Cath Kidston is in trouble

[Gingernaut]

According to Sky and BBC Radio 4, the administrators are being called in.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vintage-retailer-cath-kidston-lines-up-administrators-11968548

Next are selling their head offices to bring in funds as they’ve closed online as well at the moment. Another 12 weeks of lockdown would likely finish them.

Cath Kidston is not surprising - it's already had its moment imo. That sort of flowery kitsch is my worst nightmare, so I was always surprised anyone shopped in there. I'd be surprised if the White Company followed suit (as someone up thread said), my local one is always very busy (or was).

It's going to be so interesting. Surely only stores with great online will survive this period and with many people loosing their work they aren't even shopping. You'd be amazed how much London stores take a day and they massively carry the rest of the local stores. I used to work for a very low priced high street brand and £75 k was a normal day in London store.

Not surprised about CK at all, after Orla Kiely.. Both were merely doing a variation on a theme for years and years, and hugely overpriced...
Not good enough, gotta move with the times a bit!

Gutted about Cath Kidston. Though the quality has gone massively downhill over the past two years and the prices have gone up!

I think Yours Clothing is on its way out. They are constantly emailing & texting daily with discounts and practically BEGGING customers to buy. Not surprised, they're wayyyy overpriced.

@GreyGardens88 TOTALLY agree!!! I adore EB

@flopseyR72 I would sell the vouchers - ASAP!!!!

If you're local to Harrogate and they can be used online, I'd buy them!

I’m not surprised, their USP was retro prints and shabby chic type stuff but that peaked in popularity about ten years ago.

it's a terrible shame for those losing their jobs but I'm surprised CK kept open on the high st for so long. They didn't seem to evolve much in what they offered and surely anyone who likes those designs has everything they need by now? I think all of that had its moment of wider popularity with the retro domestic goddess type trend of a few years ago.

@GrimDamnFanjo Joules!

Hi I live in London. I thought about selling but then i worried if it goes bust and they can’t be used someone might try and charge me back.

I liked cath kidston and would miss it but next!!! If next closed I would properly cry. I’m not in good health and don’t go real life shopping much. I buy absolutely everything for dh, me, dd and ds from next online. That took my mind of all my other worries. Thanks.

I’m not surprised really and agree with the comments on private equity.

Agree that it peaked a while ago, along with Joules and Seasalt. Still sad though.

I don’t think Seasalt are in too much danger. They’re not wedded to a very specific style like CK, a lot of what they do are good quality basics. Also if my family is anything to go by they’re very popular with older women who want unfussy, comfortable but not old looking clothes.

Bloody hell- Next clothes are particularly good this year too after several dismal years.

What are The White Company issues? Would it be unwise to buy from them at the moment?

Agree agree agree with @lookingformybrain , those stripper attire stores are awful! Have you seen those fish net leggings (porno ready joggers)? Please someone tell me that Missguided and Nastygal are going down the drain too due to Covid-19 (I have a relative who would be disappointed, but I'm trying to preserve her dignity/innocence).

I think it would be wise to use any vouchers at all as soon as possible if you can use them online. Top up on basics. Not sure what I'd buy from CK though - aprons??

I loved the Snoopy collection and did get quite a lot of stuff from it. I have a couple of the large strawberry mugs that someone bought me a few years ago. I’ve also had a few bits from the outlet as my friend lives quite near to it. A lot of it just isn’t for me though and I can’t imagine anyone I know who wears that kind of stuff; as pp said it peaked about ten years ago. I do like that their bags/purses are wipe-clean as I’m clumsy! I feel for anyone who might lose their job though and it’s a great shame that all these shops are closing.

I quite like CK for DD who is 6.
I'd be gutted about Seasalt though, I get a lot of workwear from there. I wonder about Gap, permanent sales there.

It's not my taste but I'd be sad to see it go.

CK has just out a Snoopy range but way out my price range

I was a massive fan 15 years ago. But then they sold out, Cath herself stopped doing the designs and they moved from florals and spots into twee London landmarks and the bloody awful Disney collaborations.

It amused me once to see a magazine feature on cath kidston's home. A minimalist grey paradise with not a twee print in sight.

I’m hoping Next will be ok. According to a recent Times article they are “not facing an existential problem” and could withstand a £1 billion hit because of its strong balance sheet and by taking measures such as suspending its share buyback programme, delaying capital spending, securing sale and leaseback of its warehouses and deferring or suspending its dividend.” Lord Wolfson (CEO) seems pretty confident that they will survive.