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!

I love WH Smith, it’s the last decent place on our high street. Everything else has gone and been replaced by nail bars, barbers, food places and flats. It has a nice feel to it and is nice to browse in. Don’t care if it’s a bit more expensive for some items.

I agree, weird off-putting name, like Sweaty Betty.

WHSmiths are the world’s oldest national retail chain.

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/01/02/wh-smith-boss-opens-mental-health-coming-retailers-225-year/

They are of huge historic importance because of this. Every chain store of every company is based on the template laid out by WHSmiths.

Reminds me, I must go there just to buy a couple of their carrier bags. They are a really good size and sturdy. The shop is always packed when I’ve been and long queues at the check out, so lots of people do go.

I do love the WH Smith shop/museum in Newtown, Powys - I haven't been over that way in years; would love to go back again sometime.

newtown.org.uk/discover-newtown/newtown-heritage-trail/wh-smiths

As much as they (and their infamous filthy carpets) seem anachronistic in many ways in the modern era, I'd be very sad to see WHS disappear. I didn't know they were the oldest retail chain.

Didn't the Edinburgh woolen mill buy peacocks or some of it?

Charity shops especially oxfam
very expensive now

All high street stores tbh.

Argos! I know they moved into sainsbos and merged with Habitat etc to save themselves but the customer service is dire and everything is always out of stock! Used to be the go to place in the early mid 2000s for toys for Christmas and cheap flatpack furniture for starting out in life the few times I've actually ordered big ticket items from them they've cancelled the order last minute due to delivery issues or they didn't even have the stock when they made the sale

I've thought that too with Fatface. Do they answer their phone with "Hello, Fatface"?!

Same with Nasty Gal; even Missguided, although they're obviously trying to make a 'hilarious' pun.

Why would you deliberately choose a name that apparently insults your customers? There are plenty of 'wacky' options they could choose that don't sound like name-calling!

Not the same thing, but I always remember a vintage episode of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, back when they had guest presenters: it was being hosted by Lorraine Kelly and she read something deliberately near the knuckle from the script, followed by a faux-apologetic "And if I've upset you by saying that, please do contact me to let me know by going to boohoohoo.com!" Not too many years after that, her then-obviously-fake web address (slightly shortened) became one of the biggest fashion websites in the country in real life!

I used to love WH Smiths when I was a child (I’m in my 40s now) I’d spend ages looking at all the stationery and the revision books. The shop doesn’t seemed to have changed its decor since the 90s and everything is overpriced.

I’m surprised Body Shop is still going, always empty of customers.

Fat Face is a skiing reference I think!

I sometimes shop in the one in my small town because we have a very limited selection of shops and if I need a book/stationery I pop in, especially for birthdays of DCs friends. It's the only shop in my town that sells books etc. If I'm more organised I usually buy something online.

Fat Face is a skiing reference I think!

Apparently it's based on a mountain or something called La Face. So they could just've called themselves 'The Face?'

Roullier White - the original I Saw You Coming hugely overprIced "artisanal" tat shop with a dollop of full priced Creuset.

I think Peacocks did go under but a buyer was found. We have one in our local coop and it’s handy.

I like Boots No 7 range but I think only people who have not yet discovered Home Bargains et al buy branded stuff there.

I think Waterstones has a loyal customer base.

M&S gets by via their foodhalls and I think they did diversify their business to incorporate concessions at least online anyway.

I wouldn’t be sad to see Next go and it used to be brilliant for work and gym wear plus pjs and underwear and some homewear.

There are particular Smiths notebooks I like. They are the 'artists sketchbooks' in A4 and sometimes also the little notebook-sized ones of those. I just use them for notes or whatever I fancy, and usually write in them with a Handwriting Pen (but really bad handwriting.) The paper is so thick and white. Just one of those little luxuries I personally find worth it.

I cannot believe someone here has said Zara!!? Where I live Zara sometimes has a queue outside and literally everyone under 40 is wearing something from Zara.

I know who is keeping WH SMITHS going… it’s my FIL.

He can exist with only three shops: WH Smith’s, Waitrose, and Millets

You can hear him coming a mile off with the rustle of bags for life and plastic clothing 🤣🤣🤣

I'm in a pretty small town and love our WH Smith but it's often the only place we can buy specific things without having to travel or go online. DH likes some of the specialist magazines now and again (not enough to subscribe) and I like the stationery and books - the supermarkets don't stock too many here but our WH Smith has a huge book selection. If I want a card for a special occasion I'm more likely to get a WH Smith one than one of the Card Factory ones that I know the recipient will have at least 3 other identical ones of.

Most of the other stores mentioned here we don't even have. We have Argos, Boots and Peacocks and I think that's about it from the ones I've seen. Even our Shoezone closed down.

Greggs. Their sandwiches and rolls are half filled and always stale. The doughnuts and cakes are revolting and taste of ... air? cotton? And I haven't trusted the bastards since they stopped cocktail pasties, dropped the fresh cream apple Danish and tried to rebrand as a fucking patisserie.

Superdrug. One 250ml Dove Deodorant is nearly £5.

You clearly have money to burn if you pay nearly a fiver for only one deodorant.

Monsoon
Pandora
And unless they sort out their quality and customer service, John Lewis .
Jones the Boot maker

And lest I dare shock:
Primark and TKMax.

I quite like WHS. I can always find a nice card in there, pens, notebooks, etc.

My shopping centre has lost:
House of Fraser
Lakeland
White Stuff
Hotter
Reiss

It is getting more and more dire.

Whittard’s

Shoe Zone and Next!

Just knew this would be about WH Smith! It's my favourite bemused "rant". We have TWO where I live (not including the one at the station) and I have no idea how they do it. I'm always amazed that they haven't changed in look or feel from the days I took my annual trip for the back to school stock up 30-40 years ago yet still are running. Their prices are ridiculous.

But I found these two articles and I'm astounded quite frankly

www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/wh-smith-returns-profit-planning-23796146?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

www.retail-insight-network.com/news/whsmith-fy22-results-uk/

Some of them have a [pst office inside.