2021 - Retailer woe & retail sector chat

[jakesmith]

Just starting this thread as a continuation of the highly popular 2020 (and 2019) threads, and broadened the scope slightly to include the sector as a whole as the discussion lends itself to that naturally.....

[jakesmith]

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

[jakesmith]

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

[jakesmith]

hyphen said:

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.
...

Sold weights, taken up Cardio? You big girls blouse If I see you after a few months I will say that to your face, as you will be a skinny weed

Haha! But I had to - got minor arthritis and can’t do the weights any more

Also started dieting, lost 3 stone and don’t need to do so much exercise anyway as it was only about weight loss really.

20-30 mins 3/4 times a week on Peloton with some fit crazy American bird shouting at me is all I need now!

[jakesmith]

I had Peloton on a 75” telly in my gym.
You can get the app for £13 a month and just use a standard £300 spin bike.
Only thing missing is they can’t see you so you’re effectively watching a recording of the class but the interaction is limited anyway
This way I can chose from 1000’s of classes all different lengths, music styles etc
The bikes are well over £2k each for the Peloton ones

[jakesmith]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

I'd love an exercise bike due to my arm break I can't ride off road for another few weeks and I can't ride on the road due to the soreness.

Where to start, what to buy exercise bike though? Its a minefield. Its been 4 weeks so far and I can feel my hard earned bike fitness slipping away

You have the following rough options based on when I was buying my gear a few years ago now

1) gym style exercise bike, upright or reclining, cost from £150 to £2k with ones from around £500+ feeling stable and robust. the big selling feature is some have a video console that can show you speed sensitive videos of alpine passes etc from about £800. The ones from about £1k are like ones in a smaller hotel gym, and the £1500 ones are like proper gym ones

2) peloton bike is £2k not worth it for short term rehab I’d say

3) turbo trainer, force sensing cranks, cadence sensor, zwift setup - you’re probably looking at maybe £700 and up, if you have a pic and bike already. You can also sell them on for decent cash if u don’t like it unlike the exercise bike in 1. They aim to simulate cycling.

4) what I did was a £300 spin bike and peloton app on my pc for £13 a month. Works for me but I wanted a gym spin class experience. Doesn’t sound like your thing but I found it a good way to get motivated in my own.

[jakesmith]

jsf said:

. Lad who brought the goods out even gave a thumbs up for my car.

Do tell ...

[jakesmith]

Well worthy of a thumbs up!
I'd get the same in mine doing the click+colect @ Sainsburys during the lockdown

[jakesmith]

We are fortunate to live one of the most affluent villages in the U.K. and it has 2 pubs. 1 never reopened after the March lockdown. It’s a real shame. And that’s with a large proportion of the local audience pretty much unaffected by covid. Must be a nightmare elsewhere

[jakesmith]

They're still doing C&C from Waitrose, if you looked at coverage it probably doesn't make much difference.
I'd imagine it's more of a cost saving measure TBH
Car access / parking typically better at their supermarkets than (empty) city centre locations too

[jakesmith]

eldar said:

noopets said:

https://www.uncrazed.com/italy-30000-businesses-op...

Not being reported in MSM, and doubt anyone In this country would have the guts to do it

An interesting if potentially high risk protest. Could end badly in several different ways.

They weren't too hard hit in terms of corona deaths last year so this makes total sense

[jakesmith]

Tyre Smoke said:

Superdry in trouble apparently.

http://news.sky.com/story/superdrys-efforts-to-bea...

Mate’s dad was a senior board director for a while, think they strung it out as long as they could to be honest for a while it was ubiquitous, a victim of its own sucess as they grew it explosively. Always liked their stuff but the brand became too chav / high street for me over 10 years ago

[jakesmith]

Guys there are plenty of threads to drone on endlessly and criticise the government and talk about covid on, it’s all rather tedious and repetitive so let’s keep this one on topic about general retail and related sectors, and the specifics of their operators.

[jakesmith]

surveyor said:

In a separate development, Asos says it is in "exclusive" talks to buy the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands out of administration.

But the online retailer said it only wanted the brands, not their shops, suggesting any deal would cost jobs.


I think high street retail in administration needs protection from the online brands until they can reopen. Otherwise our high streets really will be wrecked by Covid.

Where’s the value to the taxpayer of that, they were businesses in terminal decline pre covid

[jakesmith]

hyphen said:

ASOS buys the Arcadia brands, but not the stores...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9209245/A...

Edited by hyphen on Monday 1st February 07:52

Surprised they saw that much value in the brands tbh, there’s so many newer entrants to the market that young people know about that didn’t exist 20 years ago when TopShop was at its prime in the Kate Moss days.

[jakesmith]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

jakesmith said:

Surprised they saw that much value in the brands tbh, there’s so many newer entrants to the market that young people know about that didn’t exist 20 years ago when TopShop was at its prime in the Kate Moss days.

Haven't ASOS been running the online presence for them already? I'd imagine the brands drive large online footfall and the numbers can be run fairly easily.

I didn't know that - interesting thanks & yes that makes it very easy for them to see the value in the online play.

[jakesmith]

survivalist said:

classicaholic said:

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

Plus how much will be outstanding and uncollectible?

If you kick out the the shops that have not paid then you will be liable for the rates, it might not be such great investment until you can replace Debenhams, their rates bill must alone be huge and will go straight to the landlord in a few months.

I thought you didn’t have to pay rates on empty properties? Or is the whole thing seen as a single property? If so it’s a massive liability in the current scenario.

I think there’s a grace period but only a few months

[jakesmith]

classicaholic said:

Prescriptions are a good example of what's coming, really why do you need a pharmacist? the doc can prescribe direct to Amazon and it gets delivered to your door same day or next day. That technology is already there so could be done now.

I agree with the sentiment but pharmacists probably relieve take some resource from the NHS as people go there for advice on stuff, they also sell toiletries & stuff that people don't necessarily buy on Amazon like a can of deodorant.

[jakesmith]

anonymoususer said:

pquinn said:

Saweep said:

I see JL are planning on closing another 20%of their shops.

This is going to run and run in retail.

I don't think JL management are particularly interested in doing retail any more, it's all stupid 'social' ideas now. And sadly this is destroying what was a great example of actual cooperative ideals in action.

After all, this is a company that voluntarily shut down its click and collect to 'encourage social distancing' - what kind of idiots do that? Cutting your own throat to show how virtuous you are.

They're fked, the whole world knows they're fked and knows why too, and it's mostly self inflicted.

Now now your risking the wrath of the OP with this
I kind of get where you are going as I do know people who have bought off them electrical stuff and were gushing about their customer service.

No he's right sadly they are not in good shape at all. I could share anecdotes about my ongoing dealings with them but anyone can see for themselves. I've never denied the challenges they faced, I just had more belief in what they are trying to do. It will be a real shame if they go. They truly aspire to do it better than the average retailer & provide a better service.

[jakesmith]

voyds9 said:

How do you get their tills to read their clubcard off a phone. I have to call an assistant every time.
The best one i saw waggled her apple watch over the scanner then it read my phone.
I still can't see why this would help

My wife uses a screen shot zoomed in of her Nectar card, which works well, maybe try that?