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 think it’s interesting that male dominated heavy industries like steel get government rescues and weeks of take but no one gives a shit about retail

Retail doesn't get grants/incentives etc., because it's generally accepted that new stores just displaced existing stores/jobs etc., so nothing "new" is created. That's completely different from the likes of the steel or car industry where if we don't make it in the country, it'd have to be imported, thus giving jobs to people in other countries, hence why it sometimes makes sense to offer grants/incentives for "stuff" to be made in this country, i.e. more jobs, improves balance of payment deficit etc.

Although our local town centre is also suffering from a glut of empty units I think we are rather lucky with our Clarks (only about three times in 13 or so years of shopping there they couldn't fulfil demand for either of the kids, and they both have awkward feet), Mothercare (knowledgeable and helpful staff, although our small branch closed a few years ago despite that) and our Debenhams is still pretty good.

To be fair I don't shop in any shop much, I hate shopping and I don't actually shop online much either.

As for card shops, our local block of shops had an independent card shop perfect for older relatives and non-sexist shite. Then Card Factory opened up opposite and despite hanging on in there for a year or so they finally had to close as they lost too much trade to Card Factory. Now Card Factory has upped and left - no local card shop at all. There has been blaming of the defectors to Card Factory on the local Facebook group for this state of affairs.

I agree with a PP about it being a pain if you work standard full time hours, you can only really shop on a weekend, and it's always super busy which isn't appealing on a day off. I only really go shopping if I'm going with friends, in reality we usually end up just getting food as the shops are so dull. I think online shopping hasn't helped, its just so easy (especially with free returns); but also supermarkets. Most things you need in one place, great for the consumer, not so great if you're trying to attract people to town. Most of the shops where I live appear to be doing well, but except for 2 they are independents, and either offer goods which aren't available anywhere else, or offer amazing service. A change in habits is probably to blame as well, many people buy baby clothes etc second hand now (Mothercare), and fewer people are sending cards or buying unrecyclable wrapping paper. Most branches of Clinton's are also the same as they were a decade ago, rather than directly compete with the card factory, for example, why not offer something they don't. Perhaps a photo booth where you can either take or upload photos to make into greetings cards immediately (like Moonpig without the wait); and rather than selling odd bits and bobs like candles and ornaments, find something that isn't sold elsewhere. I'm not really sure what, but sadly it seems the only way to survive in retail now is to be super cheap (not always achievable), offer something unique (probably won't work, as if it was popular other places would sell it), have amazing customer service and members of staff who can advise you (not available as readily online), or offer an experience.

The worst for me going was Toys R Us it still upsets me now. We have a Clinton's it's always empty but we have two card factory shops one at the bottom of the high street and one at the top they are so busy it's ridiculous but the price for me is great. I can get two balloons filled in there and a nice card for £4 I don't know anywhere else that would do it that cheap

One thing I'd like all high streets to have is something like Stockton's Enterprise Arcade. It's a bit like an In-Shops (which Washington Galleries has) or market, but it allows new independents an in to the high street and gives them the opportunity to build up a customer base before committing to their own unit, if they want to expand. I know one of the previous occupants now has their own independent book shop thanks to that.

I'm in my late 20s and personally in my city I think the high street shops for me are rubbish. I like alot of the online only shops and this appeals to alot of people younger than me too. You get "celebs" or reality tv starts bringing out their own line with these online companies and they younger generation want it. It's a different way now.
The only shop I really love to go in is primark. And they have no online presence. They stock so many different items and you have a choice. Hardly run low on stock. Quick to change trend with the current time. I think they have got it spot on.

Another thing that passes me right off about the hight street is chuggers. Last week one managed to engage me in conversation, asked me all manner of questions, escaped from him and there was another lot 100 yards down the street

I also don’t want to sign up for a credit card. Just stop it.

I blame the planners who started the out of town retail parks, then let the town/city centres fill with £shops, discount stores and coffee shops.

We live near Gloucester which is a prime example of crap planning. The city centre is an absolute eyesore that we literally never visit - we drive the 15 miles into Cheltenham which sadly seems to be heading down the same road. My DDs drive to Bristol, Bath or Cardiff if they are clothes shopping.

What a shame I love their Deco range. And usually treat myself to a Deco diary at New Year.

All the cuts to benefits and low wages have played their part. We cant keep blaming the internet. I have yet to try internet shopping.

I dont have/use Paypal

@Cardy24 re. your comment upthread Dispatches has a programme about Amazon on tomorrow night covering exactly that.

I live in Edinburgh but 25yrs ago if I had a day out in Glasgow or Newcastle they would be very different. Now it’s all Next, Starbucks, Vodaphone, Primark. There’s no uniqueto that city department store - just much of a muchness to every city.

This really makes me want to turn the clock back! so sad.

I agree anitagreen that toysrus going is really sad. My dcs used to love it, lots of memories.

muddlingmackem that arcade seems a really good idea.

I agree wakingupnow about chuggers

So many great contributions on this thread. I wonder what we'd all do first if we had the job of rejuvenating the high street?

Freeport Braintree is currently undergoing a change,

www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/braintree-village-reveals-big-changes-2936999

Not many people living in Braintree will actually be able to afford to shop there (a lot cant afford it now)

Meanwhile the town centre.......

www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/18021712.braintree-shops-hit-snubbed-councils-christmas-leaflet/

About 10 years ago, fed up with spending £3 on a card, my mum, sisters and a few friends agreed to stop buying cards and buy knickers instead.
So now instead of opening a card, closing it and throwing it away, we all get 8-10 pairs of fancy pants. Usually in colours and styles you wouldn't buy yourself so it's quite exciting and funny.
This is as well as a present, so win win.

That's a good idea heylala

helenadove that doesn't sound like a well run set up at all in Braintree does it! The village looks posh but way too pricey and then the town centre sounds like it's just being forgotten about.

I got excited about DD's first Christmas and going to Toys R Us to choose presents for her, before remembering they have now gone 🙁

I work in clothing retail. Not a massive brand but we have more than 50 stores nationwide.

Year on year our figures show that the internet is doing better than bricks and mortar shops. People shop online because it's easier, they're guaranteed their sizes and they don't have to go out. However the more people shop online, the less likely it is that shops can afford to be fully stocked. It costs money to ship clothes in from the warehouse and there's no reason to stock stuff that rarely sells. So people can't find things in store, and shop online, and so the cycle continues.

People buying online and returning in store also eats into store profits, but judging by the responses on a recent thread, people don't like being told that!

I hate the way Clinton's do upselling at the till. Even if you say you only want the expensive card they ask you of you could like the pens or chocolates which are on offer

I’m sad about Mothercare as I remember buying all my newborn baby’s clothes and equipment there. Clinton’s is full of overpriced rubbish so can’t say I’m surprised it’s gone under.

C&A still going strong in Europe, I nearly fell over when I moved to Belgium, and there it was!

Having lived near Brussels, and visited Copenhagen, Vienna, Stockholm when dh had meetings, some stores are ubiquitous, so H&M, Uniqlo, Chanel, Todds etc can all be seen.

I now live near a market town, and there is Fatface, indy clothes shops that sell Joules, Seasalt, Barbour, Brakeburn, a White Stuff, a Crew Clothing and a Neal's yard. There are also charity shops galore, a Costa, but loads of little coffee shops, and a choice of butchers, delis, bakers, a fantastic cheese shop and a greengrocers. The market is open 5 days a week and has all sorts of stalls. there is a Farmers market as well.

The cost of parking is now £2.50 all day, which encourages you to stay and have lunch, or spend more time shopping. My Mum moans that it is too expensive, and that there is very little short term parking, but the car parks are full and the town seems to be buzzing more than I remember.

I guess i’m clinton’s target customer mid 50’s reasonable amount of disposable income and still send some birthday cards. Actually went into town today to meet a friend for coffee then went to Clinton’s, hadn’t heard about their problems at that stage, to buy a card for a friend, shop was full of glittery crap and struggled to find a suitable card, in the end I had to leave empty handed because the overpowering smell of the many candles on sale were making me feel sick. I tried half heartedly visiting other shops, soo hot, gave up and went home.
Every time I go into town shopping it reminds me why I make most of my purchases online. Usually free delivery, but even if they charge it’s still cheaper than our local extortionate bus fares, and the bus driver I got today on the way home was rude which really finished off my shopping day for me.
Back to online shopping for me.

@Cinammoncake
@HelenaDove

I visited Freeport Braintree a few days ago. Whilst I felt some stores had ramped up prices (possibly thinking that people would still pay the higher prices for Christmas gifts?), prices were still lower than in non-outlet stores for the same brands. Still worth a visit, if only for the Lindt Shop!

My own local council do everything they can to deter car users. In the last six months they have abolished tge half hour free parking we used to get for the smaller towns in the borough as well as charging a minimum £1.50 to park at the couple of local shopping parades in residential areas. This is having a massive detrimental effect on these small, independent shops such as fish and chip shops, chemists, grocers etc.
I can't remember the last time u shopped in the main town in the borough - lack of stock availability, lack of choice, lack of customer service along with exorbitant parking fees, mean I do 90% of my shopping online and the remainder at an out of town shopping centre.
Greetings cards I either order from moonpig in advance, buy at a local craft centre if it's a special birthday or wedding etc or, if I have time, I make my own. I certainly don't spend Clinton's prices on their dismal offering.

I agree with much of what's been said here. I did a high speed high street shop to get a non-glittery black top on Friday, and out of the 8 shops I tried, only 1 had something suitable in my size! Everything looked exactly the same in each shop, and what was there was mainly size 8 or 10. Pointless.

That said, I do wonder if/how people's online buying habits will change as the environmental toll of online clothes shopping becomes more widely known. Some online retailers are seeing return rates of almost 50%, and if its been marked by makeup/fake tan/been sneakily worn etc, it goes to landfill because it can't be sold again as new (if not soiled, it is sold at an enormous loss to a jobber who will ship and sell it overseas). 100‰ of all this textile waste is recyclable but because people buy a couple of sizes of each item, and buy multiple items, it's creating vast amounts of waste, plus whatever energy/water etc it took to make an item in the first place, only for it to end up in a hole in the ground. It's sickening.

The retailer that gets their head around how to handle - and market - their response to this will do well.

If retailers didn't fill their shelves with pointless badly made mass produced tatt , and didn't have xmas songs blaring out that they refuse to turn down or off so you have to shout to make yourself heard, or over fill clothes racks so the whole lot falls on the floor if you pick anything, then people wouldn't find shopping so stressful and prefer to shop online. Rant over

Agree with most of the responses on this thread. If we wanted Clintons we would spend our money there. The fact not enough of us has done this and it's struggling suggests we don't want it.

The only surprise I have about Mothercare is that it didn't go under sooner. It was rubbish when DD was a baby 14 years ago. Some nice things but always more expensive than elsewhere and never available in the size you needed.

I’m just waiting for Dorothy Zperlins to announce they’re struggling! Constant discount on in their stores!