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?

A lot of colleagues pick things up at Sainsburys, I like their clothes.
I dont like clothes shopping, I just do M & S in their sales, and sainsbury's, I am time short, as well as money.

Surely New Look is on the way out because it does what Primark does but isn't as cheap?
Their quality is no better than Primark but they are more expensive.

Shops that once seemed cheap now look pricey if you can walk into them just after you have been in Primark.

I think H&M get away with being more expensive because they have something a bit extra. They appeal to a slightly edgier customer and they do lovely children's wear.

Topshop failed in Australia.

I suspect H&M will go the same way.

GAP is definitely on its way out. Stores have been closing left, right and centre.

I worked at WHSmith as a student and it was struggling then. There was maybe still a distinction between hospital/airport v high street shops. We couldn't take reruns from them. I think the high street stores will slowly close/fall down due to lack of refurb. some staff have been there since they were 16 and get paid more than the managers others on min wage zero hour contracts. I noticed they were advertising for a new manager in the window - half of what they would of got 10 years ago.

Surely Poundland was never going to last forever? At what point does a pound devalue to the point where you can’t actually buy anything at all? Or then does it evolve into ‘£5 land’? They’ve already started selling items at other prices, I would imagine that at some point they’ll just become another Home Bargains?

"(it takes skill to make a pair of jeans where one bloody leg shrinks in the wash"
:o brilliant

What I can't understand though is you go to somewhere like trafford centre and it's heaving, I was there on Friday night and it was buzzing. So many people and they were buying. It's a bizarre combination of people still wanting to go to a big shopping complex yet some shops aren't seeing the returns. Admittedly the primark section in selfridges was the busiest with the longest queue. Think people like the bargains in a posh selfridges bag 😂

The high street WH Smith’s have to go. They are grim. Take a look at WHSmith_carpet on Twitter if you want a laugh. Some of the airport ones are good but high street stores are dire.
Laura Ashley has totally lost its way and has a permanent sale. Surely it is on borrowed time.
Body Shop is always deserted and has had its day.
Thornton’s are dingy and dirty these days. They surely can’t last much longer.
Boots don’t look good these days compared to their competitors.
The high street is in a sorry state.

We've already lost several stores mentioned. I've never understood the obsession of so many with Next - way too expensive for what it is. Similarly, New Look was always my go-to cheaper store growing up but now appears to be acceptable to teenage girls and overpriced.

I think Peacocks and similar will benefit from places where New Look shuts smaller stores.

WH Smith's. Can't remember the last time I bought anything from there. Unbelievably overpriced. I hate the pushing of products at the tills and the fact that it's like a ghost town with staff. Unmanned checkouts etc.

The last straw came for me when I went to pick up craft boys and they were charging £12 for a half empty, cheap looking caddy that the pound shop was selling for about £2.

I think Edinburgh Woollen Mill

Forgot to say though warehouse was looking pretty ropey at the t centre last week, don't think that's going to last!

I am guilty of only doing clothes-shopping online as I live in a small town that has only a few small clothing shops - a small Next and an M&S food with a few bits of clothing. There is a Fat Face which seems reasonably popular but I find it too expensive. We also have a few independent boutiques which I would like to support but they don't have anything in my style (I live in TOWIE country). I buy nearly all mine and the DCs clothes online from Tesco because we have a branch nearby and I can collect it easily. They seem to have a good range of stuff that is reasonable price and quality. To me, it's not worth driving 30 minutes to a shipping centre where I spend ages wandering around.

Interestingly, my local high street is always busy though. I'm trying to think which shops are popular. Our M&S food is always busy and the coffee shops. A few years ago I would have said Superdrug would be in trouble but I buy a lot of my make-up and skincare items there now - they seem to have upped their game. Card Factory is always busy.

We have lots of charity shops that do well. It must be business rates that are killing the traditional shops.

I think my local Thorntons keeps going because of it's cafe which is very popular.
Next's online children's clothes keep it going.

shopping centre

Body shop wouldn’t be a surprise.
Mothercare: ditto. I used to wander around the one near me, keen to buy things, but the clothes weren’t very nice. I did get a pushchair from there though.
I’m always surprised card shops are still going.

The shopping center beside me has primark new look h & m river island.
I just can’t shop for bits in primark anymore it’s been years where I could say il go in now & get my fewbits to do me over the summer.
I have stuff in the basket on the Missguided website that will be my summer dresses. I got a top from there that was really good quality I was actually shocked cos it is primark quality clothes usually.
Real shopping for me is less fun now which is sad in a way cos I do truly feel for people working in these shops. Online is quicker & you can type in what you want instead of walking around the same 4 stores.

What is old-fashioned about WHSmith? I get it's overpriced.

I think Superdrug keep a very close eye on internet beauty groups and blogs.
They are becoming the go to place for cult, cheap beauty and make up products. I love Boots but its expensive and a bit staid in comparison.

Gap has been struggling for years and they appear to be unable to make the necessary changes, so I don't think they will survive much longer. New Look over-extended on rents. ToysRUs have been over-priced and understocked for years and when the big one closed near us, to make way for Primark, the store was so dirty, it was taken back to the steel structure and rebuilt. They moved into a smaller store, but the staff were, at one point, asking the customers to watch out for shoplifters! House of Fraser has likewise been shaky for a while. Working in retail is a scary business these days, because I don't think anyone is safe.

There are 3 branches of WHS within walking distance, all of which have incorporated th local Post Office. This now means that the shops are cramped which does not make it a pleasant shopping experience.

M & co, closed recently
Timpsons- people just buy new shoes now
Waterstone’s- I’ll be so sad to see that go
All the travel agents
Paper chase- it’s so expensive
Sports direct, overpriced, huge empty stores
Smyths toy shop
Body shop, what it was doesn’t exist anymore
Halfords
Pets at home
Build a bear- surely every one has one now
Argos
White company, too pricy
Superdry- too faddy

H&M is in trouble on the High Street - they are closing stores. Most of their profits are online and they are changing to focus on that.

I online shop a lot oft daughters bits but cannot shop online for myself - I never know what size I need, depends on the fit, and I hate faffing about to send it back etc. I'd much rather go and try it on in a shop and decide there and then.

Yes, Superdrug is the go-to place for young girls who love makeup but don't have much ££. And some of the brands that exclusively sell are pretty decent for the price and do dupes of more expensive brands.

Sorry, that was in reply to @TheFirstMrsDV. This thread moves fast!