To be angry at those celebrating the death of retail

[TheMessyCleaner]

I'm a member of a zero waste group who are all ecstatic that research is showing that people are shopping less and lots of shops are closing down.
I used to work in retail, dp works in retail, bff works in retail, MIL works in retail. Yes capitalism has to go but we don't have an alternative yet. All that will end up happening is more employment, more people struggling on universal credit.
I get so sick of people with very good salaries telling people on the breadline that they should be happy that change is coming and that soon we'll all be small scale farmers and live in a world where we swap beans for handmade clothes. We are so so far from that vision.
Nothing makes your blood boil when you are struggling to get by like someone on £50K telling you to go for a walk or take your kids to the park when you just want to earn enough to be able to take them to the cinema for a treat once in the summer holidays.
Sorry I think I projecting

This is a subject that is close to my heart as I am desperately trying to build my small niche market shop into a viable concern as I am now 50 and trying to get back into the job market with a CV that is patchy through caring responsibilities when I was a mere 42 was a traumatic enough experience then.....

In some respects we are lucky that our rent is below the threshold to pay business rates - this came into force around 5 months after we opened, and we were paying rates until then - which came to nearly as much per month as our rent. If the government hadn't moved the goal posts we wouldn't be here at the almost three year point I can assure you.

We are not on a high street, but on a route into our town centre which is about five minutes away on all major bus routes, and we are in a parade of shops that include two sandwich shops, two convenience stores, a dentist, an auction house, a bingo hall and an estate agents. We are close to other alternative venues which mirror our stock, and we do as much marketing as we can, usually on social media. I am currently working towards a YouTube channel, and we have an ebay shop running before we build our own website. Our pricing is realistic - prices range from 99p to 250.00. We sell a mix of new items and pre-loved / vintage stock, as we do embrace the idea of recycling / upcycling. We have tried events, both in house and at other venues. We have targeted the students as we are slap bang in the middle of student accomodation. We have tried to be community minded, resulting in spending a fair amount of my time helping local homeless and otherwise disadvantaged folk.

Since the end of last year we have seen our business take a drastic downturn. Footfall has dropped because the area is becoming downtrodden, and people balk at paying 10.00 for a mint condition Per Una skirt for example. We source our stock carefully in line with our brand, and sell for artisans and makers too on commission. So many people come in, admire our decor, coo at our products and then vanish without making a purchase despite my following all the "rules" about being engaging but not pushy etc etc.

We are constantly approached to have stalls at charity events locally, which we have done on occasion, but often this, or putting on an event in the shop will leave us barely breaking even.

If I had a pound for every suggestion made to increase money coming in to the shop from people, that I have already tried, I might be doing slightly better than just about breaking even.

A recent article in our local paper suggested the answer for struggling businesses would be to make retail "experiential". My cynical thought, given my market, is that I could hex people or jump out at them shouting "Boo!" - I do offer a service which is popular but inconsistent in its uptake.

So yes, OP, I hear you - there is a fine balance to be had when it comes to retail. people who don't like shopping can go online. Persuading people to part with their cash in a shop is rather more tricky, even if one is keeping abreast of current trends and trying to be environmentally conscious etc. If retail is dying, then there needs to be a cohesive approach to its demise - as you say, people working in retail, and particularly with small independent businesses still need to live - and trust me - I'd make a very shoddy barista.......

people balk at paying 10.00 for a mint condition Per Una skirt for example.

You say mint condition, not new, so i'm assuming the skirt is second hand? If so I can see why people would feel that's expensive.

As for the high street, I also agree with misspiggy

It is far quicker, easier and convenient to order online.

I've tried to buy on the high street, but by the time i've paid for parking, waited in the queues and driven home again. I could have ordered it online, usually for less than the shop price, and spent the rest of my time doing something else.

Two other issues I can think of:

Accommodation is very expensive now, but many consumer goods are cheaper than they used to be, relatively-speaking. I have too much “stuff” and not enough space, which discourages me from buying more.

It’s a vicious cycle. As high street sales fall, fewer retail staff are employed, which means poorer customer service, especially in chain stores. I don’t enjoy shopping these days, as the wait to be served is often much too long. I’ve had to abandon shopping at the check out a few times in recent months, because I can’t always wait 15 minutes to pay, especially when I have a toddler with me.

I would buy from local retailers if there were any left. In my medium sized town the shopping center has 36 shops, of which 34 are outlets of national chains -- Aldi, Target, PetSmart, etc. The two locally owned ones are a gourmet popcorn store and a nail salon (owned by Vietnamese).
If I want to buy local produce, the farmer's market is open from May - November on Thursdays 10-2pm.

So what's the point. I can go online, buy from Amazon and have it delivered right to my door within 48 hours and spend less.

As high street sales fall, fewer retail staff are employed, which means poorer customer service, especially in chain stores.

It's not just quantity of staff, there's a massive decline in quality. If shops want to survive they need to offer customer service. That means their staff knowing where things are in the store, knowing a little bit about their stock, knowing when more stock is expected in, etc. Far too many times, you ask a perfectly simple question and the shop assistant hasn't a clue. They're happy to stand around gossiping or checking their phone, but don't have the initiative to walk around the store and look at what stock they have.

I find that especially infuriating in "specialist" stores where they expect you to pay a lot more for the goods (compared with say Amazon) but can offer no help or advice - my latest experience was an independent camera shop where I'd have been happy to pay shop prices if they could have helped me choose which camera was most appropriate for me. The spotty faced oik who was in the shop hadn't a clue - all he could do was read the side of the box re features etc. Doh! I can do that myself on the Amazon website!

And no, that isn't wholly down to low pay - there are plenty of exceptional shop assistants on minimum wage. It's down to the shop owner/manager just employing the first person they could find rather than spending the time weeding them out, taking references, etc to find someone suitable.

A lot of people don't use the high street because there is never anything there when you go in.
Find clothes you like online, go to buy them and they either don't have any there or you can only buy that item online anyway.
All of them are the same.

Thanks for the feedback on the pricing of my Per Una skirts :)

The ones I sell are the swishy / embellished / unusual styles, and to be fair they sell around that in some charity shops here. I do my price checking by comparison on ebay, where I have seen similar secondhand skirts go for almost as much as their new price. But I always appreciate an opinion from a potential customer ;)

I buy a lot online because i am looking for particular things which the High Street shops simply don't have.
An example this summer i was looking for a swimsuit. Seems simple enough, but particular style the regular shops for some reason don't stock and i don't understand why, because its nothing peculiar. However, i totally understand that if something isn't popular, that businesses should stock it only because somebody like myself.

My town is just charity shops and coffee shops. I hate it but I buy nearly everything from Amazon these days.

"Buying your chilled water bottle on Amazon and then having it delivered from China isn't better than buying it from a local business. "

Where do you think the local business gets it from?

I mean I literally hate going out to the shops - not a huge fan of shopping online at places like boohoo/asos etc - the scandals/sweatshops/waste/environmental impact is just awful!! I make a massive effort to just buy 2nd hand stuff (especially denim)

I can't get behind giving horrible big companies my money!!

I shop local/2nd hand or from sites like etsy directly from the seller!

You say statements like oh having your water bottle shipped from china is bad - you can just pick up decent eco friendly water bottles and then never ever buy a plastic bottle again - this is deffo better for the environment!!

Buying 2nd hand stuff is certainly not just for the rich - so I don't get your argument there tbh!!

Accommodation is very expensive now, but many consumer goods are cheaper than they used to be, relatively-speaking. I have too much “stuff” and not enough space, which discourages me from buying more.

Yes - I live in a small flat and have to save 40k just to get a house deposit on a small terrace around here. It's a one-in-one-out policy on "stuff" because the flat is full, and I would rather have the money. Unless I become one of those hoarders.

Also, there is nothing I want to buy. I used to love clothes shopping 10 years ago but now I find everything ghastly. Every single shop sells the same "trends", so if I don't want a frilly floral Kate Middleton style dress this summer, then there's nothing. Or cold shoulder tops last year. Everything is in dull and muddy colours like khaki and grey. I don't like ANYTHING and the quality is shite too. I make my own clothes or buy from charity shops.

After watching documentaries like The True Cost which show how big clothing companies force garment factories to make clothes for rock bottom prices, and also the exploits of people like Sir Philip Green, I can't support those shops. I would rather buy from independent designers on Etsy who make things themselves and pay themselves a fair wage.

Everything @Kazzyhoward said, plus traffic, dealing with rude fellow customers, out of stock, etc.

I’ve had the same experience. Example, I’d go to the stores where there is pricey makeup and the young women and men working there ignore you, too busy gossiping and assuming you won’t buy anything if you’re makeup-less/casually dressed and/or are older than their generation. They think they’re too cool for school and know little about products, competitor’s products, and nothing beyond the looks they do on their own faces. But they think they are experts. Never mind their commission, sales should just drop from heaven.

It wasn’t always like this.

In fact, I’ve worked high end cosmetics and never ignored customers nor judged by their clothing etc. Nor did my coworkers! I also knew about the products, competitor’s products, trends, and how to apply makeup for all types not just my own face/skin type/style.

We actually meant it when we promised the customers to inform them of things that might be of their interest, according to information they allowed us to collect.

Good luck getting that now. I have one that does, because I met her years ago and she’s a hard worker. Apparently she’s successful because she keeps getting promoted, imagine that. However, she’s the exception and not the rule.

Same going into an electronics store. Not greeted, have to hunt someone down. Did this a couple of weeks ago as my son saved up for an expensive gaming device. We did all our research online, and only went into the store to get it because I needed to see him try it on first and he was overjoyed to finally have enough to get it.

They left us to it until we were ready to buy it. Not one iota of information offered. Again, it wasn’t like that always. I worked that same company decades ago and knew about the products and shared the information with customers. Always greeted people, offered assistance, without acting like a vulture.

Most assistants now are lackadaisical. This happened often enough I just turned to buying online, most of the time.

I do like independent shops, artisans, etc. They are few and far between here, and I have to say, ones not local, I buy from their online shops.

As for the consumption rate, people are buying more than ever. Just look at crazy “my such and such collection/haul” videos.

So no, there’s no death of retail.

I'm envious of people with standard body shapes and sizes and standard foot shapes and sizes. I always prefer to try clothes on in a real shop before I buy, and have to try on a gazillion pairs of shoes before I find any that are comfortable.

Some people are so smug about never going shopping, as if shopping is beneath them.

I get far better service online compared to shopping. Plus I don't have to contend with pushy shop assistants, stinking air fresheners, chuggers, stuff being out of stock, crowds, parking, high prices, overheated stores, loud music and being pushed by other shoppers. I'm autistic and hate going to the shops, I only go to the supermarket now.

I work part time and don't have any of those problems as I can avoid busy times pottedshrimps.

I can honestly say that I never get shit service either.

@uokhun25 I think you've missed my point. The fact is that some people think retail is on the decrease because of a sudden sway of anti-consumerism. That's not the case. The real reason is that everyone shops online which is possibly (I'm not sure!) worse for the environment as everything is coming separately direct to people's doors and not to one location (like a shop.)
My question is what happens to all those who currently work in retail? We don't make anything anymore, call centres are not for everyone and do we really want people without the passion for it going into care work?
I don't know the answer, just a query from an ex retail worker.

My question is what happens to all those who currently work in retail?
It's not like retail is going to be completely wiped out. And there will be other business models, other jobs. If course it is difficult to lose a job, but can't expect that jobs will be magically kept if a business is going under

I'm not sure that retail is dying - it's more physical stores that are struggling.

Online has so many advantages - especially from a lower waste point of view:

1. You can see reviews (though I tend to use fakespot.com as some of them are nonsense) - that means that you tend to be less likely to buy bad solutions.
2. As @potatoshape said the returns policies are much better (returnics.com helps me here as sometimes they're a bit hidden away). Better returns policies also means that e-commerce stores are less likely to stock bad products as they'd just be returned and incur expense.
3. The chance of getting buyers remorse is also a lot lower with tools like camelcamelcamel.com .

It's just not clear to me how the high-street can compete at this stage.

I think we need to rethink town centres. Realistically most shopping will now be online. Town centres should have green parks, community hubs, entertainment facilities etc.

The lovely Greenwich market has 4 shops that are empty now - a wonderful vintage clothes shop gone - I assume because of the plus 50k rent

Ahh Greenwich It used to be so fantastic full of cut price books shops and the outdoor vintage market was twice the size it is now.

It's still great but not what it used to be. And yes the remaining quirky vintage shops have been forced to close and excessive gentrification means the area is gradually becoming cookie cutter vanilla in its' vibe.