I'm thinking the high street deserves to die?

[highstreetdiestreet]

Urgently need a black dress for a funeral, looked around the whole of York, nothing.

Utter dross.

Is it covid/brexit/mid-season/my being pregnant's fault?

I think the simplicity of online shopping has made us less willing to waste a day trekking around multiple shops only to leave empty handed. It's inevitable that brick stores will continue to reduce in number. Just progress I suppose. I work in retail and people are always irritated and not enjoying the experience which is hard for us as it's not our fault. If you order 3 size 12s but they sell out, they sell out. I agree though about the polyester crap though. It's everywhere.Yuck.

[quote Globaluser]www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-belted-midi-shift-dress/p/clp60533536?color=BLACK[/quote]
Thanks... if only it was in the store...

Seems a little harsh to me but I understand you're feeling emotional at this time.

One day you will no longer be pregnant or going to a funeral like most of us. That's what shops need to cater for. But my condolences and congratulations. I see you've found a dress.

My local town centre has become a mix of coffee shops and hairdressers/salons.
We do have some clothes shops but probably less than 10. If I'm after something specific like a nice black top or whatever, I don't even bother to look.
The city centre where I work is much better obviously but stock levels are just a pain and shop staff seem miserable

@limitedperiodonly

Seems a little harsh to me but I understand you're feeling emotional at this time.

One day you will no longer be pregnant or going to a funeral like most of us. That's what shops need to cater for. But my condolences and congratulations. I see you've found a dress.

Many people are pregnant, and many people unfortunately need to go to funerals.

I'm hardly in a unique situation!

I'm in Australia and I'm having similar issues. Even the more expensive high street shops seem to be stocking shoddy, cheap looking shite.

One day you will no longer be pregnant or going to a funeral like most of us. That's what shops need to cater for.

But the vast majority of high street shops aren't even catering for most of us.

@dongke

YANBU. Everything has become cheap scratchy fast fashion at boutique prices.

Because the majority of shoppers want qty over quality.

I don't think that's true, I don't know anyone who wants to buy a nasty polyester top. Don't blame the shoppers, blame the shops. I agree with OP, the shops aren't stocking sufficiently well. Maybe they need to think more about their OSP. Because if they try to compete with online, they will lose. We go to actual shops to be able see the products, feel the material, and try them on, as well as to be able to buy what we need on the spot. So they need to have the full size range in stock, and capitalise on having decent fabrics.

@ZoBo123

It's not just clothes it's everything. The business model seems to be stock the bare minimum then get people to order online. I could do that at home without the hassle of driving and parking. Their USP should be want something today come and get it no need to order

This! I really don't want the High Street to die. But! I'm not that keen on shopping, so when I've needed something I've tended to have a look on-line to see what's on offer. Then, as we are always being encouraged to save the High Street, I would go to the relevant shops in town to try something on etc.

But so many times you get to the shop to be told they don't actually stock that particular item in store. However, they very kindly offer to order it in for me so I can come back two days later and pick it up. So I don't get what I've gone in for, have to make another trip into town with more fares/parking charges, and take more time out of an already busy week. Compared to order in a few things on-line when it's convenient to me, without having to leave the house.

And they wonder why everyone does stuff on-line

I'm very sorry for your loss 💐
My mum died in August and I couldn't find anything suitable to wear either so I just had to create an outfit from my existing clothes - I ended up wearing a navy skirt with a black top and blazer.
Funny thing is I went shopping with a family friend who's size 26 and she got a great outfit yet I'm an average size 14/16 and couldn't find a thing.

@TurnUpTurnip

*Today 13:10 Lipsandlashes

TurnUpTurnip
My local high street is dead, all the decent shops have shut and now it’s just weird tacky £5 clothes shops called “diva” and such like 🤢
Yes! Where have they all come from? Surely they have to be a front for something else*

The weirdest part is they close down all the time and then reopen the same shop just with a different name like “Eva” or “zoe” 🤨 but it’s exactly the same shop, with exactly the same clothes, there are so many of them on my high street all lined up together and no other clothes shops. I stick to online.

Possibly a front for money laundering?

Well, the high street is dying and that’s why you couldn’t find anything. If you want choice, you need to shop online. I know some people prefer shopping in store but not enough people to sustain the high street.

There's a reason JL has closed.

Carry on online shopping and the whole town centre will be a desert of bookies, charity shops and Poundland.

You reap what you sow.

YANBU.

The only clothing shops we even have in our town are Peacocks and M and Co!

@AhNowTed

There's a reason JL has closed.

Carry on online shopping and the whole town centre will be a desert of bookies, charity shops and Poundland.

You reap what you sow.

If the high street shops have poor stock and awkward opening times what other choice is there. You can visit the high street as much as you want, but you can't buy an item if they don't have it in store.

@Daisyhoney

I'm very sorry for your loss 💐 My mum died in August and I couldn't find anything suitable to wear either so I just had to create an outfit from my existing clothes - I ended up wearing a navy skirt with a black top and blazer. Funny thing is I went shopping with a family friend who's size 26 and she got a great outfit yet I'm an average size 14/16 and couldn't find a thing.

Sorry, that's sad.

One thing this has taught me is I need to work on my basics wardrobe in case of unforeseen events.

My late grandmother wouldn't have this issue! She would have been prepared and looked appropriate for any and every occasion.

Thank the lord I found the pearls she gave me last night. We've recently moved house so had to look in a fair few boxes.

People don't buy stuff on the high street and then complain they can't find anything to buy on the high street

@limitedperiodonly

Seems a little harsh to me but I understand you're feeling emotional at this time.

One day you will no longer be pregnant or going to a funeral like most of us. That's what shops need to cater for. But my condolences and congratulations. I see you've found a dress.

But she's not looking for maternity wear, or for anything outlandish or niche, she's looking for a black dress that "most of us" would likely want to buy.

You reap what you sow.

I wasn't aware I had so much influence on the whole state of the high street!

I still like going to shops, but there is an issue of things becoming so fashion-centred that if you want to find something that isn't in fashion right now, it's hard to find in physical shops. Internet has been a godsend for that - I remember wanting to buy a short dress where everywhere was only selling maxidresses, and stack heels where you could only buy stilettos (I can't wear the latter for medical reasons) and so on...

YANBU. The high street is expensive, inconvenient and never has what you want anyway.

@Echobelly

I still like going to shops, but there is an issue of things becoming so fashion-centred that if you want to find something that isn't in fashion right now, it's hard to find in physical shops. Internet has been a godsend for that - I remember wanting to buy a short dress where everywhere was only selling maxidresses, and stack heels where you could only buy stilettos (I can't wear the latter for medical reasons) and so on...

Agree.

I'm just stressed because I really want to look nice for the funeral.

I feel slightly more organised in that I coloured my hair freshly this morning (I always colour it myself) and my husband trimmed the ends off the bottom (couldn't get a hairdressing appointment with such little notice).

Just need a decent dress!

YABU as are the comments about staff who don’t give a shit it know anything about their product. I managed a well known brand of plus size fashion high street store. My whole team and I were dedicated to our customers and would go above and beyond for people. We had customers travel miles to come see us. When my shop shut I cried for a week. I put my heart and soul into that shop.

Anyone actively wishing millions of people out of work is a massive wanker IMO

I gave up on the high street long ago. I’m 5’10”, size 18, bra size 38H with size 8/9 feet. I can never find anything in my size and most shops are only open til 5 in my area. I work full time and I certainly don’t want to go at weekends.
I think supermarkets fo well at selling clothes. All under one roof and you don’t have to pay for parking in town.

@ImNotDancing

YABU as are the comments about staff who don’t give a shit it know anything about their product. I managed a well known brand of plus size fashion high street store. My whole team and I were dedicated to our customers and would go above and beyond for people. We had customers travel miles to come see us. When my shop shut I cried for a week. I put my heart and soul into that shop.

Anyone actively wishing millions of people out of work is a massive wanker IMO

No one's wishing that.