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…

Is Laura Ashley still going? I used to love their stuff, but they seemed to get pricer and pricier without the quality or range, years since I last went in but it was so beige I walked out again.
I think most department stores will struggle (at least the high street). There are a number of problems for the high street shops; generally the running costs of the building are often higher than out of town retail parks; parking charges are really quite steep now, but often free at huge retail parks; retail parks often have discounted lines, and more choice.
Business rates can be very high in the town centre compared to retail parks, and online (some online 'stores' won't pay business rates at all). More staff in shops than needed online.
I thinks it's sad to see the decline of the high street especially as in some areas the high street offers a social aspect as well.

Debenhams went into administration in 2020.

Does click+collect keep stores open though? There may as well be a hole in the wall rather than all that lighting and heating required for a shiny store.
They're almost there really with the bin things at the door!

No, it went years ago. I got some amazing bargains for under £15!

Agree, given up on LKB, no stores left on the high street and you have to pay for returns. Have made a mental note to self not to shop at LKB again as always get caught out by delivery cost and return costs.

I agree with this. I go there every so often as their own brand incontinence pads are the best. But there are always so many shelves empty.

I don't just do Click and Collect! There's always a huge queue when I go in and it takes a while to get served so ours aren't doing badly at all and one thing they never are is understaffed. I've never personally seen any bins.

Waterstones own other booksellers like Foyles and Blackwells, now, too (I'd forgotten about Blackwells until I saw Jellycats with Waterstones stickers on in the Newcastle branch).

Asda is in the news as a supermarket that's struggling. Our local one was cheaper than our local Tesco's a few years ago, now it is a little bit more expensive, has a much smaller range, and its reduced shelf is hardly discounted making it less fun to look for a bargain.

I went into WH Smith's at Christmas and a roll of wrapping paper was £7! No thanks.

I still use argos quite regularly. I find with Amazon it's difficult to find stuff amongst the dross these days and I'm not always sure exactly what I'm buying or where it's coming from,

@MrsPeregrine
It was the covid pandemic that finished off Debenhams, TopShop, Topman, D Perkins, Burtons, Evans, Wallis and Miss Selfridge. Very sad for the staff and suppliers. No tears for Sir Philip Green however.

Stuart Rose is at the helm of ASDA now. There will be changes. It's a big challenge.

Think it depends on the shop. Whenever I click and collect at Waterstones I always end up buying other items unrelated to the online reservation. Stores like that really benefit from the footfall click and collect brings.

But Argos/b&q/homebase etc, I’ll only buy the items I’ve ordered online- but then again my Argos purchases are usually higher value- sometimes consisting of expensive furniture or electronics, and Argos stores don’t have as high overheads since they are essentially a warehouse with tills out front.

Primark moved into our town the first in N Wales. That's increased footfall a lot.

We know someone working with Temu opening warehouses in the UK. It's interesting to wonder if they'll eventually give Amazon a bloody nose.

Why would you go to Ann Summers when you can buy much better toys from Lovehoney and Satisfyer, without having to walk past plastic manniquins wearing the most cringeworthy male gaze outfits?

@Spaghettisour I think you are close to correct. None have a unique offering and personally I think Morrisons own brand food is incredibly crap -

Asda and/or Morrisons. The latter is almost always filthy, has leaky freezers/fridges, stock issues and rude staff. I try and avoid where possible.

Asda has definitely gone downhill recently including stock issues and badly maintained stores.

Also Monsoon and Accessorize.

I used to buy from Argos quite regularly but they closed the nearest branch. I continued to order from their website but got fed up with so little actually available for delivery.

Zara has recently closed down

Blimey! I never thought they'd go down.

Waterstones (books cheaper in supermarkets and online)

Bookshops are thriving. You can't compare shopping for books in a bookshop with buying from the limited selection of latest bigsellers available from a supermarket.

The convenience will attract people who are either not home for deliveries from the online store or simply don't trust Evri any more so that probably helps to make physical stores viable.

We have 2 stores in Durham city and even the tiny one in town, which has stayed long after most chainstores have gone, seems to be ticking over. It's no busier or quieter than it was 15 years ago, before the big one opened at the retail park. I think it will go soon, though, as most of that shopping arcade is set to be demolished and turned into yet another hotel and leisure "destination". Probably similar to the one where the old passport office was that never got finished.

mydeepzebra I didn't realise they had gone, it's a shame, but I'm not surprised I think the designers slightly lost their way.
I love our Waterstones, it has an independent coffee shop, who brew the best coffee. I also find the staff incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, they've managed to hunt down some brilliant books for me when I've said something along the lines of 'I can't remember the title, the author or the publisher but the story line is .....' or my other line is 'I'm looking for a really exciting, page turning read, but no first person, any recommendations?' And 9/10 they've recommended a perfect read.
So whilst a supermarket or online might be cheaper, I value the knowledgeable and very helpful staff.

I'm surprised too. Anyone recall the polka dot dress a few years ago that caused such a lot of excitement in the fashion press and media?

I really hope not. One of the few places I can find clothes.