Is the High Street doomed

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Boots is a bit of a turn up 200 Boots stores at risk of closure under huge restructuring plans

Tbf, 2400 stores in the UK is a hell of a lot, seems that the 200 to close are where there is already another store in the same town, still shite for the staff.

But they are very old fashioned, like M&S, why do you go in there? I go in to Boots for crisps on my way to work, can’t think of anything else I’d buy there, especially as there’s a Super Drug directly opposite which is cheaper for razors etc...

 

[hash tag]

Prescriptions? Over counter meds?

 

[cybershot]

I only go in Boots to get my Nan vouchers at Christmas as it's what she asks for, as you say, very old fashioned store, everything is cheaper elsewhere.

Think the only thing I've purchased from there that's no prescription or gift voucher related is the meal deal!

 

[Dogsauce]

It used to be the place (big stores only I guess) where you could get newly released games consoles when other more obvious shops had sold out, an ex gf got one of her Nintendos there.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Prescriptions? Over counter meds?

There is a pharmacy attached to my GP surgery. Sainsbury's does cheaper over the counter meds than Boots...

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

WH Smith ranked 'worst' retailer again

WH Smith has been ranked the UK's worst High Street retailer for the second year in a row, according to a Which? survey of 7,700 shoppers.

The poll, which covered 100 retailers, rated the chain "very poor" for value for money and in-store experience...

It is the ninth year in a row that WH Smith has been ranked in the bottom two of the survey.

And WH Smith responds:

This survey... is neither statistically relevant nor meaningful relative to our loyal customer base," a spokeswoman said.

Can't see them sticking around much longer, other than at stations and airports...

 

[not-bono-ever]

Smaller Boots branches seem chronically understaffed - it’s the go to place for razor blade shoplifting

 

[Poi E]

There is a pharmacy attached to my GP surgery. Sainsbury's does cheaper over the counter meds than Boots...

Looking at the stores of late it is clear that there is a lot of deferred maintenance. Not too many more years, I suspect.

 

[newbie]

WH Smith ranked 'worst' retailer again




And WH Smith responds:



Can't see them sticking around much longer, other than at stations and airports...

They're more or less local monopolies for big parts of their offering, aren't they? Not sure I see why people will stop buying the stuff they sell. You might get this or that at some other local shop, but they're the only place that will reliably provide the range.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

They're more or less local monopolies for big parts of their offering, aren't they? Not sure I see why people will stop buying the stuff they sell. You might get this or that at some other local shop, but they're the only place that will reliably provide the range.

Not sure. Stationary my daughter gets all hers from Amazon, books either Amazon or Waterstones. Massive chocolate bars, maybe? What else do they sell?

 

[TopCat]

Not sure. Stationary my daughter gets all hers from Amazon, books either Amazon or Waterstones. Massive chocolate bars, maybe? What else do they sell?

Magazines about trains

 

[newbie]

Not sure. Stationary my daughter gets all hers from Amazon, books either Amazon or Waterstones. Massive chocolate bars, maybe? What else do they sell?

Quite a range of relatively low price stuff that people buy while out and about. Of course everything can be ordered online, if it's important enough to wade through the choices and deal with the delivery, but that doesn't really replace opportunistic shopping for low value wants. I'm not defending them particularly, I probably use them 2 or 3 times a year, but I suspect everyone else does that too (along with some frequent flyers) for their magazines, paperbacks, cards and stationary and so on. Their shops are seldom empty when I go in, that's sufficient to keep them going. £65m half year profit says they're not that unhealthy.

 

[cupid_stunt]

WHSmith has an increasing number of branches with Post Offices in them, our main PO is moving into WHS, helping to increase the total to over 200.

 

[hash tag]

WHS core business is newspapers, both in heavy decline. Most of their shops are miserable places to visit lately. I suspect their long term future lies in airports and stations as mentioned. Boots will also have a place at stations and airports.

 

[clicker]

Boots and WHS are two shops I now seldom use at all. Years ago they did provide what others didn't. Boots for toiletries etc and always WHS for cards and stationery. Now they have so much competition and seem over priced. Card and stationery shops are ten a penny and you're never more than six feet away from a Superdrug.

 

[hash tag]

I can't remember ever going in to a superdrug. They don't dispense prescriptions?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I can't remember ever going in to a superdrug. They don't dispense prescriptions?

Not a pharmacy, but they do sell all the other crap that Boots do and do it much more cheaply than Boots do.

 

[planetgeli]

Boots are an anachronism aren’t they? A throwback to the past where dominating the high street meant having a large visible presence. I can’t think of many small Boots stores anywhere, they’ve always been a literal giant of the High Street with overheads to match their prices. I’m amazed they’ve survived this long when there is so much competition for what they sell both online and on the High Street.

 

[JuanTwoThree]

Slightly gushy article about Primark

Cheap and cheerful: why there’s more to Primark’s success than you thought

which makes some interesting points, like that they keep packaging down and that people really shop there rather than mooch in and out

 

[Pickman's model]

Not a pharmacy, but they do sell all the other crap that Boots do and do it much more cheaply than Boots do.

they do dispense prescriptions in dalston and i suppose at other branches

 

[MickiQ]

The only WH Smith's I have been in for years are the ones in the airports so once a year tops, all I buy is water and choccy and Mrs Q always seems to get these ridiculous glossy magazines that she normally never would.
I use Boots a bit more, my opticians is Boots and I tend to occasionally buy stuff in them if I go into Derby (the nearest big city).
Normally get my prescriptions and most other medical related stuff from the local village pharmacy (which is part of a chain just a smaller one than Boots)

 

[planetgeli]

My local pharmacy has signs up saying “experts in medicines, not meal deals” which I think is a pretty neat unsubtle dig at Boots.

 

[ricbake]

I can't remember ever going in to a superdrug. They don't dispense prescriptions?

Not a pharmacy, but they do sell all the other crap that Boots do and do it much more cheaply than Boots do.

Superdrug in Brixton has a pharmacist and dispenses prescriptions

Superdrug parent company also own Savers

 

[clicker]

I can't remember ever going in to a superdrug. They don't dispense prescriptions?

The 3 nearest to me all do.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

they do dispense prescriptions in dalston and i suppose at other branches

Superdrug in Brixton has a pharmacist and dispenses prescriptions

Superdrug parent company also own Savers

The 3 nearest to me all do.

I stand corrected.

 

[Poi E]

So bye bye boots.

 

[Lord Camomile]

These Boots are made for walking, etc...

 

[kebabking]

We went into a large WH Smiths today - the kids got some gift cards for Christmas and wanted to spend them - they got some pens, sketchbook, couple of books etc..

When we got to the till, we were asked if we wanted any scratch cards or lottery tickets.

 

[hash tag]

I got my last few pairs of Specs from Boots (Mrs Tag also). staff are normally excellent.

 

[LDC]

WH Smith ranked 'worst' retailer again

Can't see them sticking around much longer, other than at stations and airports...

Yup, I think they're in the line to go bust soon. Their 'loyal customer base' is dying out I'd think. The one in the large city centre where I live is starting to look how Woolworths did in the time before it went under; shit book selection, some sweets, terrible selection of magazines that nobody buys, crap sandwiches, and over-priced stationary. They always seem to be pushing some deal and voucher scheme too.