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?

To the pp who asked about edinburgh woolen mill - yes we have one in our town centre

Dorothy Perkins soon I reckon. Overpriced, very cheap and poorly made clothes. No consistency in sizes. Awful awful customer service. I bought. A pair of Eden jeans I've been buying for years. They've changed the material and within 30 mins wear they ripped. I bought another pair as I assumed it might have been my fault. They ripped within an hour of wearing. Took me 1.5 hours in a queue on the phone to speak to customer services who told me to go to the shop. When I did the manager accused me of lying about the extent of wear. Would never ever ever go back.

I know probably not terribly glamorous and frowned upon, but again and again I seem to pick up nice clothing at great prices in the big 3 supermarkets.

In the nearest city to me, Body Shop is always empty, New Look is too big, Primark is always rammed, W H Smiths is now the main Post Office upstairs and tat downstairs, there's two well used Waterstones shops, M&S has gone weird but the food part is always busy, Monsoon is empty unless a sale, Thorntons empty, Topshop empty (students can't afford it; why pay £45 for skinny jeans that Primark have for a tenner), Clarks always busy, River Island seems to be doing OK. We lost the BHS so there's no department store at all. TK Maxx is by far the best shop in town. The only place I buy cookware and gym gear!

Waterstones is doing well. Profits up 80% and up for sale with several interested. They started doing that local bookstore thing and it is a lovely place to buy lovely books. A far nicer book buying experience. Their offers make prices comparable to Amazon particularly when combined with the points and stamp cards. I think they need to include more titles in there 3 for 2 offers though as I'd happily take advantage and buy even less from Amazon if they did.

Totally agree with loads of these. On the bright side though, there are some lovely independent shops near me that are a pleasure to browse in and reasonably priced. Perhaps they're the replacement?

High street shopping is not what it used to be.

Next is now an abomination (it was fantastic when it first opened) and I don't darken its doors ever.

New Look has some interesting pieces but hidden among lots of 'tat'. The 9-15 range is just horrible (much of it the lamb dressed up as mutton look) and I think much of their adult range would be far more suitable, downsized.

Used to love Oasis - that has definitely gone downhill. I can't remember the last time I bought anything in there.

Agree that H&M is good (if you're slim). They do have some 'edgy' stuff. The Kingston one is particularly worth a trip.

Debenhams I've always loathed. Recently it's been looking super shoddy, not helped by one floor being overtaken by Sports Direct. Again, I struggle to remember the last time I bought anything there.

Monsoon has had its day, I agree, in much the same way as Laura Ashley has.

Don't do as much clothes shopping as I used to (too busy) but for the family I tend to go to Uniqlo, TK Maxx (although such a mixed bag that one can't guarantee getting what one is looking for), H&M and Zara. Primark I regularly frequent for stuff for my DC, although I rarely find items for myself. I find most of the tween girls' stuff naff but very occasionally one can find a real gem (including once an amazing quirky tartan dress which was very Vivienne Westwood).

I can never understand how Body Shop continues to trade. It used to be the 'go to' destination for young teenagers (it was all those fruity and cheap mini bottles of lotions and potions) particularly. Now they are always empty when I look.

The last time I took a pair of boots (not cheap!) to be mended at Timpsons I was told me they were beyond repair (had had them less than a year). The guy told me that "shoes aren't meant to be walked in these days".

I would be sorry if HoF went out of business; it has a good range of labels.

ToysRUs was a bit of a rubbish toy shop really. It only sold 'mainstream'. If it had included more wooden, quirky and educational toys it might have survived. We only got a local one when our youngest was about seven; we were never inspired by the stock. The Entertainer has more appeal (lots of pocket-money bargains) in smaller sized shops.

There’s an EWM near me. God knows how it keeps going. I’m 53 so maybe perhaps the younger end of their target? I walked in out of curiosity and out again almost immediately . Awful.

I think a little stand selling the new mindful type mags such as Breathe,Flow and Simple Things would go down well in Waterstones too.

Waterstones is doing well. Profits up 80% and up for sale with several interested. They started doing that local bookstore thing and it is a lovely place to buy lovely books Yes, agreed, we have a lovely branch and just going past makes you want to stop and go in. This surprises me as I thought they were totally doomed - every time I'd been into them before they didn't have what I wanted or the only copy was scuffed and torn but it just goes to show that a bit of care over presentation and layout makes loads of difference.

Karen Millen. I don’t know anyone who buys there any more.

French Connection. They upped their price point about 8 years ago. They have since reduced it again but their customers are long gone. My local shop is always empty except for staff.

Debenhams. They must have a massive rent bill. Always more staff than customers.

I think a lot will depend on whether they own or rent their shops, and if the latter what the terms are. By extension too their debt level if any, and also how quickly they can sell stock.

Who we would hardly miss or be glad to see go are likely not to be those in difficulties I expect. No more Sports Direct or Primark would be something I would celebrate, other than for the staff losing their jobs, but they are probably in rude financial health.

Why would Hollister close? Because their parent company Abercrombie and Fitch have been struggling for years.

fortune.com/2017/03/02/abercrombie-stores/

And from another article:

On May 10 2017, Reuters reported that Abercrombie is working with the investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners to field takeover offers, after stocks hit a 17-year low. The company’s operating income has fallen from $72.8 million in 2015 to $15.2 million the following year.

They can't prop up a worldwide portfolio of stores forever and they're always in sale now so the margins are terrible. It's not just about heavy footfall on a Saturday.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill - I volunteer twice a week in a charity shop with some elderly volunteers who are 75+. They ADORE a bit of EWM. Love it, can't get enough. That, Country Casuals and Damart.

We're an ageing population. Lots of people feeling the EWM love.

God yes to Toysrus. Took dd there to spend some birthday money and it was just terrible. Despite being the size of an aircraft hangar it didn't have the particular tat she was after, and nothing that would make up for it. But she wouldn't leave because it was huge and full of toys and surely there must be something good if we looked hard enough. Worst birthday treat ever. I ended up bribing her to leave and am dancing on its grave. Even if you want the branded tat there are much less stressful places to get it.

I was sad that Monsoon closed in our city, I love their clothes. I think they will go soon.

Primark do so well because everyone is advertising for them online - loads of YouTubers doing Primark hauls etc. Plus they have stuff you want, I always buy their basics - socks, underwear, t-shirts. DD loves Primark, as do all her friends. Also, they are very up to date with trends and everyone can afford to shop there. I realise I have just done some more advertising for them.

I don't mind if some old and tired shops leave the high street and are replaced with more exciting European shops - Tiger etc. As long as we still have a high street. I shop online, but only for things I can't find on the high street.

Boots are failing. I don't see them being around much longer, Superdrug are taking most of their clientele. Boots figures were down A LOT under their target for the last year. Superdrug were millions over target.

Poundland will be branching out in to a bargain store rather than a pound store in the near future, if someone buys them over. They're really struggling.

I can't see HMV lasting, which is a shame cause I spent a lot of my childhood shopping in there for CDs. People download everything these days, there's no need for physical copies of CDs or DVDs or games.

Thornton's never seems busy unless it's a special occasion coming up. Plus their chocolate is rank anyway.

Toys R Us deserved to go just for their policy of treating every customer like a potential shoplifter and taking your bags from you as you went in and storing them behind a counter.

They've started doing lovely displays of focused books too,book blind date stands, staff recommendation labels and ours runs book groups where you can buy the books discounted from Waterstones. They also get out of stock books in very quickly. The children's section has lovely toys and books too. I think a kids loyalty scheme would do very well say buy 5 books and get the 6th free,stickers etc. Would lure parents away from Amazon. God I'd love a job there.

Accessorise baffles me. Found some nice earrings in there -£12! And a scarf that was thirty five quid - wtf? No idea how they keep going...

Our local Millets has been on a 50% off everything for over a year , I bought DS a fleece coat in Winter 2016 ! half prce in the Closing Down Sale.

Primark are constantly moving their stock forward, the Oxford St stores are always busy , I avoid our local ones at weekends if possible, they are packed. I bought some trousers and TShirt dresses for holiday (and yes, I will see someone else wearing the exact same thing no doubt ) 4 pieces for £20 )

Forever 21 - used to be in Westfield Stratford/Lakeseide/Bluewater .All gone now just Oxford St in our area. Very £ for what it is, but they do constant sales.

BodyShop wins over Lush for me, went in yesterday and once you get past the first member of staff and grab a basket , browse away. DD and I are cruelty free so this is one of our Go-To shops

Urban Outfitters totally [confuse] me. DD (nearly 16, tall, very slim and trendy) is in their target audience , to be it looks like someone has set out a few stalls in a Church Hall.
She's had a few nice pieces from there but they are hideously ££££

I used to work in fashion & one thing I’ve noticed is how a lot of the stores are the same now, carrying the same prints etc plus all the styles are the same where shops used to have their own looks.

Profit has to grow year on year so when costs increase (as they have) & companies are wary of increasing rrp the quality suffers.

Plus shop workers get shite wages now so customer service has declined.

When stores have a strong online presence their retail stores still suffer as they can get a lot of returns to a market they will never sell them in.

I’m quite old fashioned in some of my shopping. I live 10 mins from the high street & really miss WH Smith, yes they are grotty but I liked their mag selection & often need to buy stationary etc. I like Argos too but I’m quite impulsive and I like the ability of being able to get somthing straight away as opposed to next day or so shopping online, or missing deliveries.

I’ve never shopped in Mothercare, Next but I do really like the revamped Warehouse. I don’t shop in Primark but used to find the quality crap. H&M & Zara are vv successful in Europe where they had more dominance as there is less choice. I find the shops often messy & the quality massively varies. Plus in H&M you can be a range of sizes.

I usually only buy online from Blacks/Millets with a discount, most their shops have closed. Mountain Warehouse always seems busy though.

I was so sick of spending £45 on a high st top for it to look terrible after 2 wears. Now spending £80 £100 on one that seemingly looks good forever. (John Smedley, Sézane FYI)

Where are you buying tops for £45 that don't last beyond a couple of wears without looking bad? I'd be returning that as it's faulty! £45 is expensive for a top in my book, I normally wear dresses to be fair but can get a lovely dress that lasts and washes well and goes for years from somewhere like new look or H&M for less than twenty. A £45 top is extravagant and should definitely last!

Yes Urban Outfitters intrigues me too. My teens adore it. They adore the expensive American toiletries e.g. Dr Bronners,light box type tat for bedrooms but it's sooooo expensive. Ds bought a hideous tshirt for £25 there yesterday when shopping with his friend. Could have killed him. Wondering if the attraction is that it's American. Hoping they'll see the light soon.