To be worried about House of Fraser

[Viviennemary]

Seems this is the next chain to be in trouble. And Debenhams hasn't been doing to well either lately according to the news tonight. I don't buy a great deal in either of these but would be really sad to see them go. Woolworths gone and then BHS. at the thought they might disappear

For a depressing peek into the future of some retailers deadmalls.com charts the slow decline of various US malls. Though they do seem to be replaced by others when they do die off. Online shopping won't completely kill off shops but I suspect there will be a lot more on the Argos model and a lot more click and collect.

My dh loves Amazon but I like to look and feel and go to the shops but it is no longer a great experience and agree about the long queues and hassle. Places like Hobbycraft are really irritating

JL is usually a good experience however

shatners and tap I am glad that Beechwood Arcade has gone, it was full of empty units for a few years and they couldn’t keep it open just for that tiny Debenhams.

I enjoy a browse around HoF but don’t buy in there often unless I have a wedding to go to. Looking forward to JL joining the town, hoping it will rejuvenate that end of the high street, it’s beginning to die a death down there!

Since Townrows closed i can no longer have bra fittings in my home town.

Who is best Debenhams or M+S

I go to the Debenhams in Derby's main shopping centre quite a bit - it's surprisingly nice actually. I do like their breakfasts too. The one in nearby Nottingham is one of those old stores notorious for people getting lost inside, never to be seen again.

The last time I bought anything from HoF was 2005, I remember because it was the first summer I'd worked full time since having DD1 and I decided to treat myself to a load of new outfits for the office.

Mrsemc That end of town started going downhill not long after Beenchwood was built and once HMV relocated the rot really set in. Debenhams was the only shop that did well in there. JL will make a huge difference. Mind you, I remember the days of Woolies, Cantors and the Co-op up there!

Shatners I have only been here 8 years and have noticed a difference in that time. It would be nice to have a few more shops (like you said menswear is particularly lacking) and less coffee shops!!

MrsMcG - a few more shops would be nice and something to replace BHS.

Yes tap such a lovely big space where BHS was, I often daydream about what could replace it!!

Lozzamas You say:

However if this trend to online continues what happens to the staff and jobs currently in retail - it's a large employment ( particularly women )

When the typewriter was invented and was found, or alleged, to be especially suited to the female fingers - what do you think happened to the old mainly male Dickensian copying clerks?

The scrapheap.

Are you of the generation which once owned a film camera and then bought a digital camera or a phone with a camera in it? If you are, you closed the photo-processing labs, didn't you?

Retail can't be frozen in aspic either.

Already spent my vouchers for HoF. I've found another £30 in Debenhams vouchers that I will endeavour to put to good use in the very near future, I know what happens when shops go into administration. Their gift cards / vouchers are absolutely worthless and you're at the mercy of the administrators. I would suggest that everyone else do the same

Tap and Mrs The way it's going, Cheltenham will be nothing except coffee shops, restaurants and womens' wear before too long.

I hate shopping online, I like to feel the material, see the actual colour etc before I buy.

I shop a lot in Debenhams but it's mainly the concessions, beauty department. Sadly a lot of the standalone shops have gone do who knows what will happen if the big department stores close.

“but the main problem (in House of Failure too) is that if your looking for, say, jeans, you have to look in 47 different locations all over the shop to see what jeans they actually sell.”

I hate it when stores do this. M and S are guilty of it as well. If I want jeans I want to see them all together. If I want a skirt I want to see all the skirts etc.

“Retail can't be frozen in aspic either”

So in the end we will all end up wearing ill-fitting clothes and uncomfortable shoes because we will have to buy them online. Oh wait, Royal Mail will start booming again with all the returns back to Amazon and other online retailers. What a depressing thought.

And if all the retail shops close no-one will go into town centres any more so the coffee shops will close, and we can all stay at home or at work instead. Even more depressing.

I hate shopping online, I like to feel the material, see the actual colour etc before I buy.

I don’t know why people say this. You feel the material see the colour, but in your house, rather than having to schlep to the shops, into changing rooms with loud music blaring out, and then carry it all home.

You order it, try it and then decide whether to ‘buy’ it - ie keep it.

Yes but if I don't want it I've paid for it and have the hassle of returns.

How much hassle is it to go to the post office?

It’s far more hassle to get on a tube, walk around a load of different shops, get a coffee then then go home again. That could easily take half a day.

One ends up having to return things to shops anyway, as they don’t look like they did in the changing room mirror, or don’t go with the thing you thought they would.

the post office is more of a hassle for me than shopping due to my working hours plus commute.

I actually like shopping though.

It can be a complete PITA to schlep to a post office (many local ones have closed now) in order to return items. PLus you need to be able to afford to buy a number of items at once to try them on, and then wait for a couple of weeks to have the refund credited to your account

Surely more online retailers will need to invest in same day returns to encourage greater spending?

HelenaDove

Who is best Debenhams or M+S

I expect it varies between stores, depending on the people who work there. In general, I think Debenhams has a wider range of D+ bras, and they stock bras from a variety of makes as well as their own range.

@PuppyMonkey Debenhams in Nottingham is awful !

I literally get trapped in it like a maze and then cant even find an exit .

@rememberthetime that sounds awful

Yes i think a lot of retailers could learn from John Lewis . I have to be honest apart from Next ( for childrens clothing ) john lewis is the only other dept store i shop in.

I wouldnt miss H of F or Debenhams at all.

"It’s far more hassle to get on a tube, walk around a load of different shops, get a coffee then then go home again. That could easily take half a day."

Tatiana you are completely missing the point. For a start we don't all live in London. My nearest shopping mall is a 20 minute drive away. I browse online to do my window shopping, then pop down the motorway go to the one or two shops I want, try clothes/shoes on in several styles and sizes, make my purchase and go home happy within a couple of hours.

Compare this to ordering online, returning for another size, returning again because it doesn't suit me, order something else. Several weeks later I finally get something that fits/suits me.

Nah, going shopping is easier for me. Oh, and I don't usually stop for a coffee either, nor do I tend to return stuff I have tried on in shops because I work out what will go with what when I try it on.

Online ordering is far more of a hassle and more time consuming for me.

My local post offices are open 7-7 Saturday and Sunday.

Many returns services use couriers that you either drop off at a local newsagent - so no queue - or it’s collected.

And many returns now use 48 hour services so you get your money back quickly.

I just bung it all on a credit card - which also protects your purchase.