High St stores closing - who's next? Wallis, Jane Norman and BHS I predict

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So far I've read about Morgan, Whittards, Zavvi, Whittards, Adams and Woolies of course.

I have to say I didn't shop in any of them (part from Woolies) that often. Will they be missed give the deluge of big supermarkets (Tesco et al) & now selling most of what the above sold anyway?And internet shopping perhaps has also hit some of these companies also.

How much will your local high st change in 2009 do you think? Mine will be quite empty now that Woolies has gone. I suspect the premises will be hard to let now that a Tesco is across the road from it.

What are your views of an ideal high st - for me it would be more independant shops, existing chain stores offering decent goods and a friendly service (!) and of course value for money.

Bhs are sooooo lame , I can't see them staying around for long, unless there's a rush on beige elasticated waist trousers for the over 70's.

I wonder what sector WHSmith has in the retail market place now? (Get, me, with all the jargon) Most people get their books from Amazon, or the supermarket,. Stationary you can get anywhere. I don't see what makes them different.

Ryman, ditto.

I was going to say WH Smiths too.

Unfortunately I think a lot of the lovely local delis and boutiques in my nack of thr woods will close makes me v .

This is in part due to the recession but also due to the take over of the south manchester usburbs by Tesco, there are 2 massive store 1/2 mile each from my house in opposite directions!!

It really sickens me, local people have tried to fight against the tescos conglomerate destroying local trade in South Mancs for some time now to no avail.

I remain loyal though and go to local shops for veg, fruit, cheese and other bits and bats. Dh goes to the local fishmongers/butchers too.

All these shops are institutions round here, such a shame if they go!

Smiths is very pricey and has serious competition from the big supermarkets. I bought the Guinness book of Records for ds for Xmas at £20 and took it back the next day as the same book was going for £9 at Asda. Wonder how many others did a similar thing. My parent's big branch in town no longer stocks board games and loads of their other lines have gone too.

parents'

You can't get stationery "anywhere" on the high street though. Not the same large range as WHS.

Lots more discussion here

This is really interesting for me, living overseas. Give me a chance to know what to expect when I come back.

I worry for the smaller shops too.

There's a fantastic shopping area near us - Wellfield Road in Cardiff. Lovely small shops, and you can get pretty much anything there.

They're opening a Tesco Express in the middle of it

And there are three more within a mile of it.

I miss Woollies. Our local high st now has a large Woollies' shaped hole in it. It is full of pound shops, the market and mobile phone shops.

My big worry is independent booksellers. I'm as guilty as anyone of relying on Amazon, but my 2009 resolution is to support our local bookshops more as I would be really sad if they went out of business.

W H Smith is my prediction. And deservedly so for allowing the awful playboy line to be sold there.

Snickersnack, sounds like you live near me!
Tie Rack must go, is my guess. BHS is owned by the same guy who owns Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Topman, Debenhams, Burtons, and others so that would leave huge holes in most high streets in the country.

I also try to shop at local butchers/greengrocers where I can. I HATE Tesco. Also have 2 hideous stores very near to me selling shrivelled satsumas. I really hate the idea of any more High Street stores closing down - it makes me very sad.

We're going to buy the fruit and veg for our nursery from the local greengrocer next year instead of Ocado. I love Ocado as the deliveries are so reliable and I don't think it's going to be much cheaper buying locally BUT I want to help a small business (like ours) stay afloat.

Which would explain those 'paparazzi' photos of Kate Moss shopping in BHS this christmas. Philip whatisname must have applied the thumbscrews.

I think WHSmith too, paperchase does nicer stationary, but then wollies did that too. Would be a problem for the post offices in smiths, BHS do really good home stuff, would be a shame if they went. USC went into administration today, feel so sorry for those in retail, a lot of them aren't going to find jobs anytime soon are they.

About stationery, you can get most stuff from big supermarkets but otherwise I go to Staples or the like.

Jane Norman won't go under, my daughter is single handedly keeping it afloat.

I think BHS and Jane Norman could go - BHS seems to have permanent sales and the clothes are beyond hideous; Jane Norman is vile and again, always seems to look like a jumble sale. I think Wallis will stay though as it's had very good press from fashion mags over the last year or two, even though I can't stand it.

As for the ideal high street - for me it would be M&S stripped down to food and good quality basics, Gap (because I like it!), John Lewis, more independent shops and some lovely cafes/family friendly restaurants. Personally I quite like WH Smith, apart from the Playboy thing.

I don't understand why the mergers & monopolies commission hasn't intervened in the Tesco domination of the country. It's horrendous where we live, 2 huge tesco extras 1 mile apart and tesco express and more Tesco extras & espress in every direction you go.

DFS is grim beyond belief, I bet that goes before the year is out

After chatting to a top financial man.....Boots isn't looking good

I think the problem here is that alot of high streets have the same shops selling the same things which are of varying quality and prices. The main shops we have where I live (BHS, M&S, Debenhams etc) are in all the other city centres, selling the same things. It's like a clone town. I would love to see more independent (sp?) shops. Alot of the shops which will close are the ones that are overpriced or very cheap but low quality. Adams clothes are crap IMO, I'd rather pay a bit more and get something that will last alot longer.

I'd like some independent clothes shops, some toy shops, a baker, butcher, greengrocer or two, a fishmunger, cake shop, chocolateir (sp?), some cafe's, a restauraunt or three, opticians, pharmacist.

We now have a bloody Tesco metro too, as well as a M&S that sells food, a farmfood shop, a large sainsburys and two markets. I can't see the point to all these myself.

the trouble is people DON'T want to pay more for better quality- i work for john lewis,and you wouldn't believe the haggling that goes on. you can't have everything, either pay what goods are worth or watch more and more shops close as a result of drastic price cutting

If you think about the ones that are gone or going, Woolies (as much as I loved them) sold so much cheap tat it was shocking, as does Adams. On the other end, the Pier sold expensive tat (they've gone under by the way), Whittards were just expensive. There's a pattern don't you think?

The customer in the UK has been screwed by the stores for years, the profits the shops make must have been huge. We are one of the most expensive countries in Europe and it is unsusstainable. Something had to give.