For wanting to play 'administration' bingo?

[TheSeriousSanta]

I am.. I know I am.. It's mean..

But I have compiled a list of high street stores that will go bust before 31st January and now feel compelled to see if I can shout HOUSE before anyone else...

andyrobo - my brother is manager for currys store and has said very similar to what you put in your post

but margins on electricals and pc stuff, and toys, for that matter, tend to be tighter than other items so you need a very good throughput to compensate. Toy retailers used to only be profitable in the run up to Christmas so likes of Hamleys may well be vulnerable again.

Firkins the bakers [tapping nose emoticon] Our local one hasn't paid the rent and the landlord has changed the locks.

Our local Lidl is expanding! They're building an extension as we speak.

DH suggests Homebase - not competitive enough, too similar to Wilkinsons et al. I remember reading/hearing some time ago that Wilkinsons use prison labour, so probably saving a lot of money that way as well as making a lot from thrifty shoppers.

Budget supermarkets seem to be one type of business actually growing in the current economic climate.

I suppose toilet paper must be doing well. That Davina bint off Hollyoaks (a while back), she's a bog-roll heiress, isn't she? I remember her smugly sniggering in an interview once about how Daddy owned Kimberley-Clark or something, and people would always need to wipe their arses.

And accountants. People always need them, whether their accounts are solid or parlous.

thats good to know UQD, being one (acountant, not loo roll!).

Our local Co-op has just closed down and the building is now a Morrisons.

Pizza Hut might also struggle i think....

Also Waitrose who are on the pricey side and always empty. Aren't they owned by John Lewis?

waitrose is owned by john lewis, the 3 in my area are always packed, where do you live simpsons, i might go there to do my shopping!

Waitrose is always packed here, too.

Would expect John Lewis to be relatively secure due to the way it is owned/managed. They have a fair bit of land.

LOL Its the Ealing one. I don't live or shop there but my mum chooses Waitrose specifically because it is always quiet and no queues etc. Glad they are busy in your area though...maybe they are ok

I think Waitrose/John Lewis will continue to do well, because they are to some extent niche. They aim themselves at the top end of the market and won't be hugely dented by the recession, because - and it pains me to say it - those who shop there are not going to feel this in their wallets as heavily as others.

Those at the cheapo end will do well - Aldi and Lidl and Poundland will pick up new customers.

It's the middle-range shops I fear for the most... Tesco, Debenhams, M&S...

i dont think you need to fear too much for tesco, their profits may have been slightly down this year, but i think they probably still made a fair amount.

have also noticed lots of mentions of debenhams being in trouble, i have a friend who is fairly high up in debs, they had a more profitable xmas this year than last, lots of their heavy discounting was planned in and bought for.

Woolies and Adams...both childrenswear retailers.(Although I never shopped in them)

On here people have tipped Next M&S and Mothercare as well.

If another one goes it could be quite hard to buy childrenswer....

I thought Boots was in trouble

Please can everyone stop foretelling doom for Next, Lush, M&S, Accessorize, Past Times, ELC and Mothercare. I personally keep these stores afloat and I will not see them go down the pan.

Snowballs - I will join you on M&S, Next,ELC & Mothercare.

They can't go

Debenhams is in trouble because it owes £1bn to UK banks - and some of those banks are meant to be merging. They need to raise money somehow this year and much faster than before. They're not one of the ones that will go in the next month or two but they're in trouble by midyear unless they can raise a lot of cash from somewhere.

lol at 'fearing for Tesco'

All I can hope is that they make less profit this year and that people move on to local shops and markets

Unquiet - seriously Tescos If only!

"People always need them, whether their accounts are solid or parlous" Yes, but there will be less people who need accountants surely?

simpsons when I lived in Ealing that waitrose was always quiet, and that is 8 years ago.

Pizza Hut is owned by a company called Tri something or another that own Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell and various other american fastfood chains.

The Tri something or another company is owned by Pepsi, so they will be fine.

I also think Tesco and Asda will do okay.

EandH - glad to hear that other Currys Managers are saying the same - either the PR is good, or it is true!

Decent, reasonable priced childrens clothes are hard to find anyway, and the supermarkets (yet again) seem to be undercutting the general Childrenswear retailers. I have never shopped in Adams, the nearest one closed down over a year ago.

One unfortunately named shop I saw open this year is called 'Life is Good' . It stocks a range of branded 'Life is Good' clothing (a bit like Fat Face stuff). T shirts with large 'Life is Good' slogens across the chest etc.

Saw a branch in Kingsbridge, in Devon. I think there are others. I feel its days are numbered, unless its shoppers have a taste for irony.

I see Morgan has also gone already