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

White Company will be fine, they can stay afloat on sales of diffusers alone if the ridiculous long line in the Bluewater store is anything to go by.

Trouble with CK is once you've got a pinny, a tablecloth and pencil case/rucksack they last forever.

@BubblesBuddy the poster @Kalifa called them "vile middle class" stores, not 'white'. I do hope that you have realised what a significant mistake you may have made there, incriminating someone like that. There are plenty of people of colour who shop in those shops.

Well it actually said ‘Wile’. I did read that as “white” so my mistake and apologies. However I still find it very over the top to describe a standard clothing store as “vile” and I would have thought anyone could shop there, so why would it be “vile”? Is it ok to describe people who shop there as “vile”? If so, that’s a very disturbing and hateful statement about people the poster doesn’t know but is presumably basing it on shopping habits. I prefer to use vile about people who deserve it, not shoppers.

Maybe @BubblesBuddy , maybe. I find River Island yucky and icky, I find Cos boring and bland. But yes vile could be used for many an item found in those stores. My DSis would describe my wardrobe as 'vile' I'm sure each to their own and all that jazz.

My bugbear with CK is the Disney/animation line and the eye watering prices of some of the clothes, especially the women's dresses.

But I wouldn’t describe you as vile because you shop in a certain store. I quite like Cos for basics. River Island has been a great survivor - they started out as Chelsea Girl in the 60s. They cater for a certain age and market. They always have done. Not for me these days but I used to love them! The High Street could be very bleak this time next year.

Why do brands over expand ?
Too many shops with high rents.
Less stores and online is better nowadays.

Many stores have long lease agreements and have found it difficult to scale back. KK didn’t have much of a High Street presence unlike WH Smith. They have presumably been hit by people not buying reading material and stationery. It’s all on line now or at the supermarket and a High Street shop dedicated to newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, books and stationery is not needed. Hence their problems.

I don’t think shops necessarily over expanded. Just look at all the new shopping centres that were built not so long ago: shopping became a leading pastime. I think niche shops like KK, who didn’t really change their offering, are likely to struggle. I would think KL sales have just dried up.

I have a friend who works for CK she's been made redundant today, 900 jobs lost.