New look closing shops? What's the future of shopping?

[PassingStranger]

New look are closing about 25 stores. Whose to say more won't follow.
What will happen to all these empty buildings?

One hopes they are turned into different shops or housing accommodation.

Noone wants big retail space any more, and there are only so many cafes and restaurants you can put on a high street. I think the future of the high street will be a mix of hospitality, small independent shops and a lot more residential. It's going to take a long time though and in the meantime the high street will be characterised by lots of empty units with vape shops, bookies and seasonal pop up shops.

Alot of people are going to retail parks, where they can park for free?

I was dragged into New Look yesterday. I don’t think the planet can afford these volumes of cheap synthetic clothing. But OP, I agree that retail seems to be in trouble.
(M&S Foodhall was busy though)

Most people are shopping online. This is the result. If the stores aren't bringing in money, they won't stay open. It's annoying as I have awkward shaped feet and need to try shoes on before I buy but all the shops that sold shoes around here have closed down now.

New Look closed in our popular retail park a couple of years ago, they have been closing shops for some time now

The dominance of retail in town centres was only temporary anyway. Until the 80s/90s, people lived and worked in town centres, in places like offices, warehouses, factories, etc. People lived in flats above the shops. There were loads of town centres when entire blocks of mixed residential/retail/industrial buildings were demolished to build shopping centres/arcades. Basically, the proliferation of town centre retail was only a blip.

So, yes, we need to go back to a mix of residential/recreation and workplaces to bring new life to town centres. Turn back the clock. The days of retail dominance are over and won't ever come back now we have out of town retail parks and the internet.

University towns seem to be doing OK because a lot of properties have been converted to student accommodation alongside new student apartment blocks being built on brownfield sites. There are smaller retail, cafes, bars and restaurants which are catering for the students. That's probably a good blueprint for non-Uni towns also - find ways of getting people back to living in the town centres - demolish the large shopping centres and replace with homes, bring empty flats above shops back into residential use, etc. Breath new life into town centres that keep them vibrant outside normal shopping hours to help push out the anti social behaviour.

I thought New Look had been closing their stores for years. They used to have millions of them everywhere so it's not entirely surprising. The retail park in the town I live in is very busy, but the town centre is dead, and I don't think it will ever make a comeback.

First I heard of it. Read it today they are closing some. How long before they all go?

@taxguru We have some city centre places to live, but there is no parking, so it only appeals to young people.

Ours closed last summer. It’s on a retail park just outside of town with free parking, although town itself had a lot of roadworks last year which probably impacted on footfall quite heavily. Both main entrances were being worked on for four months or so, alternating, and one is still ongoing.

Its been replaced by a Food Warehouse.

Yep Pedestrianisation has failed especially as we are a country where millions are on the NHS waiting list and their mobility has been affected as a result

I agree, our retail parks are very busy

It's ridiculous. There's a shortage of housing in this country. They need to convert these empty/charity shop/money laundering outlets into residential spaces and forget about the highstreet. It's done. Over. Gone. Yes, it's sad and all that, but what's the point of having these scruffy town centres full of litter and druggies when they could be turned into useful living spaces? Have the odd coffee shop, small supermarket or eatery and perhaps a hairdresser and that's all you need.

Historic places which are popular with visitors could retain their shops if they're viable, but put the rest out of their misery.

It's a shame, I really like New Look, but when you've got companies like Shein churning out very cheap affordable clothing with an insane amount of choice in comparison, the high street was never going to compete.

Ours, in a tiny retail park, closed about 2 years ago. I thought they all had. The neighbouring Clarks, Outfit, and H&M also closed. River island has survived. M&S have taken over the empty units.

I like New Look. But they have to price their stuff realistically in the first place, rather than letting it all go into the sale.
I think buyers lose confidence in shops like that.

New Look in its heyday used to have copies of catwalk show clothes in their shops a few weeks later and really cheap. They lost their edge

What other services could shops offer that was new and different?

That's where our New Look is. It's usually empty but I've noticed they've started advertising on SM and I've seen a few things I liked so I went and bought them. I hope it doesn't close.

I really miss Oasis, new look is too teeny for me.

I'm certain it's still online

@528htz As really sad as it is I think you’re right. Our New Look closed last year, probably 25% of our local High St is empty shops. I was down town yesterday and was struck at how completely empty it was. It’s the complete loss of interaction. I remember going shopping with my Mother and stopping multiple times as she chatted with people she knew.

I think you're right, @528htz

I never saw anything nice to buy in New Look

Our local one closed a few weeks ago. I went in before Christmas for the first time in ages and it seemed too expensive for what looked like cheap clothing.

Good to see that the unit has already been filled with a branch of Savers though.