Is the High Street doomed

[SpookyFrank]

Oxford Street. That's their flagship.

I don't get this 'flagship store' thing. They're chains, all their shops everywhere are the same. Nobody from Liverpool or Durham is going to their local HMV because they've heard such great things about the famous one in Oxford Street.

 

[DotCommunist]

i've always wondered, what's kettering like?

its ok. Small anonymous market town, one of dozens in the county.

 

[Pickman's model]

I don't get this 'flagship store' thing. They're chains, all their shops everywhere are the same. Nobody from Liverpool or Durham is going to their local HMV because they've heard such great things about the famous one in Oxford Street.

it's holed below the waterline now

 

[danny la rouge]

Fopp Glasgow Byres

Very sad about that: I’ve known and used that shop (and its predecessor position just around the corner) since it opened in 1981. Other record shops have come and gone, but Fopp Byres Road has been there for me throughout the decades. I used to live around the corner from it. It’s where a large proportion of my music collection comes from. It managed to retain its character and depth of stock even after the HMV buy out, and I have a great fondness for it. It’s been a huge part of my cultural life. Visits to Byres Road just won’t be the same.

 

[cybershot]

One that may please some people depending on your views.

Your Move, Reeds Rains staff face redundancy as 43 branches are closed

 

[cupid_stunt]

One that may please some people depending on your views.

Your Move, Reeds Rains staff face redundancy as 43 branches are closed

The company has blamed the slimming down of the two chains indirectly on Brexit

Well that's bollocks, I reckon it's more to do with growing online agents taking market share.

 

[xenon]

its ok. Small anonymous market town, one of dozens in the county.

And host to JLB's conference where Project Zeus was unveiled. You can't forget that...

 

[Poi E]

Well that's bollocks, I reckon it's more to do with growing online agents taking market share.

Why, truly, do estate agents need an office? Listings online, meet at the property, finalise electronically.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Santander to shut 140 branches

That news reduces the total number of bank branches in the entire county I live in to...two. OK, it's the smallest county in the country, but it's still 50,000+ people.

 

[skyscraper101]

That news reduces the total number of bank branches in the entire county I live in to...two. OK, it's the smallest county in the country, but it's still 50,000+ people.

I wouldn't be surprised if the concept of bank branches eventually ceases to exist and all banking services are effectively incorporated into supermarkets or post offices.

 

[cupid_stunt]

That news reduces the total number of bank branches in the entire county I live in to...two. OK, it's the smallest county in the country, but it's still 50,000+ people.

What of total bank branches? Surely BoS, RBS, and perhaps others have branches in Clackmannanshire?

But, like skyscraper101 says, bank branches will in time disappear completely.

My local RBS branch has closed, I don't care as I've been using my local sub-Post Office for sometime, it's more convenient, with free on-street parking and longer opening hours, 7-days a week.

 

[cybershot]

Hmm, but branches are important if you need to prove who you are for some reason when something goes wrong online. Applying for a money transfer from my credit card online with my bank, resulted in them asking me to go into branch with ID, no idea why and then a rep having to phone it through. Was probably a glitch and things have probably improved in the past 3 years but otherwise I'd probably have been having to phone a pay day loan company that day if I couldn't get to the branch!

 

[hash tag]

local press woman was saying Kettering branch is saved. My cup runneth over. Good that people there are still in a job tho.
Corby is going all out to rejuvenate its town centre apparently, reducing rents and organizing stuff. Kettering, eh not so much. It was never exactly a palace to mammon anyway but now its even quieter than ever.

With the closure of the steel works, I suspect Corby is a shadow of it's former self.

I don't get this 'flagship store' thing. They're chains, all their shops everywhere are the same. Nobody from Liverpool or Durham is going to their local HMV because they've heard such great things about the famous one in Oxford Street.

Oxford Street is the site of the very original branch, not to mentioned it used to brand itself as the biggest record shop in Europe or the world!

 

[cupid_stunt]

I don't get this 'flagship store' thing. They're chains, all their shops everywhere are the same. Nobody from Liverpool or Durham is going to their local HMV because they've heard such great things about the famous one in Oxford Street.

Let me help you.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

What of total bank branches? Surely BoS, RBS, and perhaps others have branches in Clackmannanshire?

Once the Santander closes there'll just be a BoS and a TSB left.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Let me help you.

I understand what it means in corporate-speke I just don't know why ordinary punters are supposed to give a shit. I also don't understand why people who aren't getting paid by (insert company here) would use the phrase 'flagship store' as if it's a real thing with actual meaning in the world. It's not.

 

[danny la rouge]

That news reduces the total number of bank branches in the entire county I live in to...two. OK, it's the smallest county in the country, but it's still 50,000+ people.

Jeez. I lived in Alloa in the mid 80s, and remember all the banks and many building societies represented in Alloa itself, not to mention Dollar, Alva, Tillicoultry, Tullibody, Menstrie, Clackmannan itself, Sauchie even.

Surely there’s a bank in Dollar, no?

 

[pesh]

I understand what it means in corporate-speke I just don't know why ordinary punters are supposed to give a shit. I also don't understand why people who aren't getting paid by (insert company here) would use the phrase 'flagship store' as if it's a real thing with actual meaning in the world. It's not.

Chicken Cottage's flagship store in Tooting has a bassbin under the counter and plays a lot of speed garage.
well worth the trip.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I understand what it means in corporate-speke I just don't know why ordinary punters are supposed to give a shit. I also don't understand why people who aren't getting paid by (insert company here) would use the phrase 'flagship store' as if it's a real thing with actual meaning in the world. It's not.

You have clearly never visited the Oxford Street branch, it's massive. To claim 'all their shops everywhere are the same', is just showing your ignorance of why even 'Joe Public' would describe it as their 'flagship store'.

The Oxford Street branch is another world, compared with my local branch.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Surely there’s a bank in Dollar, no?

You'd think so! But no. The Clydesdale was the last one, and it shut a couple of years ago.

 

[SpookyFrank]

You have clearly never visited the Oxford Street branch, it's massive. To claim 'all their shops everywhere are the same', is just showing your ignorance of why even 'Joe Public' would describe it as their 'flagship store'.

The Oxford Street branch is another world, compared with my local branch.

You really do love the taste of corporate ringpiece don't you?

 

[cupid_stunt]

You really do love the taste of corporate ringpiece don't you?

Stop being a plank, Frank.

Back in the days, it was a proper treat going up to Londinium and visiting the Oxford Street branches of both HMV & the Virgin mega-store, you simply couldn't compare the experience to visiting a local small town/bog standard HMV or Virgin outlet, totally different worlds.

Hence why they were 'flagship stores', your claim that all branches are the same is total nonsense.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Stop being a plank, Frank.

Back in the days, it was a proper treat going up to Londinium and visiting the Oxford Street branches of both HMV & the Virgin mega-store, you simply couldn't compare the experience to visiting a local small town/bog standard HMV or Virgin outlet, totally different worlds.

And after that I suppose it was off to the footwear section at Harrods to lick an altogether better class of boot from those available in the provinces.

 

[Poi E]

The boots in the provinces are better (Northamptonshire, particularly.)

 

[weepiper]

Very sad about that: I’ve known and used that shop (and its predecessor position just around the corner) since it opened in 1981. Other record shops have come and gone, but Fopp Byres Road has been there for me throughout the decades. I used to live around the corner from it. It’s where a large proportion of my music collection comes from. It managed to retain its character and depth of stock even after the HMV buy out, and I have a great fondness for it. It’s been a huge part of my cultural life. Visits to Byres Road just won’t be the same.

Fopp Byres Road is staying after all

'Iconic' music store saved from closure

 

[danny la rouge]

Fopp Byres Road is staying after all

'Iconic' music store saved from closure

That’s cheered me up no end. Great news.

 

[mojo pixy]

i've always wondered, what's kettering like?

its ok. Small anonymous market town, one of dozens in the county.

And host to JLB's conference where Project Zeus was unveiled. You can't forget that...

Swings, slides, roundabouts etc embossed with the maker's mark Wicksteed Kettering improved childhoods around the nation back in the day. Good work on that

 

[Pickman's model]

Swings, slides, roundabouts etc embossed with the maker's mark Wicksteed Kettering improved childhoods around the nation back in the day. Good work on that

Wicksteed Kettering was an eighteenth century German highwayman who plied his trade between Augsburg and Stuttgart

 

[mojo pixy]

He must have made it to Gosport then because our park had his toys in it. Unless they were once confiscated by the navy and donated to local urchins.

Could be, the philanthropy of the Royal Navy is legendary and their good works literally uncountable

 

[Pickman's model]

He must have made it to Gosport then because our park had his toys in it. Unless they were once confiscated by the navy and donated to local urchins.

Could be, the philanthropy of the Royal Navy is legendary and their good works literally uncountable

He is a sort of Robin Hood figure in Germany because when he was in his cups he would buy toys for children out of his swag