networks delivering processed prepacked foods nationwide to plastic chains and soulless endlessly marketed vast open doors shops blasting air conditioning or hot air around the clock?
Maybe instead of over consumption we stop the franchise/chain model and learnt to love something else again.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Saturday 2nd January 10:51
A Winner Is You said:
Maybe it would be quicker to list the ones that won't be in trouble this year? Supermarkets, discount stores like B&M, fast food, pawnbrokers........beyond that, I'd be worried.
Coppa Club spent the last lockdown refurbish a new premises near where I live. It’s a mid-price restaurant/ cocktail bar. And TGI Fridays is opening a concept branch in the high street. Once this is over people will want to go out and drink. Probably PE backed rather than small indi businesses
eltawater said:
It's going to be pretty grim for anywhere that's still in tier 3/4 for the next few months with valentines and mothering Sunday coming up
Supermarkets will clean up as usual as they can plan for it as they’re still allowed to open regardless. Can imagine the valentines aisles will be appearing soon Post Covid I think there will be a huge offload of office blocks and the rental thereof.
I think a heck of a lot of firms will downsize and realise people are happier and maybe even more useful working from home, that may impact the comute for those of us that could never really work from home.
I think a heck of a lot of firms will downsize and realise people are happier and maybe even more useful working from home, that may impact the comute for those of us that could never really work from home.
I would have thought supermarkets fine for now.
Anyone competing with Amazon is in trouble - once people get used to the convenience of next day delivery then the thought of getting into town, parked and then wonder about looking for your item is dead in the water.
Any shopping trip that isn't 'an experience' is in trouble.
Furniture probably OK
Garden Centre's OK
High Street Banks will surely melt away that little bit more quickly.
Anyone competing with Amazon is in trouble - once people get used to the convenience of next day delivery then the thought of getting into town, parked and then wonder about looking for your item is dead in the water.
Any shopping trip that isn't 'an experience' is in trouble.
Furniture probably OK
Garden Centre's OK
High Street Banks will surely melt away that little bit more quickly.
I went into Leeds City centre today, we are still tier 3 and it was dead, very much like an early Sunday morning. I went in a variety of shops, Debenhams was pretty bare as you would expect but I got some nice Loakes at a good price for work and I went in Boots and through the Trinity centre which is the main new shopping centre and it was all pretty quiet.
A lot of shops appear quite empty of stock too, like there is less shelves and everything is more spread out inside.
The only queue I saw quite randomly was the Lego store.
I overheard staff in Debenhams comment on how quiet it was for a Saturday too.
A lot of shops appear quite empty of stock too, like there is less shelves and everything is more spread out inside.
The only queue I saw quite randomly was the Lego store.
I overheard staff in Debenhams comment on how quiet it was for a Saturday too.
jakesmith said:
I sold my home gym stuff as we got 2x peloton setups. Sold a rower, weights, bench, x trainer, bike. Got back 60% of what I paid for them 6 years ago and was staggered. Lots of people switching to home exercise.
I’m going down the home gym route - because past the initial outlay, it’s my own timetable, own days and the convenience of home (coffee, music, shower).Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff