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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:
NicknameUsed · 25/04/2016 13:44

I find it sad that so many posters haven't even bothered to go into the stores as there were often some nice things to be found among the dross. Just like M & S really.

I also found the quality much better than Primark so I think it is an unfair comparison.

aquashiv · 25/04/2016 13:52

I feel sorry for the staff but I do not think I have ever bought anything from there.

AdoraKiora · 25/04/2016 13:59

Amazing its lasted so long, really. I can't imagine who shops there and for what? I popped in maybe three times in the last five years and it was utter dross.

I can't believe WH Smiths is still going, either....

UnGoogleable · 25/04/2016 14:05

I visited our local BHS last year when I needed some massive granny knickers and baggy nighties to prepare for a gynae operation.

It was exactly the sort of place for granny knickers and baggy nighties. And not much else. It was awful. Old fashioned, cluttered, the layout was reminiscent of TK Maxx but with clothing for the over 70s.

I'm not in the least surprised it has gone under

chillycurtains · 25/04/2016 14:10

Oh I completely disagree. I bought a sofa from them which is great and much better quality than our precious one. I love their home furnishing and lighting. The school uniform is much thicker and lasts twice as long as M&S. I will be really sad to see it go.

apricotdanish · 25/04/2016 14:12

I'm gutted, as others have said the homeware section's great and I recently discoveres the school trousers are also really good quality and a nice fit.

PeaceLoveAndJaffaCakes · 25/04/2016 14:18

Bon Marche so a good line in granny knickers and baggy nighties, FYI for future use.

UnGoogleable · 25/04/2016 14:32

Thanks Peace i'll bear that in mind for my next Gynae op given that I've actually taken to wearing my granny knickers all the time now that I've discovered how comfy they are! Grin

MintyChapstick · 25/04/2016 14:33

I feel sorry for the staff, but our local one is like stepping back in time to the 80's. the clothes are vile and frumpy and the cafe is grubby.

I won't miss it at all.

insan1tyscartching · 25/04/2016 14:33

Our BHS is awful,I think the staff gave up about five years ago when they refurbished tbh all slate grey and black and futuristic (I think it was to emulate H&M opposite) which seemed at odds with the shop contents.
Ours stocks mainly children's pyjamas and uniform and "old lady" fashions and then over priced novelty gifts that didn't clear at Christmas. Recently they have brought back a food section that is much like Poundland (nothing to make a meal but stocks cheap snacks and pre packed sandwiches which seemed ridiculous as the town is over run with £ shops and food outlets anyway)
Very rarely go in now but the cafe is always good when I do and seems well used unlike the rest of the store where staff sometimes outnumber shoppers. Can't imagine I'll miss it tbh.

MrsHathaway · 25/04/2016 14:34

I haven't been into Bhs since I stopped working in Manchester city centre. There was the very occasional gem - some of which I am probably still wearing years later.

I can't bear Debenhams and similar department stores. They're baffling and I can never find anything. I find them very old-fashioned and I resent how labyrinthine they are.

Amummyatlast · 25/04/2016 14:50

We have two BHSs local to me, one big one small, and I wouldn't shop in either. Why?

Christmas tat
Frumpy womenswear that is far too big for me, even if I liked it
Expensive children's clothes

Other shops I wouldn't be sorry to lose are Debenhams and WH Smiths.

But honestly, Woolies better than Wilkies? No way. Wilkies all the way.

Topseyt · 25/04/2016 15:00

I think any business going to the wall with large numbers of people losing their jobs is very sad.

I was not a regular BHS shopper, partly because we don't live conveniently near one and partly because I just generally gravitate elsewhere. I did buy some decent beach towels in their Chelmsford store last summer before going on holiday though. They were good for that sort of thing and I did like their home and kitchenwares section. Decent stuff and good value. Could it be that not all areas of the business were unprofitable? Might some parts keep going in a slimmed down form? Clothes I think pulled it down. Not all were bad, and there could be some gems, but it was far too hit or miss.

I would agree that it seemed like walking into a timewarp. I guess though that with its pension fund black hole and other debts it could not afford to modernise. It could barely even afford to pay its rents or staff recently. The writing has been on the wall for some time, unfortunatley.

I do wonder what shape the High Street might take in the future too? I do like online shopping. Prices are usually competitive. I do also quite enjoy a little browse in High Street stores though, especially now that my children are almost grown up and I can do it in peace. Grin I think there is a place for both, but it isn't yet clear how it will work.

AntiHop · 25/04/2016 15:01

I'm in my late 30s and I've bought most of my clothes there for around the last decade. I'm gutted. I really don't think the clothes are just for older women.

CrossfireHurricane · 25/04/2016 15:07

I bought my 'funeral' dress in bhs years ago, thankfully not worn it lots but it still looks smart.
It's a great shame for the staff and I agree, Phillip Greedy Green should examine his conscience.

allegretto · 25/04/2016 15:10

I am surprised they were still open. I thought they closed years ago, like Littlewoods and John Menzies - or is Littlewoods still around??

GeorgeTheThird · 25/04/2016 15:10

Philip Green should indeed examine his conscience, and then put a very sizeable chunk of money into the pensions funds that will otherwise be propped up at taxpayers' expense.

The lighting dept is good, though. Has been since the 80s for some reason - the only reason I ever went. I did buy my first bra there though, in about 1982.

Original poster
LunaLoveg00d · 25/04/2016 15:23

I thought they closed years ago, like Littlewoods and John Menzies - or is Littlewoods still around??

Littlewoods has gone from the high street - think they're purely a catalogue/online business too.

I remember the massive John Menzies in Princes St and constant arguments with my mother about how to pronounce it - Men-zzees or Ming-Iss. i think the company still exists but is in newspaper distribution.

I think I would miss Debenhams if they went - we have had lots of good kids clothes from there over the years and it was my first port of call when I needed a posh frock for a ball which wasn't going to break the bank.

OP posts:
Floisme · 25/04/2016 15:23

Is it the same Philip Green who headed up that public spending review?
And they say irony is dead.

Akire · 25/04/2016 15:30

I will miss ours it's the only clothing shop you can walk too. Loads of good quality basics same as marks but cheaper. I'm 40! Plain t shirts, nice long cardigans/ shirts leggings. Yes some granny stuff but nobody wants fashion fashion all time. If you need basic staples and everyday stuff plus ours has Dorthy Perkins and Wallis so loads of work wear plus school uniform and kids stuff.

Only thing similar would be marks or next. Places like mataln and Hm have much less quality and try be to fashionable. I don't want it cut with one sleqve off of open back or tassels or slanting hem line. Wonder if they will trade on line still same as woolies does/did.

randomsabreuse · 25/04/2016 15:34

Not surprised. Been in quite a lot, bought nothing as I haven't seen anything I like enough to try on let alone buy. My parents bought some stuff for DD which was ok and not a bad fit but my localish branch never had anything I liked. Tesco and Sainsbury's have more appealing clothes for me, which is probably why it was in trouble...

Cheeseburglar · 25/04/2016 15:39

Very sad news. Ten percent will be lost from the employees' pensions.

CandyFlossBrain · 25/04/2016 15:40

DM used to like eating in their cafe. I never did, it reminded me too much of school dinners.

The only shop I still miss is Woolworths. People did shop there though. I heard they went under because they over-invested in the VHS market and lost a load of money. Which is probably why our local Woolies barely stocked any DVDs and was half full with VHS tapes in the year before they shut.

HidingUnderARock · 25/04/2016 15:43

I still genuinely miss Woolworths.

I won't miss BHS, sorry.

StKildasNun · 25/04/2016 16:02

Haven't read teh whole thread.

Has anyone mentioned the 500million pension hole.?

Sir Philip green sold bhs for 1 pound. Thereby walking away from a 500 million pound pension deficit.

He is worth billions, and is an off shore tax avoider (though not positive about that) but that is not of great concern to the pensions of thousands of staff.

Or maybe the good old british tax payer should just step in again!