To not give two hoots about the demise of BHS?

[LunaLoveg00d]

(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.

I agree Andrew. I think rather than trying to flog the dead horse of the High Street councils would do well to concentrate shops in a smaller area and allow widescale conversion to housing stock. We need houses, we don't need empty shops.

I can't remember the last time I was in BHS - it was a long time ago. I think it says a lot about the high street though.

The local BHS to us always smelled weird. And this was a big store at a big retail park. The M&S onsite is one of their flagship stores, but it always felt like BHS couldn't be bothered.

They've only got themselves to blame.

It's a budget shopping experience at a luxury price tag. Some of the kids' stuff that I've bought in the sales is quite nice, but I'd never dream of paying their full prices for it. The shops are dingy and tatty- and their Christmas "tat" range is a national joke.

I do actually still miss Woolies though. Their loss is still keenly felt all over surburbia. It was the only shop in our little square where you could ever buy anything useful.

I spent my childhood in there in the 90s, my mum loved it! I remember it being so busy and bustling. She was in her 40s so guess it appealed to younger people back then, and there were always kids around. But there wasn't the choice of shops there is now and I think people dress more trendier these days, they don't get to their 40s and resign themselves to being frumpy.

I can't even remember the last time I went in, so I won't miss it. Unlike Woolworths; I still occasionally find myself thinking ' I know where will have that [obscure item] I need –Woolies!'

Also, is it really realistic them having a big store on Oxford Street in central London? It must cost a fortune to rent there.

Awful for those losing their jobs though, obviously.

Their petite stuff was useful when few other places did it. And yes, lighting.

I loved your post andrewofogg, and may quote it in future!

There's a huge BHS store bang in the middle of Edinburgh's iconic Princes Street. It's opposite the Scott Monument. It hasn't had a refit in my lifetime, and I remember the days when it had a food hall.

As much as I feel for the employees, it's continual existence was a mystery of Sherlockian proportions. On a street with Marks and Spencer, Next and Primark, why would anybody put a toe over the threshold? Answer, they didn't. Since about 1988.

Fascinated to see who takes over that unit.

Philip green should get some hate on this in a fair world.

He bought it for 200 mill in 2000, then borrowed a billion using arcadia, then a few years later took out 1.3 billion in dividends.

God! Not even my mum used to shop in there when she was alive, and she would've been in her 70's now! She used to always give it a wide berth and go to John Lewis and M&S. We weren't rich or snobby by any means, but she always believed in getting quality stuff that lasted, not something BHS ever provided.

Our local BHS shut a few months ago. Even the massive 70% off banners didn't entice me to go inside.

Woolworths has been effectively replaced by Wilkos ...

If only it had concentrated on what it was good at where it had a niche in the market- homewares and lighting.

As it is, where do you buy lighting from now? I need a shop where I can see the lights before I buy. The only places that did that were Allders and BHS.

Wilkos isn't a patch on Woolies :(

I did shop at Woollies and still miss it!

There isn't a BHS near us, so I have no idea what it's like these days.

11,000 job losses is no joke.

It's twice the number of employees at Tata. As they're spread across the country, there isn't going to be a disproportionate effect on one community. But it's a heck of a lot of people at risk.

I do feel for the employees, and sad that another big giant from the High Street is going, but the clothes are just so old fashioned and drab, they have failed to keep up.

I think the high street of the future is going to look very different, changes in shoppers behaviour combined with disruptive technology are changing the high street way beyond what we grew up with. Anyone remember Video Rental shops?

The last time I visited the UK I noticed many empty shops in a couple of towns I visited, perhaps a switch in planning rules and make it easier to convert commercial buildings into residential would help.

My god that is the only shop i buy my swimwear from!
No more swimming for me

I liked their lighting and their towels.

The thing with lighting is that ceiling light fittings don't need to be replaced very often, so people are probably not buying enough of it there for it to be hugely successful.

Their towels are gorgeous. I think the range is ultimate or supreme. It is the most expensive of the towels selection that they do. But I only need a few sets. And they last ages. So I'm not replacing very often. I will now stock up if they have massive reductions though.

There is a huge BHS on our high street and it is always dead in there.

I'm surprised it didn't disappear sooner TBH. I haven't been in for years, I don't know anyone who shops there anymore either... Likewise wh smiths, astounded that's still going given the influx of e-readers and, well, the Internet. I haven't bought anything from there for years either. Why would I when Amazon have the same book for a fraction of the price.

This is the issue really. The Internet is destroying the high street. Going shopping on a Saturday used to be my favourite thing in the world. Stationary, books, magazines, clothes and eating out. It was brilliant. Now everyone's penny pinching and also convenience wins, the fact you can literally buy anything with the tap of a few buttons on your phone. I don't see the high street coming back TBH.

For the first time in my life I ordered something from BHS online yesterday, before I saw the news!
I decided to have said item sent to the store, instead of wasting my money on postage, I thought I could pick it up this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well

I was sad when the one in Wood Green closed its cafe (mainly because it used to have a fabulous plate clearing conveyer belt) . Then I was sad that the one in Canterbury closed down completely (because its cafe was a great place to sit and watch the world go by). Just now I was briefly worried that the one in Oxford Street closing would leave me with fewer choices for a reasonably priced snack in Central London. Then it occured to me that I've used BHS ONLY for their Cafes for about the last twenty years I haven't bought so much as a pair of socks from them. (Including the one in Walthamstow, ).

I suspect that what they need to do is close down all the deaprtments apart from their cafes and then they'd make a profit

I like their housewares department - nice lights, towels, bed linen and kitchen things.

Didn't like their clothes, though. Agree they didn't have a core shopper.

It's their own fault but I do think it's sad. I always have such strong memories of shopping in places like this as a kid in the 70s.

Horses for courses. I would probably yawn a great yawn if, for example, Abercrombie and Fitch (who?) went tits up. But it might matter greatly to some people.
(BHS isn't my shop of choice either but we do need a range of retailers to suit everyone)

I really liked the homeware and the children's section. But the womenswear - well, my Granny wouldn't shop in there as it's for 'old women'. She was 86 when she said this ....

I am so sad for the employees though. A neighbour was telling me that her sister is 57 and has worked there for over 30 years, since her children went to school. Most of her colleagues are female, 50-something, worked there for decades. I feel so sad for them.