Companies you can't see ever going under.

[PollyPepper]

Yesterday DH and I got a McDonald's. What an absolute treat.

And I started wondering if McDonald's will ever go bust.

It seems so unlikely, though of course it is possible as with any other business.

Mcdonalsa are in 120 countries around the world and serve 68 million customers each day!!

I honestly think it could be exposed that they use human meat and people would still go there.

I suppose Amazon as well?

All it takes though is a better and bigger competitor to take them down, but at this stage I just don't see it ever happening.

AIBU?

Nandos
McDonalds

@PollyPepper

I've never heard of Magazine Heaven, sounds really good!

I like Horse magazines, History and Cat ones, and those Bookazines about a particular subject. WH Smith is the only shop here that sells all of them in one place.

@zukiecat you'll love it! I love history magazines and they have a huge range.

JCB diggers?
They have a virtual monopoly in UK and substantial overseas sales and I can’t see property building slowing down in the future.

This thread would be interesting to look at in 20 years time.

@PollyPepper

I would love it, just googled it, I'm in Aberdeen though, nowhere near Northamptonshire!

I'd certainly go if one opened here, or even in Edinburgh, we visit fairly often, so when we can, and shops open again I'll be hoping there will be one here

Coop funeral directors

Asda(s)
Netflix
Argos
Microsoft
Just eat
Visa

Apple, Ford, Honda. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Rolex, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen/Audi, Hermes (fashion house)

Funeral directors must be one of the safest jobs to have :(
Apple and Microsoft, I doubt they are going anywhere.

Poundland
Home Bargains
B&M
TK Max?

Pollypepper is there more than one Magazine Heaven? I go to the one at Rushden Lakes for foreign magazines (and hot chocolate) but I thought it was a one off shop.

McDonalds
Coke
Nike
Ikea

Disney - agreed

And even though they have updated their decor, it's definitely not considered upmarket.

The thing about McDonalds is they have a very, very broad appeal, people from all walks of life & different backgrounds visit McDs.

Starbucks

The one near me closed as people prefer independents

I quite like WHSmith, sometimes I want a book or a magazine, or cards, wrapping paper, sellotape etc & crucially I want it now that's why WHSmith works for me.

I rediscovered WHSmith during lockdown, it was my favourite shop as a child and when we had to go shopping 'in town' (which I dreaded as it meant hours of traipsing around the likes of BHS) going to Smith's was the carrot on the stick, the last shop my mum would take us to so we could choose a book each. I felt the same childish glee going back in this past year.

I agree that Boots will never close and would like to add eBay to the mix if not already mentioned!

@vannyy

I quite like WHSmith, sometimes I want a book or a magazine, or cards, wrapping paper, sellotape etc & crucially I want it now that's why WHSmith works for me.

Surely you can get all of that from a supermarket like Tescos for a third of the price?

I don't have anything other than Tesco expresses near me & the big supermarkets that are close Sainsbury's, Waitrose don't have a great selection.

particularly for books, magazines & stationary. I needed a new stapler & staples over the weekend & WHSmith was the closest I could get one (5 mins walk).

@vannyy

particularly for books, magazines & stationary. I needed a new stapler & staples over the weekend & WHSmith was the closest I could get one (5 mins walk).

I suppose it all depends on your location but around here there are multiple places closer. I also couldn't justify the prices in WH Smiths even our local corner shop sells things like staplers and cards cheaper.

@vannyy

Starbucks

The one near me closed as people prefer independents

No one is saying one couldn't close. Just that the business couldn't.

Some of these businesses being mentioned are very vulnerable to a market disruptor. A lot of them are longstanding businesses that people could not imagine being usurped, but which dont move with the times and are not well loved.

McDonald's, IKEA are two examples for me that are too big and the management are too smart for them to fail any time soon. McDonald's in particular are always moving with the times. New uniform and decor to subtly change the perceptions. Good advertising. New ways of ordering and paying.

Nando's on the other hand for example (one mentioned above). Sell one item. Dont do it particularly well. Are enjoying a day in the sun but haven't really evolved since they joined the High Street. Expanded fast. I think they'll be down the pipe or severely weakened within the next 5 or 10 years. Food fashions change rapidly.

Just eat is another. They are massively successful at the moment but if another tech company appears that can do what they do in a sexier, faster and cheaper way, they would go down the tubes almost immediately In my opinion.

Costa

WHSmith the only thing I always buy from their is my diary. I just like the layout, and worried it won't be right if I order online

Recently I also brought their face masks from there. I like the designs and fit me well

If I'm passing in my town it's the nearest newsagent to the carpark and the costa. So might buy a paper or magazine to read whilst having a coffee

I don't think Starbucks has the market hold. My Starbucks closure is quite typical of others in London.

This is from 2019

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-7267571/amp/Starbucks-going-cold-Capital-UK-chain-closing-outlets-following-17-2m-losses.html

They have shifted towards the out of town drive thru model.

Costa is the growing chain I believe & owned by Coke.

It took there a website devoted to WHSmith carpets. All filthy and missing sections.

The shop always smells stale and looks dirty. It’s so expensive, I don’t know how they keep going.