To ask which shops are on the verge of failure

[curiousbeak]

I'm so depressed with the uk high street. Specifically British companies. The likes of Arcadia group, new look (already on its way out), next, oasis , Debenhams etc etc

The clothes are just terrible quality and most stores and staff and just tired, uninspiring and lacking any kind of chicness.

The wave of European brands seem to be killing our home grown business with their beautiful stores and chic offerings.

Who do you think is on the way out?

I agree that hobbycraft is really overpriced.

Don't even do chain loop hangers for coats. Got some from Amazon ...

Also, how is Claire's going?

I used to love the stuff as a kid, but it was so expensive! Completely unobtainable for a kid with £10 a week pocket money. I could only buy there in the sales where they flog everything in partybags.

Superdrug because savers, bodycare, and other shops are cheaper and often stock more variety, except for make up and that's way over priced at Superdrug.
Places like Booths, that are already in receivership.

Booths is in receivership!!??

Yep.

Agree about Mothercare. Three stores near me have closed in the last few years and there's none now so I'd have to shop online from now on.

booths is for sale, not in receivership:

www.theguardian.com/business/2017/nov/26/grocer-booths-up-for-sale-says-report-supermarket-chain

Reading this I realise I am pretty lucky with our local Boots. I'm in a city and it's a huge store with a brilliant range of brands. Superdrug is about a sixth of the size. For standard toiletries e.g. toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant etc. I go to the supermarkets, B&M or Wilko but otherwise it would be Boots.

Warehouse here has just closed. It used to be my go to place in my mid 20s but I can't say I'd bought anything there since having DCs.

Monsoon is just baffling these days.

I'm in the South, we don't have Booths I don't think.

Pretty much every mid end fashion High Street store sadly for them . People work long hours and don’t have the time to shop in stores any more . River island , oasis , Dorothy , next etc . And their design is dull

But for each one that closes a new one will fill the gap really . It will shift from working in shops to working in warehouses for most

@justwanttoweeinpeace, you've basically described WholeFoods 😜 Clean eating, vegan stuff, amazing takeaway counter.

Holland and Barrett just has that....smell.

Also, how is Ann Summers still around? Surely if you want to buy a vibrator you go to Lovehoney, not browse in your local high street and risk being spotted by your coworkers.

It's not looking good for Booths though.
It would be such a shame for it to go, but it's been having problems at all levels for a while now.
There was the manager of one who did something illegal with money, one was hit by the storm, really badly.
Then the food poisoning, word gets about.
I love their cafe's though.

Clinton's cards - insanely pricy and, generally, horrible cards. You can get far nicer cards in the supermarket and far cheaper cards in the Card Factory.
I like Monsoon but generally only buy in the sale now, same with Gap.
Laura Ashley homeward is nice but over-priced. Luckily they have semi-permanent sales and so you would never buy at full price.

My home town has a lovely Boots but it is the only nice one I've ever been in. The one near where I live now is the whsmith of the pharmacy world

I love m&s - all my underwear is from there.
Also love Oasis, and this seasons Warehouse stuff is fantastic.

My children love WH Smith.

Therefore, these shoes must survive!

Shops not shoes

Thorntons: It has been selling the same stuff for decades - barely any change whatsoever.

Body shop: ditto

Monsoon: Racks and racks of hideous sale clothes in store.

Laura Ashley: Always have 50% off everything'offers. Why don't they just reduce their real prices? I'd hate for them to go as I love LA furnishing dept.

Ive found this thread really interesting today. It does feel like we're on / over the edge of witnessing the end of the high street. If all the shops that have been consistently mentioned (new look, Dorothy Perkins etc) on this thread were to close, the high street/shopping centre and retail park in my town/city would be empty

Recently, my nearest town has lost LK Bennett, Warehouse, Thornton’s, Mothercare, Jacques Vert and several small independent shops. WHS is dire, Superdrug is small and cramped with a mishmash of stuff. The very worst is M&S with the most appalling clothes and the food isn’t what it used to be imo.

There’s a Matalan in an out of town place and some of their workout stuff is ok, but everything else is crap and the sizing is way off. There’s really nowhere mid priced staples can be found any more.

I buy from Next but only because of the next day delivery and ability to try before you buy and return things before having to pay. I never buy from the high street stores though. I find the service convenient. I genuinely don't get the Pandora obsession. Every town has one (or in the south it seems that way)

Parking charges and public transport costs are a big turn off for shopping on the high street for me. It costs £6 for 2 hours parking during the week and £8 for 2 hours at the weekend or £5.10 for a return ticket on the bus. I can walk into town in about 40 minutes but couldn't shop and walk back up hills with purchases.

I can get free delivery and returns on most online retail stores.

Last time I went into town was Xmas shopping in December with my DS - we had a list of things and the stores that should have the stuff (looked online) - not one single store had what we wanted in stock in the right size (Lakeland, H&M, FatFace, Boots, M&S, WH Smith, Waterstone's, Game, Debenhams) or were a lot more expensive than the discounted price online - the Body shop stuff was full price in store and 40% discount online. Waste of time queueing, trying to find staff to ask etc, too hot in store with our coats, had to buy drinks to get a sit down, spent over a £10 on the bus.

I actually ordered a piece of Laura Ashley furniture I've been wanting, the other day, because I can't see them seeing the year out.

They might do better if their website worked properly on all platforms.

Monsoon/Accessorize are on the slide.

Warehouse have been flogging a lot of their stock on bargain basement and cut price designer sites for a while. Can't seem to budge their sale items from Christmas in their store near me.

Topshop seems to be the last man standing in the Arcadia group but I went in our store recently and was shocked by how little choice there was.

Laura Ashley seem to permanently have sales and discounts.

Disney store.

I wouldn't be surprised if Claire's closed. They don't sell anything you can't get elsewhere for much cheaper. Kids and teens want to get their money's worth with their spending money.

I wonder what the high street will look like in 20 years time? When I think back to 1998 and what the high street was like I remember when Miss Selfridges seemed really cool and their clothes were good. I remember when Dorothy Perkins seemed better quality too and when Next was really up market! Argos used to have loads electrical items such as stereos and TVs on display and they seemed really good quality and out of reach.

Everything seemed better quality yet more unattainable because they seemed more expensive (I guess people didn't have as much exposable income maybe?)

I wonder what it will be in 20 years? Surely it can't just disappear all together? People still like to shop!

A Thornton's outlet near me has now closed.

Argos seem to be downsizing/moving into Sainsbury's premises and refitting their stores to cutback on staff. Mine is now all self service and minimalistic.