What retailer do you think will go bust next?

[good96]

My money is on Poundstretcher. Went into my local one today. Shelves empty, looking old and dirty and prices aren’t really cheap for a discount retailer…

I've had bad experiences with a few retailers as many of us have had but I've never wanted the company to go bust .bad service just means I don't go back.

As a chain, they're still profitable, on both the High Street division and the travel division (airports and rail stations). Why wouldn't they still be in business if they're making a profit??

Long term, I see JL folding. Until recently often knowingly undersold and customer service is abominable.

I love a John Lewis. I rarely shop in person now, but I make an exception for JL. We’ve made biggish purchases from them (furniture, white goods, vacuum cleaners) and have never had anything but excellent service. Plus, we can take our dog who also loves it.

Dogs are why I avoid John Lewis

I don’t know whether it’s a general thing, but in this area, Next are placed in out of town sites, where the rents are way cheaper than town centre options.

I used to love White Stuff, when they were a bit quirky and unusual. They’re just a bit weird now.

I read something that said WH Smith has made a fortune out of it's prime locations and other clever business decisions. Apparently it will be the cockraoch of retail. (I.e. last one standing).

I know!! Dreadful.

@Nsky62 I would prefer to see Asda improve!

Agreed, I ordered earrings for a friend's birthday present and when the packet arrived realised that was the price for only one and almost needed a magnifying glass to see it so promptly returned.

I agree.

Their product is awful these days. I remember them in the mid-2000s having lots of lovely styles, nice fabrics, definite colours and nicely coordinated. Nowadays everything is dowdy, brown and grey looking.

And it looks like a jumble sale in there.

WHSsmith deserves to go bust, but always seem to refinance somehow
Private Eye once suggested heavily they might be a method for turning 'dodgy' money into 80% clean money for their owners

Boots is another that has gone so far downhill that they have to look up to see the gutters

That's true of most rural areas though. Whichever local store has the monopoly, they will charge higher prices. T'was ever thus.

Back in the real world the majority of people don’t boycott places.
Nobody is going to Argos to get something you can get cheaper and more conveniently from Amazon.
And more fool you if you are.

Noooo.

Yes, Next closed some of their town centre stores, the one in Northampton closed.

?

They went bust in 2020/2021

I've long thought Argos was on the edge, the stuff isn't that good, when I browse on the site they often don't deliver a particular item to my area ( I have never understood why, maybe someone on here can explain) and the stuff isn't especially inspiring or well priced. I also think Currys might go under, bought a couple of things from them and their customer service is poor. Wouldn't buy from them again.

Loads of people won't shop with Amazon because they avoid tax.

My local one and the next nearest are nearly always busy. The big one in the city is also always busy.

Wh smith are newspaper/magezine suppliers to other shops too.

They went bust in 2020, last store closed 2021, Boohoo own the trading name debenhams.com, are in the process of closing that down

One city centre pharmacy has a doctors surgery actually in the building.

This is what happens when you fall into the discounting trap - you get a sales boost when you do a 20% / 40% off, but then struggle to achieve those sales at full price. End up doing more and more offers to achieve your LFL sales. Eventually no one will pay full price as they know an offer will be on soon.

it's so sad to see shops that were huge in the eighties now barely there. In the eighties the body shops were rammed and everyone went there to buy their gift baskets at xmas. They had ready made ones or you could make up your own. They were way cool back then.

I'm sad the youngsters don't get to enjoy a busy, atmospheric shopping centre at the weekend now. It was literally our social life browsing the records and posters, looking at books, clothes, makeup. The shop's are so dead now it's not enjoyable to go there at all. In fact I find going shopping depressing.