Is the High Street doomed

[hash tag]

Many years ago I had to do a project or an essay for school and I did it on my high street, quite a major one. Even as a child I noted how it changed from a high street full of small independent shops to one that was dominated by financial services iebanks, estate agents and building society's. I m sure they accounted for over 75% of premises. It appeared all the shopping was done back then in three major department stores and two shopping centres.
Is it just a natural form of progress that major high streets are closing down and for all sorts of reasons?

 

[pinkmonkey]

Paperchase at risk I expect we'll see more of this, plenty of successful well known retailers suddenly under threat because their business model means they can't make money in a pandemic.

 

[muscovyduck]

Paperchase at risk I expect we'll see more of this, plenty of successful well known retailers suddenly under threat because their business model means they can't make money in a pandemic.

That's a shame, they seemed like one of the few places left on the high street that had decent quality stock

 

[cybershot]

That's a shame, they seemed like one of the few places left on the high street that had decent quality stock

All personal preference and opinions obviously, but to me it was just more over priced tat that most card shops stock.

To be honest I really like some of the online card shops like Thortful. (NOT Moonpig or other crappy one that advertised on TV)

Once you buy a number of cards they apply a decent discount which is probably on par price wise to going to crap factory.

 

[muscovyduck]

All personal preference and opinions obviously, but to me it was just more over priced tat that most card shops stock.

To be honest I really like some of the online card shops like Thortful. (NOT Moonpig or other crappy one that advertised on TV)

Once you buy a number of cards they apply a decent discount which is probably on par price wise to going to crap factory.

I remember the stationery and notebook type stuff being a lot better than typical high street shops but tbf looking at the website right now perhaps it's just whsmiths with less chlaustrophobia

 

[Orang Utan]

Paperchase at risk I expect we'll see more of this, plenty of successful well known retailers suddenly under threat because their business model means they can't make money in a pandemic.

Not surprised they’re folding

 

[hash tag]

Not surprised they’re folding

There is a joke there for your thread.

 

[Orang Utan]

There is a joke there for your thread.

It’s not good enough to grace that thread

 

[ska invita]

Not surprised they’re folding

Surprise at shops closing is no longer a thing

 

[Artaxerxes]

That's a shame, they seemed like one of the few places left on the high street that had decent quality stock

Nah quality and design wise it turned to shit 5 years or so ago.

 

[Orang Utan]

Surprise at shops closing is no longer a thing

Especially considering their business had been stationery for that long

 

[hash tag]

Did you know I tried to open a papershop. It blew down a few days later.

 

[ska invita]

Especially considering their business had been stationery for that long

Thou Shalt Not Covert Thy Neighbours Pun

 

[hash tag]

Watching winter walks, I am starting to catch up with the beautiful Lemn Sissay. Reading up on him, I found this (admittedly not all shops are/were the same) Paperchase laughing at young people in care? Please stop. It's Christmas. - Lemn Sissay

 

[cupid_stunt]

Six Debenhams' stores we not be reopening, as talks continue to rescue other parts of the business.

Debenhams has revealed that six of its stores will not reopen, with 320 jobs to be affected.


Employees at stores in Portsmouth, Staines, Harrogate, Weymouth and Worcester, have been told these stores will not reopen after the end of coronavirus restrictions.

Debenhams also said it had been unable to agree a lease extension with the landlord of its Oxford Street store in central London and, as a result, this store would also remain closed.

Debenhams reveals six stores - including flagship Oxford Street branch - will not reopen after lockdown

Problems at Debenhams pre-date the coronavirus crisis but government restrictions aimed at the pandemic were the last straw.

news.sky.com

 

[muscovyduck]

My local Debenhams didn't feel much different to Primark before all this coronavirus stuff kicked off

 

[miss direct]

My local Debenhams didn't feel much different to Primark before all this coronavirus stuff kicked off

Apart from the prices, right?

 

[muscovyduck]

Apart from the prices, right?

Oh yeah totes

 

[krink]

All Debenhams stores to close and 12 thousand jobs gone. Boohoo have bought the debenhams company but won't be keeping the shops. For towns like mine - Sunderland - this will be a really big blow to the town centre as Debenhams was the unofficial star attraction. Really bad news all round.
Apparently Asos are buying the rest of Arcadia.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Yeah, losing Debenhams is going to leave a big hole in Worthing town centre too. If the standalone Arcadia stores - Burtons, Top Shop, Miss Selfridge and Top Man - also disappear, which seems highly likely, that would make it even worst.

 

[Elpenor]

Bad news for Taunton also, where the back office was based I think.

 

[hash tag]

I never got Deb's strategy. For many years they had a store in Battersea which was pretty scuzzy and little used.
A few years ago they opened up a major new flagship store about a mile away in Wandsworth, which didn't really get it.
I can understand them turning down Mike Ashley a few times. To be realistic, the writing was on the wall for them for years now.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Very large Debenhams in Guildford, right on the river, guess that will be executive flats in a couple of years. Never really did get on with them as stores though, always having to walk through the perfume department to get anywhere meant you started your shopping experience choking.

 

[8ball]

Very large Debenhams in Guildford, right on the river, guess that will be executive flats in a couple of years. Never really did get on with them as stores though, always having to walk through the perfume department to get anywhere meant you started your shopping experience choking.

That was a gas designed to put you in a suggestible state.

 

[hash tag]

Very large Debenhams in Guildford, right on the river, guess that will be executive flats in a couple of years. Never really did get on with them as stores though, always having to walk through the perfume department to get anywhere meant you started your shopping experience choking.

Oh yes, forgot that one. Was never brilliant, but great location.
Is it not the same with perfume depts most department stores; Selfridges or Harrods - not Fortnums
Can't think why?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Is it not the same with perfume depts most department stores; Selfridges or Harrods - not Fortnums
Can't think why?

And duty free shops at the airport, hideous.

 

[pinkmonkey]

All Debenhams stores to close and 12 thousand jobs gone. Boohoo have bought the debenhams company but won't be keeping the shops. For towns like mine - Sunderland - this will be a really big blow to the town centre as Debenhams was the unofficial star attraction. Really bad news all round.
Apparently Asos are buying the rest of Arcadia.

I expect ASOS won't want the shops either.

 

[stavros]

Our Debenhams isn't far from the still empty old BHS site.

 

[quiet guy]

Massive store in Sheffield centre and another big store in Meadowhall. High streets are going to look really bleak when these stores close down and the retail parks and out of town shopping centres are looking more and more fucked as these chains close down.

 

[BlanketAddict]

Primark/Poundland/Wilko are pretty much the only shops that have plenty of customers (not including the supermarkets) in my town.