Which shop / chain or service are you praying survives?

[EinsteinaGogo]

My teen DD has just had an ASOS order - i said off the cuff, "what would you do if they weren't around", which resulted In 😱😱😱😱😱

With so many shops and restaurants in vulnerable positions, what would you really, really miss if they didn't pull through the next year?

Oh, also agree with Seasalt and Oliver Bonas.

What do people think about WHSmiths' survival chances? I am intrigued they have already survived as long as they have

I don't know what the point of WHS is, tbh. In the last 10 years or so, I've bought 2 things in there: the last Wolf Hall book, because I had a voucher that made it cheaper in there than anywhere else, and an OS map. And I only got the map in there because MIL gave me a WHS voucher.

Our local WHS is also home to the only post office within 5 miles though, so I don't know what would happen to that. I sometimes wonder if they only keep going because people buy books or mags to read in the PO queue, which is always massive when I walk past.

I wouldn't miss any of the chains to be honest. They have always come and gone.

I won't be shopping at Warehouse and Oasis any more now they've been bought out by Boohoo.

I'm hoping all the local independents survive around here.

@Yoir seasalt is a really lovely (but pricy) clothing brand that does clothing in natural fibres -cotton, linen etc. I find their clothes really durable and I love that they cater for plus sizes.

The local independent shops, especially three cafes. The twice weekly market which seems now to be busier than ever.

What do people think about WHSmiths' survival chances? I am intrigued they have already survived as long as they have

WHS are very different to other chains. They've been closing underforming stores on a drip basis for many years, unlike other chains who keep the loss making stores, hence dragging down the chain towards complete collapse (i.e. like Woolworths). They're also the "last man standing" newsagent in many towns, and are the only place to get the "unpopular" newspapers and mags that the supermarkets don't sell, i.e. foreign daily newspapers, hobby magazines, etc. A final point is that many premises are owned by WHS rather than rented so they don't have to suffer ridiculously high rents.

Seasalt
Joules
John Lewis/Waitrose (ours is in the same building so I guess if one goes they both go)
Lakeland. The one in my town hasn’t reopened but it’s in a really unusual building so that could cause social distancing problems.

@Kazzyhoward

What do people think about WHSmiths' survival chances? I am intrigued they have already survived as long as they have

WHS are very different to other chains. They've been closing underforming stores on a drip basis for many years, unlike other chains who keep the loss making stores, hence dragging down the chain towards complete collapse (i.e. like Woolworths). They're also the "last man standing" newsagent in many towns, and are the only place to get the "unpopular" newspapers and mags that the supermarkets don't sell, i.e. foreign daily newspapers, hobby magazines, etc. A final point is that many premises are owned by WHS rather than rented so they don't have to suffer ridiculously high rents.

Don’t forget that Smiths also distribute the newspapers and magazines to smaller newsagents and make money that way too.

[quote XFPW]@Guapobeatsboojum talk to me about Guapo please! We only moved back to NI last year and haven’t got to grips with a lot of the local restaurant scene since we returned. Having lived in TX, with a lot of Latino friends, we feel very strongly about our Mexican food. (Someone suggested a takeaway in a certain seaside town which apparently won Mexican of the year and to say that it was poor would be the understatement of the year. The owners have no clue about real Mexican food!)[/quote]
We just moved back at the start of the year from Oz so also trying to figure out local restaurants & businesses. We haven't tried it yet but La Taqueria (Ormeau Rd & Castle St) looks to be the most promising in terms of more authentic Mexican food, hoping to try it soon!

I am hoping my local Argos reopens sometime as I can walk to it. But I am not optimistic. I don't want to drive to the two Sainsburys with Argos in them (both around 5 miles away), queue to get in there, and then have to queue again for Argos. If they had a collection kiosk outside that would be something, but still nowhere near as convenient as walking for anything I can carry.

I would miss Pizza Express - it's a bit expensive for what you get, but you know what you are going to get and the food is ok and the same everywhere so it's always a good option whatever town you are in.

I'd also miss Waterstones.

DS has just nearly fainted at the thought of ASK restaurants closing

Goodness I think they are awful - I would not miss them at all - I saw their ownership has changed. If I were the new owner I'd close all the ASK branches and keep Zizzis open.

I suspect most of the clothes shops I like will be ok as they can sell online, eg Fat Face, Crew, Sea Salt etc.

We have a really lovely local independent children's bookshop, I spent far too much money in there this morning wilfully. They are so good and they do lots of work with local schools and children's services, have story groups, creative writing club for children etc and I can't see how any of it makes much of a profit.

Boots - hope they survive - I have always liked shopping in Boots

Where do you live? Ours is awful. But I've rarely been in a decent one recently, though the one at London Waterloo station isn't too bad.

Staffing levels are completely inadequate and they were completely up themselves over covid and"non-essential" purchases. I won't use them again unless I don't have an option.

WHSmith seems to have a huge presence at mainline railway stations, service stations and airports selling stuff at even more outrageous prices than their high street stores.
I know they aren't the only ones to do it i'm looking at you sports direct but I can't stand their fake special offers. I can't actually believe anyone, ever, has paid £25 for a pack of sharpies.
I have a pretty limited budget and rarely buy clothes for myself but obviously my children need new stuff each year and we generally go to h and M, primark, occassionally next and DD now gets stuff on depop.
With the threat of mass store closures it makes me wonder what will stay open. after all people will always still need clothes, shoes, bedding, household items etc...will everything just become way more expensive?

@Yoir Seasalt is a clothing brand, along the lines of Joules and Boden.

I like them, I’d say similar target market to Boden.

Can I say my own shop?? I really need it to survive until Christmas when I get big orders in!!

I love Waterstones
The works
Nando’s
My local coffee shop
Ikea

Nothing, if we're talking chains. I hope they all go under and sustainable independent businesses and co-ops take local high streets back over

Chains really aren't the enemy. They employ local people who spend money locally. They have regular opening hours and a HQ so they are accountable. They usually have a standard returns policy and you know what size you are in a particular shop. I never buy clothes in independent shops.

I am not a fan of independents generally though because their owners can be completely up themselves and think they're doing you a favour.

Exception: cafes as the chains are pretty boring and sell rubbish coffee. Though I like cakes in Costa.

Don’t forget that Smiths also distribute the newspapers and magazines to smaller newsagents and make money that way too.

No they don't. They sold off the wholesale/distribution section about 15 years ago.

John Lewis
Ryman
Robert dyas

Nothing, if we're talking chains. I hope they all go under and sustainable independent businesses and co-ops take local high streets back over

I agree. I'm old enough to remember the High Street before it was taken over by the indentikit chains. Lots of independents, mixed with a few local/regional chains. Every town centre was different. Shops sold different things. The chains came in, forced out the independents, usually much narrower product range. Many chains are owned by investment banks, many foreign, who aren't paying UK tax due to maxing out borrowings/interest, offshoring profits, etc.

Pizza Express
John Lewis

Bemused at the love for Pizza Express on here, it’s a dull overpriced chain.

I love PE because it caters well for coeliac vegetarians with a load of food allergies.

@DerekTheDodo Same, I cried when I heard it had gone into administration!
My mum went there as a child and this has been passed through the generations. My eldest is an adult now and whenever we are there she jokes that it will be my turn to take my grandchildren soon.
I love it there, such a sweet place.

Our local Boots is shite, too @cologne4711. It's far too small to have a decent range of beauty and skincare stuff (our not-big Tesco has a better selection of low-end non-Boots brands), has a very limited range of hair stuff and their stock control is piss-poor. If you need something from the pharmacy counter you have to wait for ages and can't buy what you need between 1.30 and 2.30, because the pharmacist is at lunch.