Retail seems to have dropped off a cliff?

[Neverendingdust]

Went into Manchester City centre yesterday and couldn’t believe how quiet it was even for a Monday especially as it was a lovely sunny day, the shopping centre and Selfridges were rather lacking in customers which given the current economic climate isn’t a shock I know but still…

I have a few friends in retail and they’re all saying how quiet it is in the city.

Obviously the rising cost of living issue is having a widespread impact but I’m wondering if those on here who work in retail (not just supermarkets but fashion, home, entertainment etc) have seen a massive decline the last month or so too around the country? Has everyone simply stopped spending?

I should also say whenever I've had issues with items bought online the customer service has been excellent (Tescos, Bravissimo, ASOS all amazing recently). I bought a load of clothes in store in Sainsburys recently - one item was faulty so I took it back for a refund and was refused and told it wasn't faulty (I'd caused a small hole in the fabric myself apparently). Awful, humiliating experience and it's put me off buying from Sainsburys and shopping in store

There are almost no shops open in our city centre (several retail shops have closed and are now cafes). I don't know what people buy when they come in for shopping and lunch!

I live in a fairly popular town for tourists; it was mayhem here yesterday - although they are mostly out and about; rather than in shops. The parks and outdoor seating at restaurants were crazily busy; the high street itself had a good amount of people but the shops weren't bustling.

That said, I think a lot of people are back at work, and when they finished, wanted to be in the sun rather than in the shops.

I live in a tourist area - it’s been super busy in half term, but quieter now. We’re in that lull between school holidays I think.

I’ve been in town today and it was as dead as a dead thing but we’ve got a huge music festival this weekend so everyone tends to avoid town like the plague, the weather is glorious and that usually means everyone has buggered off to the beach plus there’s fuck all in our town if you did want to go shopping.

At work, there is a noticeable drop in enquiries, but those that do enquire are serious buyers and so although there’s fewer enquiries, sales hasn’t really dropped if that makes sense.

The shops we do have seem to be half empty of stock - I’m going on holiday in a few weeks and wanted some bits so popped into town and came home empty handed. Ordered everything online

I was in London for a couple of days a few weeks ago and Oxford Street was incredibly quiet, compared to pre-Covid. The pavements were very civilised and the few stores that I went into were really quiet, John Lewis looked dead. Theatre and restaurants were still busy though so maybe retail is suffering particularly as people prioritise experiences and meeting up with friends and family over buying more stuff.

Even when it seems busy people aren't necessarily going into the shops. People decide what they're going for and walk in and get it then walk out again. Not much browsing going on.

Councils need to sort out parking prices because they are ridiculous and put people off going into town.

Lots of shops, including Debenhams, have gone under and there's no John Lewis in Manchester city centre. Add to that increased numbers of people working from home at least part of the time and the fact you can get the tram to or park for free at the Trafford Centre it's ever likely Manchester is less busy. It doesn't really have independent, boutique style shops either other than in the Northern Quarter, which is alternative rather than mainstream.

We've basically lost ALL our village "shops" since Covid. That was a Spar convenience store, a post office, a butchers, and a pie/sandwich shop, a takeaway, a restaurant and the village pub. All empty. All were plodding along nicely pre covid, lots of people milling around especially around lunch time and school start/finish times. It's no a small village, in fact it's the largest in the county with approx 8,000 inhabitants!

Our village centre/main street is grim now. One went then all the others have followed, with something closing down every month or so, now there's nothing left.

Everyone has to traipse 5 miles to the nearest town.

I was in Leeds two Saturdays ago and was very busy. Restaurants were all full and we struggled to find somewhere to have lunch. The Lego shop was heaving with a queue of at least 8 or 9 people waiting to pay. John Lewis was quite busy as well.

I now prefer shopping somewhere like Leeds city centre as opposed to "out of town"retail areas/ centres because it seems like all the good shops have closed down in those places and been replaced with endless pound type stores/Primark/ bargain places, or just empty shops. Pre covid, I would have shopped in an out of town type place for the easy parking.

Doesn't help that a lot of shops have very little stock, so pointless to go "browsing" empty shelves!

My shopping habits have changed dramatically.

WFH is permanent.
I don't wear makeup anymore.
No need to buy new suits.

Yes, this. I went round town at the weekend to buy jeans and/or a top. No Gap any more, nor Dorothy Perkins, nor Debenhams. Yes there were some new shops, but from the rails I think they were mostly catering to teens not 50-somethings. No cut-off tops please, no one needs to see my belly!

I was in Bluewater and Lakeside recently, and at least a third of the shops are boarded up. They have cunningly disguised this with advertising and artwork and signs saying "Come to our new better store around the corner!". It might work with a few voids, but it is a bit unsettling at this level. Lakeside in particular is now dead at the Debenhams end.

I really need to try stuff on so it I'm just not spending much on clothes these days.

Saw this and thought it may be if interest. Behaviour has been changing since March.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/16/asos-warns-on-profits-amid-significant-increase-in-customer-returns?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Manchester is horrible at the moment. Even Kendal's is depressing - no customers and the escalator halls look like they were decorated last when I was working there in 1978.

I was never big into shopping but I don't think i've been in a clothes shop or department store type shop since just before Xmas, and that was with friends who were doing Xmas shopping. I've bought 2 new dresses for work since going back in the office last year and other than running trainers I don't think I've bought any clothes for quite a while.

I can't remember the last time that I went into Bristol city centre to do some shopping. There's no M&S, no Debenhams and John Lewis moved to Cribbs Causeway 20 years + ago.

I WFH so no longer do lunchtime shopping

I mainly buy from Vinted & have good charity shops near me so can’t see myself buying new these days unless there’s something specific I need but can’t find second hand

I can;t find anything to buy. I'm desperate for clothes, nothing fits and all the Debenhams/Manterray/Dorothy Perskins tops and trousers I bought 8 years ago are starting to come in holes. But the places I used to shop have all gone. I'm pretty much limited to Sainsburys now which is difficult as their changing rooms are still not open.

Our high street M&S has been bought for 3 million in Llandudno by some sort of consortium. There's still a shortage of parking. The council want 20 million off the Welsh government to help them develop the site 🙈

oh and this, why on earth are changing rooms still not open?!? I think the ones in our Sainsburys are but I was in a Tesco recently and they were closed. It's ridiculous.

I hate clothes shopping, especially online. I know you can order stuff and send it back but it's such a faff. I used to go to Edinburgh or Glasgow once a year or so for two or three things, try stuff on, make sure it fit, looked OK, have a coffee, lunch, buy a couple of books and go home.

Now, stock in the shops is woeful, both range and quality. The only things I've bought in three years are two packs of supermarket pants and three supermarket t-shirts.

A lot of peopld have switched to online. I went to a big M&S the other day. Wish I hadn't bothered. Trudge trudge trudge round acres of clothes .Waste of time.

Went to our largest town to M&S to buy a swimming costume, they don't bloody sell them apparently
It's a large store on the coast
Had to order online
They council locally have in their wisdom decided that 2 hours parking is enough for anyone (it's not) and have whacked up the price too. It's out of most people's budget
Wankers