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Original poster

To not give two hoots about the demise of BHS?

272 replies

LunaLoveg00d · 25/04/2016 09:16

(Disclaimer: obviously very sad for anyone employed there who is now facing losing their jobs).

Couldn't really care less if BHS ceases to exist. They're not a patch on Debenhams or John Lewis, and are beaten by places like M&S in the market for knickers and school uniform. Haven't bought anything in there for about three years - and even then it was in a Wallis concession rather than in BHS itself.

All this harping on about 88 years of tradition on the UK high street is ridiculous - it's a company which has failed to move with the times, has no defined core shopper and which sells tat.

OP posts:
madmomma · 26/04/2016 21:27

It's horrible for the staff but I'm not surprised the brand has sunk. Cheap tat priced as m&s. Apart from the lighting.

Floisme · 27/04/2016 07:40

Hypocrites eh?

Hypocrisy for me, is stashing your dividends in an offshore tax haven while advising the government on how to cut spending. Followed by offloading your business for £1 and leaving the tax payer to clean up the mess you've left behind.

Buy hey, each to their own.

Floisme · 27/04/2016 07:43

Oh apologies, Monaco isn't an offshore tax haven - you just don't pay tax if you live there, as Mrs Green happens to do.

dottypotter · 27/04/2016 11:46

I used to work there on Saturdays years ago.

MrsHathaway · 27/04/2016 16:26

On the Ten last night it was reported that the current CEO tried to pull out £1.5m last week until the accountants noticed and made him put it back.

If true, wanker.

Topseyt · 27/04/2016 17:09

MrsHathaway, yes, I have heard that. I think he tried to squirrel it away into some Scandinavian account called BHS Sweden (something like that).

That would be that Chappell guy. The more I hear of his dealings the shadier I think they seem.

I know the writing was on the wall for BHS for the last few years, but the more I have read about its recent management the more I feel that it really didn't have a chance. They milked it for all they could, bled it dry and then dumped it.

I do hope that any profitable parts of the business (lighting & homewares??) could be cherry picked by any possible buyers and a few jobs could be salvaged at least.

Topseyt · 27/04/2016 17:10

By the way, I don't think BHS had any representation in Sweden. That was an offshore account, I believe??

NicknameUsed · 27/04/2016 20:09

"I used to work there on Saturdays years ago."

So did I - in the lighting department.

MrsMook · 27/04/2016 20:35

As a retail business, it has been badly managed. The stores haven't been invested in, so look tatty and dated compared to other high street shops.

Compared to Marks and Spencer which is a similar market, they have modernised the stores looks and created ranges to keep older customers and keep with trends. Marks and Spencers is my go to place for basics like underwear, work trousers and jeans. BHS don't even go down to my size, so no, I'm not going to buy clothes there.

I wasn't impressed with their baby ranges and bought nothing there.

It's sad for the staff, it's sad to lose an old high street name. It's wrong that BHS has been left to get to this state while Philip Green gets rich off the back of it. «glares»

neveradullmoment99 · 27/04/2016 22:12

Was going downhill for a long time now.

Floisme · 27/04/2016 23:21

The stores haven't been invested in, so look tatty and dated compared to other high street shops.
This is what interests me. Philip Green is held up as some kind of retail guru and yet I cannot recall a single attempt to revive BHS on his watch: No overhaul or revamp, or 'modernisation', not even a desperate celebrity collaboration.

God knows, M&S may keep getting it wrong but at least no-one can say they're not trying to turn it round.

So what was going on?

NicknameUsed · 28/04/2016 07:22

I agree Floisme It seems like he deliberately ran it into the ground. That man is a crook.

Only1scoop · 28/04/2016 07:25

It used to be much better in the 80's like an upmarket Littlewoods.

The lighting has always been nice though.

Sad for employers and another old British favourite disappears.

BoboChic · 28/04/2016 08:26

I think it's possible that Philip Green believed the BHS business model was doomed (I concur with this point of view) and seized the opportunity to asset strip the business for his own benefit.

teacherwith2kids · 28/04/2016 08:29

I am selfish enough for my only thought about it to be 'must get some extra school trousers for DS before they close'. Their slim extra long school trousers are the only ones available in 34" inside leg with a waist that, although it is sold as 30", has the wonders of button elastic to pull up to his actual size, which is 27" after a large meal!

I realise that school trousers for extreme beanpoles is a very minor part of their business, but it is what I will miss....

teacherwith2kids · 28/04/2016 08:33

(might have to start another thread about where else to get school trousers. He'll want 28" waist (or 30" waist with adjustable elastic), 36" inside leg for next year, and even the BhS range doesn't supply that)

StillDrSethHazlittMD · 28/04/2016 08:38

Bobo Agree with you 100%. Retail guru, my arse. I'm looking forward to seeing him grilled by the Parliamentary committee. It won't change things but I want to see him squirm and face down some serious questioning so that his name is mud.

Floisme · 28/04/2016 08:41

It would be nice if he was forced to answer a few questions from BHS staff too.

Catmuffin · 28/04/2016 08:46

What about a school outfitters teacher? They sell things in different waist sizes and lengths.

BoboChic · 28/04/2016 08:51

How should doomed retail business models (of which we are going to see many more) be managed?

Obviously something needs to be done to protect pension provision from asset strippers, but aside from that?

Topseyt · 28/04/2016 08:56

I wish the press would stop referring to Philip Green as a retail guru.

He isn't. He is a bad tempered arse who is just out for what he can get. Has he really modernised any of the stores or brands he has taken on? All look much the same to me. He just milks money out and banks it elsewhere, like in Monaco.

I really hope MPs rip into him as he deserves.

teacherwith2kids · 28/04/2016 08:57

Catmuyffic, it was the school outfitters that drove us to BhS in the first place - the 'actual regulation trousers' for DS's school only come in a 34" inside leg for 32" waist and above, no elastic, and DS looked like a clown...

I am actually struggling to find anyone who does 36" (90-91 cm) inside leg school trousers except in very large waist sizes. M&S, BhS, Trutex etc all seem to plateau in leg length in their slimmer fit ranges at 86 cm (34") maximum, even though their waist sizes go up to 40 inches!!

(DS is not exceptionally tall - a couple of inches over 6 foot - but his legs are disproportionately long and seem to be the main engine of his growth. He has the general proportions of a stick of bamboo)

Floisme · 28/04/2016 09:01

I'm not particularly asking what can be done, I'm trying to work out what his game was.

He was in charge for 15 years. He's supposed to be an astute business man yet he doesn't seem to have made any attempt to change the business model and turn things round. Yet he still paid himself dividends.

Call me naive but I've always assumed it was more profitable to run a successful business than an unsuccessful one. It seems I was wrong.

HooseRice · 28/04/2016 09:05

Philip Green, for example, is a cunt.

Catmuffin · 28/04/2016 09:05

Oh dear. I hope you find something.

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