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Post by The Brookmeister on Jan 5, 2020 20:01:21 GMT
Much has been written and commented on about the demise of shops in major towns and cities with big chains closing every week.
What is being done about it? NOTHING.
Councils don't have the power to reduce business rates so struggling shops have to wait until Boris and his merry band of morons decide to reduce it.
Often called GREEDY landlords and partly blamed for the demise of stores in the towns and cities, many of these so called landlords are pension funds and huge multinationals who don't give a shit who is in the property because if they go bust someone else will fill it.
Many people moan and take to twitter and facebook but the only body who can change it is the government, no one else can, we could boycott amazon (who have just invested billions into same day delivery) but that's not going to happen and even if it did they would shed thousands of UK jobs and Boris wouldn't then have his SPECIAL (my arse) relationship with Trump any more.
In less than 10 years there won't be a high street any more, it will be charity shops, coffee shops, foreign barbers, takeaways and taxi ranks.
Oh and specialist hifi shops that can adapt to survive.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 5, 2020 20:27:29 GMT
I still buy books at Waterstones. But for many things (especially parts and ironmongery), I have to use eBay because no shop sells those things.
Our local Homebase has become a complete joke. When Bunnings took them over, I rejoiced in a good old fashioned ironmongery that sold every type of tool and fixing you could imagine. Aisles of goodness! Then Bunnings failed and they went back to being a Homebase. They have now systematically removed every last thing that was good about Bunnings and replaced it with shite. The entire store is now worthless and I couldn't care less if they go down the pan.
HMV are still hanging in there.
Good luck with the surviving!
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Post by The Brookmeister on Jan 5, 2020 20:55:24 GMT
I still buy books at Waterstones. But for many things (especially parts and ironmongery), I have to use eBay because no shop sells those things. Our local Homebase has become a complete joke. When Bunnings took them over, I rejoiced in a good old fashioned ironmongery that sold every type of tool and fixing you could imagine. Aisles of goodness! Then Bunnings failed and they went back to being a Homebase. They have now systematically removed every last thing that was good about Bunnings and replaced it with shite. The entire store is now worthless and I couldn't care less if they go down the pan. HMV are still hanging in there. Good luck with the surviving! I am moving soon to a bigger/better place, cant cope with the orders! |
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 5, 2020 21:22:45 GMT
My take on the councils' part in this is that they helped create the situation by granting planning permission to soulless out of town retail developments.
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Post by Mr Whippy on Jan 6, 2020 0:15:22 GMT
I still buy books at Waterstones. But for many things (especially parts and ironmongery), I have to use eBay because no shop sells those things. Our local Homebase has become a complete joke. When Bunnings took them over, I rejoiced in a good old fashioned ironmongery that sold every type of tool and fixing you could imagine. Aisles of goodness! Then Bunnings failed and they went back to being a Homebase. They have now systematically removed every last thing that was good about Bunnings and replaced it with shite. The entire store is now worthless and I couldn't care less if they go down the pan. HMV are still hanging in there. Good luck with the surviving! 10 or so are set to close. Rates again, blamed. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jan 6, 2020 10:38:25 GMT
The world has changed from shops to shopping online.
More in the UK than most other countries as we buy so much online
Rent and rates are a small part of it and reductions only likely to postpone closure of most places.
As in most areas the world at large is neutral. Live or die.
Many online businesses have started and flourished - some failed too
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Post by MartinT on Jan 6, 2020 10:59:15 GMT
Some shops bring it on themselves:
Homebase - look more like British Home Stores now. What happened to them?!
HMV - were selling too much 'white goods' and have now gone back to their core films and music. Problem is, their market is shrinking.
W H Smiths - tired, poorly stocked stores that are no longer even the last word in publications.
Marks & Spencer - if you saw the Basingstoke branch, you would raze it to the ground and start again. No wonder they're in trouble!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2020 11:18:16 GMT
I'd agree with that point, Martin. A lot of the shops and businesses in general just haven't kept up with the times.
Look at Blockbuster, they had an option early on to buy Netflix and turned it down because they didn't think that movie streaming would take off, and whilst not a High Street shop, the AA who had an opportunity to buy Google in the early days.
I do agree with Dave about the landlord costs though, we have 2 shopping centres here and one is more or less empty due to businesses not being able to afford the rates. But then again the same could be said of home buying in this day and age to be fair!
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 6, 2020 13:46:14 GMT
Some shops bring it on themselves: Homebase - look more like British Home Stores now. What happened to them?! HMV - were selling too much 'white goods' and have now gone back to their core films and music. Problem is, their market is shrinking. W H Smiths - tired, poorly stocked stores that are no longer even the last word in publications. Marks & Spencer - if you saw the Basingstoke branch, you would raze it to the ground and start again. No wonder they're in trouble! Our local Homebase is fine for what it is. HMV cannot survive selling 'physical music' - it's time is over. Smiths - dire beyond belief in every way, should be put down immediately. M&S - A very mixed bag. I would actually be a bit sad to see it go. Our local food stores are very good and you can pick up orders of other M&S stuff from them. Obviously their fashion has been very hit and miss - just a case of hiring the right designers and putting stuff out at a price point people like. Problem is if they go too trendy they lose older customers whilst they get criticised for not being fashionable enough!! Tough conundrum to crack. |
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Post by Slinger on Jan 6, 2020 13:46:23 GMT
In the end, it often comes down to the choice of traipsing off to the shops, traipsing around the shops, then traipsing back home again, or sitting at home and having stuff delivered for the same price (as in my weekly Sainsbury's grocery shop) or much cheaper, via Amazon, or eBay and the like.
All of my Christmas shopping, from food to pressies, was done online this year. As a non-driver, with knees that dictate I'm pretty much a non-walker also these days, I'd have been well and truly buggered without online shopping.
My local chemists/pharmacy delivers my prescriptions every month and I'm glad that they do. I could go to one of the large online services that offer that, but I'm pleased to be able to stay "local" in that case. They got a rather nice box of biscuits from me, as a thank-you, at Christmas. Of course, I sent it via Amazon...
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 6, 2020 13:58:23 GMT
One of the few stores that I have any allegiance to is John Lewis.
The service we get is invariably excellent and I like the comprehensive ranges they have.
Bought new oven from them recently, also sofa for my mum - both went without a hitch ...
Even they have been struggling at times though!
Difficult to know what they can do better.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 6, 2020 15:40:35 GMT
Yes, John Lewis stand out as a pinnacle of retail done right.
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Post by John on Jan 6, 2020 17:24:33 GMT
I always worry about John Lewis long term future. A good experience to shop in for sure.
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Post by canetoad on Jan 7, 2020 3:06:35 GMT
I'd agree with that point, Martin. A lot of the shops and businesses in general just haven't kept up with the times. Look at Blockbuster, they had an option early on to buy Netflix and turned it down because they didn't think that movie streaming would take off, and whilst not a High Street shop, the AA who had an opportunity to buy Google in the early days. I do agree with Dave about the landlord costs though, we have 2 shopping centres here and one is more or less empty due to businesses not being able to afford the rates. But then again the same could be said of home buying in this day and age to be fair! If they had bought them they could still have buggered them with poor management and effectively ruined the brand. |
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Post by SteveC on Jan 9, 2020 0:38:06 GMT
Local councils have to accept their share of the blame too!
For many years, they have treated motorists as a cash cow, with no free on street parking, over-keen wardens, ready to affix penalty notices and now they are considering clean air charges for diesel vehicles entering cities.
If this ever happens, I won't be driving into Southampton anymore to shop at John Lewis or any other city centre retailer. I'll simply order online and the retailers can wither and die!
At present, we have up to 2 hours free on-street parking, where I live in Alresford. Partly as a result, we have thriving, vibrant town centre businesses that are supported by local residents and visitors.
One of the things being considered by the Lib Dem-run Winchester City Council, is an end to free on street parking, and charging for parking on a Sunday and after 6pm in Winchester City centre.
That is sure to have an impact on the retail sector!
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Post by MartinT on Jan 9, 2020 8:22:05 GMT
Winchester has Park-and-Ride but the bus service is not great, their charges are high and (the last time I was there) they could not accept any electronic payment. Councils need a lot more joined-up thinking than continually hitting motorists without offering incentives to use the alternative. Winchester's alternative is crap and they need to work on it. I don't like going there because of it. Shops suffer as a consequence.
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 9, 2020 9:15:08 GMT
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Post by The Brookmeister on Jan 10, 2020 17:35:20 GMT
81,000 employees is far too many thats part of the problem |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 10, 2020 21:00:09 GMT
My mate works for John Lewis. He currently commutes from Luton to Victoria. There's a danger that most of their IT support will move to Bracknell to save the cost of their large London HQ. Could you imagine commuting from Luton to Bracknell every day?
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 10, 2020 21:54:40 GMT
At least JL seem to give a shit about their employees, a rare commodity nowadays ...
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