How long do you think Space NK can go on for?

[Onedropoflove]

I've just been to a smaller branch and I didn't find them very helpful at all. I needed a foundation until I could get to John Lewis in a couple of weeks. I went in on my way home from nights so looking ancient and knackered there were four assistants in there talking not one came to help me. There was nothing in that shop that couldn't be bought anywhere else. When someone finally came to me I asked for a foundation not the most expensive one as it was only a stop gap. Next minute she was thrusting Eve Lom into my hand as if she hadn't heard a word I'd said. I sad sorry but I don't want to spend more than thirty so she begrudgingly got me a nars one and put it on the back of my hand, didn't even try it on my fac. I asked for it to be put on my face but for all the effort she put into it I needn't have bothered. I knew it was my colour anyway so I just bought it. I honestly don't know how the shop survives there's hardly anything in it, far too many staff that are badly trained and it's so expensive. Am I the only one!?

Their online customer service is appalling too. I've never shopped there since chasing an order on the phone and the woman went from indifferent to rude in a millisecond.

They were much, much better when they were starting off (is it really 20 years ago? I think of them as quite new). It's a large chain now, and when you compare it to something like Sephora it comes up wanting.

When I'm in London, I'll pop into Liberty's if I can, otherwise department stores near home, or Boots.

I find the staff too full on and false, or just ignore you.
When it started it was all about new brands or hard to get brands, I just think it's compromised too much as it's grown.

They are always like that, atticusclaw. I don't think they like customers, I've never seen anyone in there

I found the staff at the one in Harrogate really lovely, sorted me out with a nice present for a friend really into beauty products, I got a loyalty card and a free candle on my birthday. The Manchester branch staff were nice enough too. A store like that is really all about customer service so some of this feedback is worrying for them.

Oh I love space nk. I have always found them really friendly and helpful. I went in before my wedding and they wrote exactly what they used where and how they'd applied it so my friend could replicate and also gave advice on cheaper alternatives so not just in it for commission! I go to three different shops fairly regularly and they're all great (all south east)

They were good for exclusive brands , but now most are available everywhere,
I prefer selfridges,

I didn't know they still had shops!

I remember going into my nearest branch (when they were still open) to ask about primer when it first appeared. I was told that there was no such thing.

Sorry I love them.

I'm not young or super lovely but the staff in my local Richmond one are always really helpful and friendly. Don't push me to buy when I don't want and happily let me try out all the new lines by my favourite By Terry and leave without buying - to be fair if I like a product I will quite often return and buy.

Have also found the Bloomsbury staff helpful and pleasant.

I agree about the nottingham shop. I generally look like a scruff but am happy to spend money on decent skin care, I felt like they couldn't wait to be rid of me so they could go back to gossiping!
And I can understand over enthusiastic staff - I used to work for lush - but ignoring and general falseness is much worse!

I went to the Soho branch recently and they were lovely - lots of samples as I wasn't sure what would work best for me. Good advice too. Am not especially young and was honest about not wanting to spend megabucks. It's obviously so variable in terms of service depending on store and staff.

I've only started going into Space NK and quite like it. Staff in the Belfast store are always very nice and will chitter away to you, but leave you to browse in peace if you want left alone. It's also the only place in NI (to my knowledge) where you can get NARS or Lipstick Queen make up. And I love stroking the fluffy brushes and sniffing the candles

I'm with cogitosum and polyhymnia : I love SpaceNK. I find that the staff leave me alone when I want to be left alone, and are helpful (sometimes even a bit cossetting!) when I'm in need of that. I'm in London: perhaps it's a London thing!

I want to say this: Nikki Kinaird is a genius. If she was a chap, she'd be involved in talks with Prime Ministers, and would have mad a fortune. She has revolutionised the way cosmetics and beauty products are sold in the UK. You know how you all keep saying that SpaceNK used to be "niche", and now you can buy the products in John Lewis? Why is that?

The lay-out in stores such as John Lewis is completely different now - and I would say that it follows the SpaceNK model.

She created the market for niche products.

Yes, I know she says her model was drawn from the lovely continental pharmacies you encounter on holiday in Europe, but I think she brought it over to the UK and ramped it up several notches.

It's an amazing business innovation, and I don't think she has had anything like the credit she deserved because it's just "beauty stuff", and also because it has been so successfully copied, it seems quite "invisible".

That's my tuppence-worth.

Then maybe she should pay a visit to the branches we've mentioned on this thread? I did think to myself when I left today, what if I was an undercover shopper? They just didn't care.

The gals in the Manchester store are great, dead helpful without being overly pushy.

Perhaps the founder should go on "undercover boss"?

A store lives or dies by its customer service, once they sell the same as what can be bought elsewhere.

She might have thought of a good business model 20 years back but now? Hmm. I always feel uncomfortable in the shops because I've been hounded when I prefer to browse and the layout doesn't make you feel you can do that- the implication is you sit down and are made up- then BUY!

I agree with the Chester store, service is fab. The MAC counter in Browns however is a different matter and sounds just like your Space NK experience!

My local is very snooty - they do look down their noses at me.

I've sent an email.

I get thoroughly ignored & sneered at if I ever venture into my local one (Bluewater). I'm fat & ugly but I'd happily spend a fair bit on nice makeup & skincare but they see me & decide I either can't afford it or I don't deserve it. So I go to John Lewis instead. They're nice in there.

I am quite amazed at this thread. I've been in several space nk's and just never received horrible service, have also ordered online and found them very efficient.

And for those saying you can get all the stuff elsewhere - maybe in london or other big cities but its just not true of everywhere.

But definitely worth feeding back if you get crap service, sounds like they're not recruiting great staff in every store.

They didn't laugh at me when I sprayed myself in Diptyque room spray instead of their perfume. St Albans..

Maybe depends how wealthy you look !

I'm sure you still smelt delightful Olivia