Is the High Street doomed

[Badgers]

Laura Ashley now also gone.

Coronavirus: Laura Ashley set to become first retail casualty of crisis

Retail analysts warn Laura Ashley will be the first of many retailers, in non-essential spending categories, to face defeat

news.sky.com

One of those businesses that was due to fold at some point regardless or Covid-19 or whatever. Sad for the staff of course but it was not a long term concern was it?

 

[mx wcfc]

Station Hill

A transformational development for Reading and the Thames Valley, a new centre of activity creating a connected live-work-play experience.

www.stationhill.co.uk

This is the new development that is going on in Reading at the moment. 100,000 sq ft of "lifestyle-led retail, and leisure". 600,000 sq ft of office space. Last time I went in to work the phase one demolition was finishing. With this acceleration of the death of high st shopping, and everyone now questioning whether offices are even necessary, this could end up being a big hole.

 

[8115]

Monsoon Accessorize "on the brink".

 

[hash tag]

I can't say I have ever used accessorise but another 3500 jobs at risk though. Another one helped on the way by our friends at Amazon.

 

[bimble]

One of those businesses that was due to fold at some point regardless or Covid-19 or whatever. Sad for the staff of course but it was not a long term concern was it?

Yeah a very weird shop. There’s one in my nearest town and am mystified by the whole thing, clothes and sofas mixed together, all very overpriced and made of cheap materials , strange that they ever became a thing imo.

 

[hash tag]

Laura Ashley? So quintessentially British and so very middle England. Perfect fit for a place like Guildford.

 

[8115]

As predicted, Frankie and Benny's in trouble. Not reopening all outlets.

 

[Badgers]

Victoria's Secret UK crashes into administration with hundreds of jobs at risk

The iconic brand, which runs branches across the UK and has several high profile fans, including Kylie Jenner, has called in Deloitte for a "light touch" administration, as 800 workers remain on furlough

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[hash tag]

Oh dear, the elastic's snapped

 

[stavros]

Can they not call in some support?

 

[hash tag]

I know I'm old but hey, they should have had more support...it was all for show

 

[hash tag]

Perhaps the, err, competition was just too stiff.

 

[stavros]

A storm in a D-cup.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Not exactly 'high street', but the Travis Perkins group is closing 165 branches, with sad loss of 2,500 staff.

Covid: Wickes owner Travis Perkins to cut 2,500 jobs

The UK's biggest builders' merchant, Travis Perkins, is to cut 2,500 jobs and close 165 branches.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[muscovyduck]

Not exactly 'high street', but the Travis Perkins group is closing 165 branches, with sad loss of 2,500 staff.

Covid: Wickes owner Travis Perkins to cut 2,500 jobs

The UK's biggest builders' merchant, Travis Perkins, is to cut 2,500 jobs and close 165 branches.

www.bbc.co.uk

Have to say last time I was in a Wickes it had a WHSmiths vibe about it

 

[Tankus]

B&q seem to be doing more:" home bargains" / The Range line of products too

 

[chilango]

Where's B&Q's market? Is there a consumer DIY demand anymore?

Boomers pay professionals to do their DIY.

Gen X are slackers.

Anyone younger is renting and is not allowed to do DIY.

...and the BTLers "do up" their investments with used chewing gum and bits of smashed up furniture they stole from previous tenants.

 

[Doodler]

Where's B&Q's market? Is there a consumer DIY demand anymore?

Boomers pay professionals to do their DIY.

Gen X are slackers.

Anyone younger is renting and is not allowed to do DIY.

...and the BTLers "do up" their investments with used chewing gum and bits of smashed up furniture they stole from previous tenants.

There's a huge market since many repair, fitting and decorating tasks can be done to an adequate standard by householders. Tradesmen's labour is usually expensive by many people's standards. Irksome chores like wallpapering have been made easier with paste-the-wall and other convenience products. There's an enormous amount of material on YouTube and elsewhere showing you how to do pretty much anything, even build a whole house from the foundations up.

 

[chilango]

There's a huge market since many repair, fitting and decorating tasks can be done to an adequate standard by householders. Tradesmen's labour is usually expensive by many people's standards. Irksome chores like wallpapering have been made easier with paste-the-wall and other convenience products. There's an enormous amount of material on YouTube and elsewhere showing you how to do pretty much anything, even build a whole house from the foundations up.

I wasn't being entirely serious...

 

[Doodler]

I wasn't being entirely serious...

They might shut some of their big shed stores though and use high street shops instead as showrooms. Maybe retail parks are doomed?

 

[Sprocket.]

Last time I went into B&Q after Christmas was to buy a cordless drill. I was talking to one of their staff and he said, Get it at Screwfix mate it’s £25 cheaper. I know they are the same company but nice to tell me.

 

[seventh bullet]

There's a huge market since many repair, fitting and decorating tasks can be done to an adequate standard by householders. Tradesmen's labour is usually expensive by many people's standards. Irksome chores like wallpapering have been made easier with paste-the-wall and other convenience products. There's an enormous amount of material on YouTube and elsewhere showing you how to do pretty much anything, even build a whole house from the foundations up.

I just get a friend to do it for me.

 

[BristolEcho]

Last time I went into B&Q after Christmas was to buy a cordless drill. I was talking to one of their staff and he said, Get it at Screwfix mate it’s £25 cheaper. I know they are the same company but nice to tell me.

We used to do that at O2 even if it wasn't our store.

We got some alright plants in B&Q last year.

 

[Marty1]

More bad news.

Intu Metrocentre could be forced to shut if owner goes into administration

TWO major shopping centres in the North-East could be forced to shut for a 'period of time' if their owners fall into administration.

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

 

[not-bono-ever]

Looks like out of town centres have had their day. Had to go to lakeside a few months ago/ it was more Moscow GUM c. 1988 than Harrods. Only the peripheral fast food joints in the car park seemed to havre any business

 

[not-bono-ever]

Swissport dumping 4.5k airport support Jobs as well

 

[ruffneck23]

Swissport dumping 4.5k airport support Jobs as well

yeah they recently shut down operations in Belgium too

 

[Doodler]

Cheap High Street properties might be attractive to large retail names for a showrooms plus distribution hub setup. Argos have something like this where a main county/regional store supplies stock to satellite stores. You can imagine in a few years time largely automated warehouses supplying high street showrooms with samples and 'essentials' product ranges doubling as click and collect points. One retail park chain is already exploring this.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Looks like out of town centres have had their day. Had to go to lakeside a few months ago/ it was more Moscow GUM c. 1988 than Harrods. Only the peripheral fast food joints in the car park seemed to havre any business

The Centre MK had a lot more empty units when we were there last November than in previous years.

 

[stavros]

Looks like out of town centres have had their day. Had to go to lakeside a few months ago/ it was more Moscow GUM c. 1988 than Harrods. Only the peripheral fast food joints in the car park seemed to havre any business

You see, I always thought they'd outlive the high street, mainly because of the large amount of free parking. Unless the ones you're referring to charge...