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Original poster

Shops you are surprised are still going

782 replies

fajitaaaa · 03/01/2023 21:59

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!

OP posts:
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 03/01/2023 22:16

HMV have reopened shops because vinyl is cool again.

Mañanarama · 03/01/2023 22:17

Kissedbyfire1 · 03/01/2023 22:14

Boots. Incredibly expensive, tiny range, mostly overpriced tat. Almost everything they sell can be found cheaper elsewhere. Terrible service at the pharmacy which is understaffed. Shop staffed by people who wander aimlessly about, nobody at the tills.

Our Boots is huge, well stocked, spaciously laid out, and was absolutely heaving in the run up to Xmas.

mrsDracoMalfoy · 03/01/2023 22:17

H&M and Zara. The sizing is mental. Also Holister - I get a headache just walking past.

daisymade · 03/01/2023 22:17

Next! Sold out to consessions online and literally nothing in any quantity in their shops. “Here is a cute girls outfit in size newborn, 3-4 years or aged 11.” 😟

gogohmm · 03/01/2023 22:18

WH Smith is near my work. I use them a fair amount for bits and pieces. I like them

Noseylittlemoo · 03/01/2023 22:19

I am another one confused by WHSmith. When I was a child (1980s) they seemed to be the place to go for stationary , books - all the things you might need for school. Plus nice cards, games and obvs a big selection of newspapers and magazines. I recently went to the one in Euston Station as I needed to buy staples for work. They had literally zero stationary but many aisles of sweets/snacks/bottles of water. I can't understand who buys it as virtually every other outlet in Euston is a food outlet selling the same things that will be either nicer and or cheaper!
(And no where else had staples either!)

DatasCat · 03/01/2023 22:19

I don’t understand how Shoezone is still standing

Shoezone has a pretty decent online offering on a department-store style basis. I’ve bought some nice slippers and sandals from there. The bricks and mortar stores are a bit cheap and cheerful but they do vary.

Volkswagenitalia · 03/01/2023 22:20

Yes, I had heard that it's because of their monopoly on stations, airports and hospitals that WH Smith is still going.

ReindeerBelieve · 03/01/2023 22:20

WHSmith sprang to mind when I saw your title .

Aren't WHSmith connected to Waterstones?

Ylvamoon · 03/01/2023 22:21

Kissedbyfire1 · 03/01/2023 22:14

Boots. Incredibly expensive, tiny range, mostly overpriced tat. Almost everything they sell can be found cheaper elsewhere. Terrible service at the pharmacy which is understaffed. Shop staffed by people who wander aimlessly about, nobody at the tills.

Oh, I came here to say Boots. Ours is huge and full of overpriced crap like gift boxes of soap and cheaply made baby clothes.

They never seem to have the stuff I need like certain shades of makeup or hair products.

LetsDoThis2023 · 03/01/2023 22:21

lipstickwoman · 03/01/2023 22:13

Next.

Used to be so reliable and reasonable quality. Now it's overpriced tat.

Its sooo crap!

penguims · 03/01/2023 22:22

It has to be WHSmith. All my time I've only ever bought a newspaper,

Homebase - I don't know how it's still going with all these alternatives, when was the last time anyone went to a homebase 😂 don't make me look stupid.

Galarunner · 03/01/2023 22:22

I always wonder about body shop. I do like their perfumes though. My daughter is very strongly against animal testing ( rightly so) I can always find something in there which I know she will like and I don't have to research the ethics of The reason I wonder is because I am always the only customer in there in my twice yearly visits before her birthday and Christmas!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 03/01/2023 22:22

River Island/ the last 90s store still going imo. Clothes are market stall toot!

WicketWoo · 03/01/2023 22:23

I think WHSmiths own their property so costs are low compared to other stores with rent. Well they used to at least. Also, the train station stores will be massively profitable.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 03/01/2023 22:24

daisymade · 03/01/2023 22:17

Next! Sold out to consessions online and literally nothing in any quantity in their shops. “Here is a cute girls outfit in size newborn, 3-4 years or aged 11.” 😟

love Next for kids stuff/ never buy in store though as they never have the sizes

Heatherjayne1972 · 03/01/2023 22:24

Curry’s
customer service is beyond awful
the ‘helpline’ is atrocious
the delivery people / system is dire
never ever again

just who is buying from them?

Original poster
fajitaaaa · 03/01/2023 22:24

penguims · 03/01/2023 22:22

It has to be WHSmith. All my time I've only ever bought a newspaper,

Homebase - I don't know how it's still going with all these alternatives, when was the last time anyone went to a homebase 😂 don't make me look stupid.

I thought homebase had gone too!

OP posts:
gogohmm · 03/01/2023 22:24

@penguims

Homebase are in towns that don't have large numbers of diy stores like mine, we do also have screwfix but usually you have to wait until the next day for stock there. Consequently small town Homebase stores do well especially those without cars/dislike driving on the motorway.

B&q is 9 miles away, Homebase 600 yards!

BabyFour2023 · 03/01/2023 22:24

@pinkpotatoez select is still going?!? What?

ThePoshUns · 03/01/2023 22:24

pastypirate · 03/01/2023 22:01

Peacocks

I buy a lot of stuff for work from Peacocks, great value clothing

TheDogsMother · 03/01/2023 22:25

Another one for Smiths. It's always a mess in there and so unappealing. Also Edinburgh Woollen Mill. How on earth are they still going ?

Needmorelego · 03/01/2023 22:25

HMV is fantastic these days.
There's always a load of people rummaging through the vinyl.
They sell t-shirts, Pop Vinyl figures, Japanese stuff, badges, bags, books etc that teenagers absolutely love.
Any HMV I go in is always busy.
Peacocks is fine. Their clothes are reasonably priced and nice. I get loads from there
But yes.... WHSmith is a mystery. Well not really - their railway/airport stores, distribution side and having branches of the Post Office in many shops is what is keeping them going.
Same with Boots really - railway/airport branches and the fact the High Street ones have a pharmacy. Take away the pharmacy and no one would ever go in Boots 🤣

BabyFour2023 · 03/01/2023 22:25

gogohmm · 03/01/2023 22:24

@penguims

Homebase are in towns that don't have large numbers of diy stores like mine, we do also have screwfix but usually you have to wait until the next day for stock there. Consequently small town Homebase stores do well especially those without cars/dislike driving on the motorway.

B&q is 9 miles away, Homebase 600 yards!

We’ve got a few branches of Homebase in Sheffield.. obviously a large city with many options. The one on a retail park I often visit is always busy!

Original poster
fajitaaaa · 03/01/2023 22:26

daisymade · 03/01/2023 22:17

Next! Sold out to consessions online and literally nothing in any quantity in their shops. “Here is a cute girls outfit in size newborn, 3-4 years or aged 11.” 😟

Ha! That sums up my in store experience with Next- I like their kids clothes but it's impossible to buy sometimes!

OP posts: