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?

Water stones is my dgds favourite shop! We bought her a kindle years ago because she lives books do much we were running out of space to store them ( 200 plus) but she hates the kindle. She lives the feel and smell of a book and the physical act if turning pages. As well as reading them too. She would be devastated if that shop closed! I remember when she was 4 and Woolworths closed, she cried for days! She loved the pick and mix and the cheap little gadgets etc.

Cheap parking would help. It's ridiculous paying so much to park in town.
If more shops did plus size clothes in store I'd go more but they only do those ranges online usually.

iTonya The inclusion of a costa coffee in most stores has been a massive reason Waterstones are still doing well imo. Smart move.

I am glad Waterstones is doing okay.

I totally understand why it's sad that the 'high street' we remember as a child is changing/dying even. But the way we shop has been evolving for years. It's interesting and sad at the same time.

My DM (80) used to walk up to her local high street every day and buy from the butcher, the baker the candle stick maker the newsagent, the post office ect. That's how it was for her mum through the 40s, 50s, 60s, and DM carried on through the 70s and 80s. She didn't drive, neither did her mum. When i learned to drive and left home (early 90s) i started to taking mum to the big new out of town Tesco and do the whole weeks shop in one go. It was abit of a revelation to her. She'd do a quick top up shop maybe during the week at the local shops.

And that's how it begins. Since i learned to drive and we started using big stores she's never done her shopping the same way.

The advent of the internet is just another nail in the same coffin.

The genuinely sad thing is that wandering about the high street chatting and socialising isn't going to keep the shops in business. The people who drive have gone elsewhere.

Surely either or both HoF or Debenhams will go under within the next two years. You know the British love affair with department stores has faded when even John Lewis posts huge profit falls, pays the lowest percentage bonuses since 1954 and asks staff to promote JL on their social media feeds.

Another one here amazed at the continued existence of WHSmith as a High Street entity.
There's two branches in my town, one that's been there since probably the 70s, another newer out of town one, about 12 years old.
They are equally as dated and depressing.

For those of you who tweet, follow @WHS_carpet on Twitter.
It's sublime.

Waterstones are getting rid of Costa and having their own Cafe W brand rolled out instead.

They were bought out a few years ago and the new owners have brought in a lot of changes like getting rid of 3 for 2 and reducing discounts, Paperchase concessions, more toys and games, enhanced children’s sections including slides, colouring tables and chairs.

They seem to be getting on a bit better since then. I also love Waterstones and think there is nothing like a real book.

Eltonjohnssyrup That must be why Costa are now in partnership with coronation street as product placement then, to recoup some income haha!

Ah I love the costa in Waterstones. I'd never enter if it wasn't for that, it kinda gives a 'sit and chill and relax' vibe to the place whereas I wouldn't ever go in if it was a building solely used to browse and buy books.

I never buy from Waterstones come to think of it but I'm more likely to if I'm in and out of costa via books.

It's just too expensive. I can't justify spending full price on a book when so many are available much cheaper online, kindle, library, charity shop.

I often think the works is brilliant because it makes buying books much more accessible to all and removes the need to have a lot of disposable income, whereas Waterstones prices are so high it makes me feel like it's pretty elitist and makes reading seem like something only available to the middle class.

I know the world aren't some social movement, just selling cheap books, but I'm very grateful for them when I see how many lovely books you can get in there (especially kids books with a small amount of pocket money) for a tenner compared to Waterstones.

Noting that many of the retailers mentioned are womens clothing stores I'd also say that many have failed to recognize that women in their 30s/40s/50s are just not being catered for. Womens clothing retailers try to follow every fashion trend which by and large tends to be targeted at young women but what suits teens and twenty somethings (both in terms of body shape and lifestyle) often isn't what works for say, the 42 yo full time working mum of 2 dc ie me.

Many of us have disposable income and would be willing to buy the £35 top rather than the £10 one, or pay £50 for a well cut pair of trousers rather than £20 for cheap shiny fabric. Provided that they are decent quality and dare I say, not so "on trend" that in 3 months time you are considered an unfashionable frump because now it's old hat! There is a market there for mid priced clothing but nowhere has really stepped up to meet that demand.

100% agree coco. I'm early 30s but past Top Shop et al, so what you said resonated. I'm not wadded but £50 trousers would be within reach, yet nothing seems to be around in this quality and price range.

Also wrt parking, of course having to pay for it is going to encourage people to go to places with free parking instead. There's really no getting round that, and it's not something that will be responsive to arguments about fairness or councils needing to get their money from somewhere. I get the train in anyway so I've no horse in this race, but nonetheless the reality is still blindingly obvious. Councils in some areas are going to have to decide how important it is to them to maintain high streets and shopping areas, and whether they're willing to take the hit to the pocket.

Whsmith carry on by having a store in most hospitals and ripping people off that way.

It astonishes me that Costa does so well. The coffee's shit, the baristas are so slow they might as well be sloths and it's expensive. I await Cafe W with interest.

I like Costa. Always very speedy service, their rewards system seems fairly generous, their drinks are consistently well made and they cater to people who don't drink dairy (which is the only reason I rarely patronise small independents, unless they do offer soya).

I however have a big problem with the way some of them have been redesigned, so you're expect to perch on a wooden stool, presumably to get you to down your drink asap in discomfort and get out to make more space. I won't sit in those.

I think with Costa it's just that they're everywhere. They also aren't the massive tax avoiding operation that Starbucks are, so I expect they probably pick up some of the market in town centres from people who boycott Starbucks but still want coffee.

It's such horrible coffee though. It's never hot and I honestly have never seen anything approaching fast service.

Oh I really like their coffee. I can't stand the taste of Starbucks' coffee but Costa and Nero always get it right in my experience.

I do always ask for it extra hot though as they have a tendency to go too easy on soya and serve it lukewarm.

Has anyone mentioned Hobbs yet? I used to love them. :( But so much has gone wrong. The skirts and dresses: either unsuitably mini or fussy, frumpy calf-length, nothing knee-length. The switch over to terrible fabrics, especially when combined with a really sharp increase in prices: yes they are generally still well-made, but £130 for a polyester dress is pure pisstaking. The endless, endless "offers" so that I can never just buy something because I know I'm being ripped off. Being bombarded with endless marketing emails. It's such a shame. If only they would return to good fabrics, reasonable (note: not low, just reasonable) prices and transparent pricing. They used to be my go-to shop but I never go in any more these days.

Our Santander has a Costa in it, oddly enough. Is that becoming the norm?

I like the coffee at Sainsbury’s which in my opinion much nicer than Costa. I never used to like Starbucks coffee, too bitter for my liking. However, once I tasted their blonde blend I was hooked. I always ask for the less bitter of the two out of their blends. I prefer Starbucks over Costa. And Nero is nice as well.

topsyandtimison
I think HMV do okay. They restructured when they were bought out and reduced staff down. They take an enormous amount of money in store.
I have friends who work there and they don't seem worried

Agree about not catering for older woman, everything is so unflattering and made for small busts imo. The fabrics are ghastly and very little cotton

ShatnersWig you posted our borough council made £2 MILLION PROFIT on car parking charges last year

I have no idea where you live, but as I've already stated this profit is hypothecated and can only be spent on parking, road repairs etc. Why not ask them, rather than random people on the Internet - how do they plan to spend this money?

Well Claire’s is in our papers today over job fears due to its debts. I’m not surprised due to the price for a headband last year because it had a star on but it was the only shop that had it. Much cheaper to get bits like Claire’s online if you have the time.

Im lucky that i’ve never had to dress “professionally” & can wear jeans. Where on earth do people buy work clothes these days?

Agree about the lack of options for older women.

limon the works mainly sells shit books Waterstones and Smiths couldn’t shift and returned.

The thing about Waterstones, is that they are actually dead good at identifying brilliant writing. They lead you towards great stuff. Richard & Judy used to do the same with Smiths. Not sure if they do that anymore.