To feel sad about how many retailers are going under

[Cinammoncake]

Just read about Clintons and I felt quite sad and nostalgic about all the losses and how many more shop chains there will be that will soon be lost from the high street.

I was quite surprised at Mothercare as well.

Yes but ....I saw some boots I wanted on Clark’s -went in the shop today fully intending to buy them after trying on and they actually don’t stock them in the shop ! The lady was so nice but suggested I try the two stores in other towns - involving a sixty mile round trip to visit both both shops, so I shall be ordering online getting them delivered to my door, this often happens they don’t either stock the item in the physical shop or don’t have the size you want

I feel very sad for the staff.

But, but, but we can’t keep blaming one internet for this.
Due to how some of these companies are structured they are loaded with debt and have stripped all value out and now are unable to invest in themselves.

A lot of shops are shabby (Clinton’s bring a prime example), the stock is crap or simply not there. And the biggest problem is that customer service levels are truly abysmal.
For example, last week I interrupted two shop assistants deep in conversation as I wanted to pay for something. They gave me the stink eye for this. If anyone is interested it was Debenhams who very nearly shut down at the start if the year.

Why would anyone really bother with the big stores - crap shops, crap stock (of low stock) and crap customer service. It’s the opposite of an enjoyable experience and most people would rather avoid and just press a couple of buttons on their phone.

I don’t think I’ve been into a card shop, it’s a hard sell. If I need a card I’d get one from the supermarket or independent shop selling lots of different stuff.

Clinton's was overpriced needless crap anyway least its one less shop selling single use items and bloody glitter

I really don't. They never changed their business model or move with the times.

I'm in my 50s and a huge number of shops I remember from my childhood have gone.

Eg, Richard Shops, Etam, C&A, Freeman, Hardy and Willis, Dixons, Fine Fare, Dewhurst, Athena, and let's not forget the much lamented Woolworth's. But, OTOH, we didn't have Claire's, Zara, Cos, Lidl, Aldi, all the phone shops like EE, 3, Vodaphone, and the coffee shops: Starbuck's, Costa, Nero, Pret.

We're shopping differently, and will almost certainly change again and again over the decades. Some businesses go bust, some adapt (eg Greggs used to be a baker and is now a takeaway outlet), new businesses start, retail jobs move out of town or online - there were no jobs in Amazon warehouses in the 1970s - easing congestion in town centres.

Has the loss of jobs in the shops of my youth meant loss of employment, or have people moved to other jobs? Unemployment in 1978: 5.4%, in 2018: 3.9%. Would people prefer to work in the shops of my youth than where they are today? Would they be better off in terms of money? Or life experience? Who knows?

Also being merely present on the High St isn’t enough anymore.

It’s like the original channels not evolving now Netflix is here. People like the change and can see that those shops are a bit bland, dull and overpriced.

Actually that thing where people say shoddy and overpriced at the same time is a killer.

Speaking for myself, I shop online because the high street is shit. There is no point wailing at people to support the high street when the shops on it don't meet their needs. If they did, I would have kept using them.

But Clinton’s was just a purveyor of tacky overpriced landfill crap. Like those ‘me to you’ bears.

I don't go into the city centre if I need a card and present anymore because the parking costs me the present and card budget twice again, it is ridiculous. Even getting the bus would cost £7! I do try to support independent retailers in areas where I can park for free instead.

What I don’t get is in my city centre, the shops are packed and people are laden down with shopping bags wherever you go. I went in over half term and all the car parks were completely full. Christmas will be completely manic with people shopping until late. This is a big city with all the major stores as well as small independent shops.

I have personally changed the way I shop and do a lot online because I find it too stressful to wander round packed out shopping centres.

I do agree that some shops need to get up to date and I haven’t shopped in Clinton’s for more than ten years.

It's all well and good bemoaning the closure of chains, but don't forget those chains themselves caused the closure of thousands of independent shops and turned once thriving diverse town centres into "identik" high streets that were the same whatever town you were in.

Retail has been evolving for 50 years or more.

Speaking for myself, I shop online because the high street is shit.

Same here. Pointless going into M&S., Clarks, Debenhams, etc because they never have what I actually want in stock, or in the right size. Always the same response - we'll order it in for you. Doh! I'd just rather cut out the hassle of town centre parking, congestion, etc., and just order online in the first place. Chain stores are fast becoming their own worse enemy by not having enough stock in their stores.

There's a new Sainsbury's near me. I LOVE Sainsbos but the store is dirty, disorganised, has poor stock control, with flies constantly buzzing around the bakery section. The shop is always overly warm to the point that the packaged bread looks like it's sweating under the plastic wrap.

The staff are always so lovely, and I appreciate that they don't force you to use self-check-outs, but damn, they are making it hard to shop there! Have a terrible feeling...

Amazed Clinton's lasted as long as it did.

Re other closures - other shops appear instead. Not all exactly like for like, of course
Woolworths went, Wilkos and pound shops grew
Millets went, other outdoors shops came.
C&A went, Primark came.

Etc.

One thing we are not short of is ways of buying stuff!

Clinton's is very poor value for money. You can get cards that are just as good for a fraction of the price at the supermarket or Card Factory. Our local shopping centre is already starting to get busy with Christmas shoppers at the weekends so people must be spending their money in real shops. I suspect that those shops have adapted over time unlike Clinton's. It's sad for staff but hopefully it will keep other retailers on their toes and work harder for customers.

the shop is always overly warm

This is another reason I buy online. I know it sounds pathetic, but I just can't cope with looking round shops that are masquerading as saunas.

It's a scary time but I can't stand going into actual shops, much prefer on line shopping.

People are spending less overall - Brexit has a huge part to play in that.

Greedy landlords who just won't do deals are killing the high st.

In recent years, I have struggled to find humorous cards that aren't sexualised in the card shops in town. Also, there are few non-humorous cards that aren't full of saccharine verses. I'm not against rude jokes for the right person, but if I'm buying for my family (we love a good joke) most of the offerings feel wildly inappropriate.

The councils should do a free parking everywhere wEekend and see what happens

I agree, the price of parking is a huge problem. My local shopping centre parking has just gone up - an hour isn't too bad but if you want to stay 3 or 4 hours then it's a lot.

Yes Mothercare is sad! used to love taking dcs there.

Interesting though amicissimma and it's true old shops have gone - lets hope there are new shops coming through but with most people shopping online it seems less likely.

There is a social side too though like pp have said - it's human contact, teens having a day out, elderly people staying warm in the shops etc

I can see the points about Clintons. I doubt cards will be much of a thing in say 10 years time

You still get high st that are really improving, so say zone two SE London now far nicer than it was.

My council has done free parking at the weekends- has made no difference to footfall and takings.

The internet is just too convenient. Retailers can’t compete

Every time I try to go clothes shopping, I can hardly ever find anything I want. They don't have my size, or they don't have petites in store. Nearly every time I ask a shop assistant if they have a particular thing in stock, their immediate response will be "Have you tried online?"