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'm not surprised sadly. Their initial UPS's were great. Quality products, good service, guarantees, unusual products. I feel now they are expensive, I no longer want a lot of the kitchen/house gadgets. I am in my 50s. I wonder if the younger generations, perhaps still living at home, have no need for those products.

My local Argos’s (in Sainsbury’s) are rammed and really great. I’ve had loads of different deliveries delivered there like eBay, so I don’t think they are going anywhere.

crew, another story. Always got a sale on and stocks of basics are sketchy. I wouldn’t buy gift cards for them

I wonder how those independent homework stores on some high streets are still around. Most of the stuff is more expensive then gling to ikea or supermarket or amazon. They always have a ton of inventory but can't see them ever selling out.

Waterstones is great. They often have good prices on bestsellers, I'd rather spend my money there than Amazon.

I get tired of people saying do these things yourself.

I can't even change a lightbulb due to a shoulder injury. Also by the time you've bought the tools say for a plumbing job, you may as well have given the work to a professional.

I too let Halfords change lightbulbs etc, saves getting my hands dirty. If we all did stuff ourselves, that's more people out of work.

The body shop it’s insanely expensive I must be missing something

The Entertainer. Closed on Sundays due to their religion and no Harry Potter/wizardry/magic items sold.
Mankind (I think that's the name) that gadget type shop that's always deserted!

I'm not sure about LUSH. They have quite a following and no one makes bath bombs like they do. However their prices are going up all the time with some bath bombs now around the £8 mark - quite a lot for one bath!

My car key stopped working so I had the battery replaced at Timpsons and I bought their unlimited battery replacement offer. I ended up going 3 times with no luck as the key kept dying. I then took the keys to the car dealer service and parts who were absolutely useless and tried to push me to buy a new key for £300.

I ended up trying a fourth Timpsons where a much older lady than previous staff tried various batteries and managed to get it working!

Long story short, I hope they don’t close!

I agree they do offer a cheap way to get things done on your car and open more than a garage is. I like that they will do free tyre pressure check and even inflated my tyres for me for free.

Didn't realise it was still going. Ours closed years ago.

It's only a matter of time for Argos and Debenhams.

Boots will last a little longer.

Debenhams has gone hasn't it?

New Look
Ryman

WHS (though they do have popular (captive audience) Railway and Airport shops)
Boots

My predictions

You are so right on the tools. My son, bless him, is desperate to keep my old car going. EVERY job needs new tools, consumables, replacement one-use parts. The costs without labour are crazy! He loves doing it so I let him, but it is not my skill set at all. Without him where would I get these jobs done! Halfords are not perfect, but most of their staff are lovely.

@AquaLeader Debenhams is gone already (the name is used online but the actual retailer went ages ago).
I buy quite a lot from Argos (inside Sainsbury's) and they always seem busy when I go to pick up. I always do click and collect so I have the guarantee of what I want is there when I go to get it.
If my nearest branch is out of stock it tells me the next nearest branch that has stock so if I want to choose that one I can or I can order it to collect at my nearest branch the next day (or sometimes a couple of days time).
Very efficient to me.
Plus with Argos you can do click and collect at a Sainsbury's even if they don't have an Argos store in-store.

Boots - never anyone in my 4 local ones. They cancel every flu jab app you make, shelves always empty and self service only tills have put everyone I know off.

Hobbycraft - lots of generic things cheaper elsewhere. Not specialised enough for crafters.

I like a proper book. Enjoy the browse so if I see a book I want I buy it there and then. Why would I wait for delivery?
We also have brilliant independent bookstore, who I support even though books are RRP. They also serve fair trade local roasted coffee, win win.
I also have audible and a kindle.
The one thing I hate is Tesco/Sainsburys express/local which charge about 20% more than the bigger stores. Even though they must have a better buying power!

Hasnt The Works been closing down for at least 20 years?

I do. The menswear stuff is good value.

New look.

Ours always has more staff than customers.....it's a shame as it used to be fab.

Select -
always dead where I am and it's overpriced tatt

Ann Summers - again it's dead, who even shops there anymore?

Claire's accessories - always has really cheap offers on

What an awful gloaty thread op. Woooohoooo! Let's see who goes bust next! 🤣 Let's laugh at their stock. All those people losing their jobs. But hey ho. Such an entertaining speculative thread.

You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. Not with the question so much as the high street is definitely suffering. But the laughing emoji s and your whole tone is just fucking wrong. Let's hope you and yours don't get made redundant this year hey?

Dorothy Perkins went from the high street years ago...as did Debenhams. I'm surprised people haven't noticed!

I hope Argos doesn't go. I really don't want to have to use Amazon intead, I like being able to buy actual brands, and be confident that they're not fakes, rather than pages of Temu-level Chinese tat.