Shops you are surprised are still going

[fajitaaaa]

WHSMITHS - who is buying from them? Anything other than a emergency magazine for the train and maybe a bottle of water? But some of their stores are HUGE!

FAT FACE - always a massive sale on!

"Argos, there’s never anything in stock and you can’t see anything before you buy it."

I bought my laptop there and they opened the box for me to see first.

I was going to get Body Butters as token gifts for my staff this year and couldn't believe the price. Surely it didn't used to be £18?

Next stores are where hope goes to die.
However I think they do have a good online business.

Think WHSmith a tragedy. What do they sell?
Apparently they make a huge profit in the airport shops and that is carrying the brand.

Went to a large WH SMITH in a big shopping centre today- it was very busy!
I did buy a couple of things - something specific that I wanted. Bit yes, it’s very over priced in there. Can only assume people buy as they can’t be bothered to walk to a different shop. The back of the shop lots of shelves were almost bare. I mean I know it’s an awkward time of year but still- there must be something to fill them with!

Jysk

WH Smith is the only bookshop left in our large shopping centre. It would be awful if that closed.

Same!
Don't they have the "Buy One, Get Another for 1p" thing a lot?

In my town we have WHSmiths but we don't have Waterstones paperchase or Ryman. Might explain why some still exist.

Some of them seem to have a post office in them

There was a long queue in the whsmith in my town the other day. I didnt buy anything. They have also decided it is a good move to put all the magazines right at the back of the store. Went to see what was on offer , but not much was.

I like fatface but only buy sale items from the shop and second hand stuff from ebay.

I do wonder how the town manages to have two perfume shops which only look busy at Christmas.

Also every time I walk past there is hardly ever anyone in Jack Wills other than staff.

Kodak shops or other photo shops. Who goes in these?

People who want to print photos! Snappy Snaps did a roaring trade pre Christmas as they do print and collect in store within a couple of hours for all sorts of photo gifts. Whereas a lot of the online offerings use Royal Mail so were pretty fucked.

I agree, but there’s an Upper Crust in my local shopping centre that’s always heaving. As is Greggs. Next to them is an Itsu and a Five Guys that are always empty. Cheap places are more popular, minging or not.

Come to think of it, I know they’re still fairly new but how does Five Guys keep going with their prices?

We have started to get photos printed again.

I worry about the brands that are constantly on Brand Alley. Boden, Hobbs, LK Bennett, Crew Clothing. Plenty of others.

Boots - stopped shopping in there when they rearranged the stick into brands - I want to look at all the shampoos together and then decide! Hideous!

WHSmiths - used to be a great store - now sells books under the guise of ‘Top 100’ no good when I’m looking for an author!

Used to like H Samual - never go in now.

EhLov · Today 23:09
TortolaParadise · Today 23:03
A little out the box but:
Tui
Hays & Jarvis
Thomas Cook

I was thinking this too. Why do people actually physically go to a travel agent?

Plenty of older people still do not use the internet much and prefer to go into a shop to buy their holiday.

Maybe, but I am sure I drive past Thomas Cook in Barkingside everyday!!! I will be more observant tomorrow.👀

Nowhere has a teen range. Reasonably priced Teen clothes are really hard to find. JD sports maybe. Hollister- both too expensive. Zara has some tracksuits. That’s it.
My 13 year old is too big for kids sizes (and they are too babish) but too small for everything except XXS in primark which are far and few between.
Shein has loads. But you really need to see it and try it on to see what it’s like and going shopping and buying something there and then is so much more fun.

House of Fraser
victoria secret

Having spent far too much time in different hospitals with ill relatives this year, I suspect the hospital contracts that WH Smiths have in place in Scotland are very nice little earners. Always lots of patients and visitors popping in.

Claires - it's all tat

Not sure if they still do, but years ago when i worked there, they distributed hard core porn mags....i found a split box once in the lift and was shocked....!!!

Agree with this!
Also really hard to find stuff and, in the Harrogate store, all checkout staff have been replaced by self-serve tills. I do wonder when next we will be asked to stock the shelves as well as checkout our own stuff.
Shite.

The only sports shop in my town so if you find your child has lost a football sock or you need new shin pads why would you go on a long drive down country roads to buy them elsewhere. It's always busy when I go in, GS has form for losing football socks and shin pads.

I love Argos. I can order and pay online and then go and pick it up when I do the school run, it's really handy.

Also Waterstones... it just smells so booky! You don't get that from Amazon! And loads of them are in gorgeous buildings and have nice cafes inside... Perfect!

@Cuppasoupmonster no you just have to go to one of those shops. You don't need to go from shop to shop. They all sell branded stuff.