Is the High Street doomed

[lazythursday]

I very rarely go to a shop for anything other than food products. Maybe once every few months I'll need to go to a clothes / outdoors shop but at least 50% of that stuff I buy online.

But I do visit my local town, because it has some cool cafes/bars and a market and library, and a square that often has public art /events and is just a nice place to sit in the sun and watch the world go by.

Whereas I was in my hometown of Nuneaton yesterday and, well, it's just grim. Empty shops, ugly, drab, dispiriting. Can't imagine why you'd go there except to grab some essential and run.

 

[weepiper]

On the street where my work is we have a bike repair shop (us), two greengrocers, a physio business, a hairdresser, two cafés, a yoga centre, an architect, a pub. Round the corner, so the same block of buildings but at 90°, there's another two hairdressers, a fishmongers, a bookshop, a cake shop, a restaurant, a chippy, a hardware shop, another pub, a violin making business ( ), another cafe, a ceramics painting place. Almost all of these are long established businesses. Some high streets appear to be weathering the storm ok, just not the big name high rent high turnover stores.

 

[ska invita]

I still do. We have talked about streaming or buying download stuff but I just cant do it.
There is nothing like having an actual album for the cover, for the sleeve notes, for stamping your character on your home.
There is nothing like going in to a shop and having a flick through the discs and also chatting to sales assistants about them.
I once dated a sales assistant who I met while buying records bit thats a different story.

these days i feel the opposite
rather than stamping character on your home its just clutter
flicking through records in a shop is the most inefficient way of finding new music - you cant hear it to know if its worth buying!! pointless really
then you have to pay waay more than you would for a digital file for all that toxic plastic, air miles etc.
getting tips on something new from a record shop worker is possible in a good shop, but many are moody, and theres much better ways of discovering new music online than some random in a shop guessing what you might like

 

[MickiQ]

these days i feel the opposite
rather than stamping character on your home its just clutter
flicking through records in a shop is the most inefficient way of finding new music - you cant hear it to know if its worth buying!! pointless really
then you have to pay waay more than you would for a digital file for all that toxic plastic, air miles etc.
getting tips on something new from a record shop worker is possible in a good shop, but many are moody, and theres much better ways of discovering new music online than some random in a shop guessing what you might like

Most of the new bands I have discovered in the past few years including one where I have bought their whole discography have been by hearing their music on film and TV soundtracks.

 

[Cloo]

Clothes shops are fucked beyond measure

I think clothes shops in places with a buzz - a city centre or a busy mall - are still OK. But the days of the local boutique are over. When we moved here 15 years ago (London, tube zone 4) there were usually one or two little clothes shops (though they didn't last long) on the high Street, but it's been 5+ years since there's been any.

 

[pbsmooth]

On the street where my work is we have a bike repair shop (us), two greengrocers, a physio business, a hairdresser, two cafés, a yoga centre, an architect, a pub. Round the corner, so the same block of buildings but at 90°, there's another two hairdressers, a fishmongers, a bookshop, a cake shop, a restaurant, a chippy, a hardware shop, another pub, a violin making business ( ), another cafe, a ceramics painting place. Almost all of these are long established businesses. Some high streets appear to be weathering the storm ok, just not the big name high rent high turnover stores.

The other thing is whether businesses own their shop. If you're renting it's much more of an issue no longer making any money. If you've been there forever, own the premises, paid off your mortgage etc less of an issue to trundle along.

 

[Bingoman]

lloyds pharmacies closing...

Lloyds Pharmacy at risk of shutting 1,300 sites in another fatal blow for highstreet

Lloyds Pharmacy has put all of its 1,300 sites at risk of closure in another major blow for the highstreet. According to reports in The Sun, the It comes as the beleaguered chain, which is owned by Aurelius Group, already revealed this year that it would close 237 of its sites which operate...

www.cityam.com

Well my local one is absolutely rubbish they make you wait for 20 min before being served and the OS queue everytime they make you wait?

And plus if your getting z prescription for you or a family member they dont have items in so you have to go back the next day or go elsewhere so I am not surprised they are closing

 

[Smangus]

Well my local one is absolutely rubbish they make you wait for 20 min before being served and the OS queue everytime they make you wait?

And plus if your getting z prescription for you or a family member they dont have items in so you have to go back the next day or go elsewhere so I am not surprised they are closing

Same with mine , terrible service and completely unreliable open times. Go to an independent one up fhe road now. Far better, friendlier and more efficient.

 

[hash tag]

Same with mine , terrible service and completely unreliable open times. Go to an independent one up fhe road now. Far better, friendlier and more efficient.

Our local independent chemists charge a fortune for any purchases to the point where people tried to organise a boycot of one of them for shameless profiteering.

 

[hash tag]

these days i feel the opposite
rather than stamping character on your home its just clutter
flicking through records in a shop is the most inefficient way of finding new music - you cant hear it to know if its worth buying!! pointless really
then you have to pay waay more than you would for a digital file for all that toxic plastic, air miles etc.
getting tips on something new from a record shop worker is possible in a good shop, but many are moody, and theres much better ways of discovering new music online than some random in a shop guessing what you might like

Yesterday I started to integrate some newly purchased CD's in to the collection. It took much longer than expected because as Iw as going through them,
I was reminded of stuff I have not listened to in a while and started to play some of it; it was a joy.
I would not get this from having everything on a hard drive type thing.

 

[Serge Forward]

In local news... the Highcross shopping centre in Leicester city centre is in trouble. When it opened a few years back, a lot of other shops outside the Highcross struggled and the city centre became increasingly blighted with closed shops. Since then, empties have also hit the Highcross.
Highcross Shopping Centre goes into receivership with Savills - Retail Gazette

 

[hash tag]

there's more Argos, B&M, Iceland and more all closing shops this month - see full list

I imagine some of these are a real hammer blow to some places.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

The other thing is whether businesses own their shop. If you're renting it's much more of an issue no longer making any money. If you've been there forever, own the premises, paid off your mortgage etc less of an issue to trundle along.

Yes, trading conditions, ie decrease in number of customers, lower takings, etc., aren't the only problem faced by retailers, commercial landlords putting up rents is a big factor in lots of shops closing down. When I was in Hackney, just over a decade ago, there was a street where the landlord was putting up shop rents by 300 per cent(!), causing many of the independent shops to go out of business, because they just couldn't sustain those kind of rent hikes.

Corporate greed on the part of commercial landlords - and also their letting agents is a big factor in the death of the high street. They'd rather send businesses to the wall and have empty shop units than charge reasonable rents.

 

[Sparkle Motion]

Last time I visited the Pentagon shopping centre in Chatham, they had pretty much closed all the shops upstairs and moved everyone left to the ground floor. Used to be one of the top shopping centres in Kent.

 

[hash tag]

Last time I visited the Pentagon shopping centre in Chatham, they had pretty much closed all the shops upstairs and moved everyone left to the ground floor. Used to be one of the top shopping centres in Kent.

It's not a million miles from bluewater which wouldn't help.

 

[cupid_stunt]

there's more Argos, B&M, Iceland and more all closing shops this month - see full list

I imagine some of these are a real hammer blow to some places.

Not surprised that Argos standalone stores are closing, when Sainsbury's took them over in 2016 it was always the plan to start relocating Argo outlets into the supermarkets, a total of 420 stores are due to close by March next year, leaving about 100. Our town Centre one closed a few years ago, and moved into a local Sainsbury's supermarket to the west instead, although we still have massive one on a retail park, which also has a Sainsbury's, on the eastern side of the borough.

Bit surprised by Iceland, they should be doing well during the cost of living crisis, certainly the two branches here always seem to be busy.

 

[hash tag]

Not surprised that Argos standalone stores are closing, when Sainsbury's took them over in 2016 it was always the plan to start relocating Argo outlets into the supermarkets, a total of 420 stores are due to close by March next year, leaving about 100. Our town Centre one closed a few years ago, and moved into a local Sainsbury's supermarket to the west instead, although we still have massive one on a retail park, which also has a Sainsbury's, on the eastern side of the borough.

Bit surprised by Iceland, they should be doing well during the cost of living crisis, certainly the two branches here always seem to be busy.

Agreed. Argos are no surprise but Iceland are.

 

[manji]

these days i feel the opposite
rather than stamping character on your home its just clutter
flicking through records in a shop is the most inefficient way of finding new music - you cant hear it to know if its worth buying!! pointless really
then you have to pay waay more than you would for a digital file for all that toxic plastic, air miles etc.
getting tips on something new from a record shop worker is possible in a good shop, but many are moody, and theres much better ways of discovering new music online than some random in a shop guessing what you might like

I’m in the process of digitalising all my music and books. Collecting vinyl is stamp collecting for aging hipsters. Some of my mates have a room for vinyl. To play record find it, fuck around with record player bet half the stuff they buy they never play.
Digital is an easier way to find new music as well.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Oh, and my niece & her chap was down visiting from Kent today and they couldn't believe how few retail units are empty here and the fact we still have branches of all major banks, unlike Tonbridge.

But Tonbridge only has a population of just over 40k, and is about 5 miles from Tunbridge Wells, which has always been a much bigger shopping center, whereas Worthing has a population of just over 110k, is the main shopping center for nearby sizeable villages, Littlehampton [loads of empty units] and Shoreham if people don't fancy going into Brighton, plus being on the coast we get loads of visitors from much further away, and the council car-parks are very cheap* since they took back control from the evil NCP.

* Worthing - Up to 1 hour - £1.00 · Up to 2 hours - £2.00 · Up to 3 hours - £3.90 · Up to 4 hours - £5.20.
Brighton - 1 hour. £5.95. 1 to 2 hours. £11.90. 2 to 3 hours. £17.85. 3 to 4 hours. £23.80.

 

[Elpenor]

I read somewhere that electricity costs at Iceland are higher due to so many of their lines are frozen

 

[manji]

I’m in the process of digitalising all my music and books. Collecting vinyl is stamp collecting for aging hipsters. Some of my mates have a room for vinyl. To play record find it, fuck around with record player bet half the stuff they buy they never play.
Digital is an easier way to find new music as well.

Also magazines. The Wire I’ve been purchasing for years. Piles of them up in the the loft. If you get online subscription you have full access to the whole back catalogue.

 

[pbsmooth]

We all know the arguments surely, been done to death, and there are advantages to physical media too. I like owning books, magazines and vinyl as they are nice things and I look at my phone enough as it is without moving everything I do on to it. Also more social experience when sharing stuff with mates or kids. But of course I live streaming music etc too. Horses for courses and all that.

 

[hash tag]

Oh, and my niece & her chap was down visiting from Kent today and they couldn't believe how few retail units are empty here and the fact we still have branches of all major banks, unlike Tonbridge.

But Tonbridge only has a population of just over 40k, and is about 5 miles from Tunbridge Wells, which has always been a much bigger shopping center, whereas Worthing has a population of just over 110k, is the main shopping center for nearby sizeable villages, Littlehampton [loads of empty units] and Shoreham if people don't fancy going into Brighton, plus being on the coast we get loads of visitors from much further away, and the council car-parks are very cheap* since they took back control from the evil NCP.

* Worthing - Up to 1 hour - £1.00 · Up to 2 hours - £2.00 · Up to 3 hours - £3.90 · Up to 4 hours - £5.20.
Brighton - 1 hour. £5.95. 1 to 2 hours. £11.90. 2 to 3 hours. £17.85. 3 to 4 hours. £23.80.

Tonbridge is a very poor cousin to Tunbridge Wells and is not such an elderly and wealthy area as Worthing, I don't expect.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I read somewhere that electricity costs at Iceland are higher due to so many of their lines are frozen

Yes, I saw their MD interviewed on TV, but he said overall they were doing fairly well, they are still a family owned business, and introduced micro-loans for customers, with very low interest rates to cover the costs of admin, which seriously impressed me.

To meet this challenge, we are trialling an ethical and affordable alternative: the Iceland Food Club, operated by the well-respected, charity-owned lender Fair for You. This offers short-term microloans of £25 to £75, uploaded to a dedicated Food Club card, and repaid at the rate of £10 per week. On a £75 loan, repaid over eight weeks, a Club member will pay interest of £2.89. On a £25 loan they pay 40p interest.

Helping to fight food poverty through flexible, ethical credit – About Iceland

about.iceland.co.uk

 

[cupid_stunt]

Tonbridge is a very poor cousin to Tunbridge Wells and is not such an elderly and wealthy area as Worthing, I don't expect.

I don't think you know today's Worthing very well, it's a crowded urban borough with plenty of deprived areas, we have three foodbanks, it has the least amount of green space per person out of all major towns and cities in the UK, although we have the benefit of the sea to the south and the South Down National Park to the north.

It's not really a retirement town any longer, loads of young families have moved in*, Labour took over the the borough council last year, for the first time since it was created back in 1974, and IIRC Labour took all of Worthing's seats on West Sussex County Council too.

* As people moved from London to Brighton pushing up housing costs, people from Brighton have moved to Worthing.

The town with only 4 square metres of green space per person – less than a snooker table

After lockdown, many of us have emerged with a new appreciation for green spaces. But what about the town with the least green space per person?

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[newme]

Depends wildly on where you are, I am in a tiny village but we have, a nursery, school, two hairdressers, church, garage, fishmongers, butchers, post office/shop, surgery, dentist, shop/bakery, 2x football/rugby pitches, cricket nets, river, pub, edit forgot a hairdresser, surgery and cosmetology type place (idk the lingo) middle of a AONB. Park expands every year, walks, runs, guides, cubs, scouts. Soon a basketball court and improved tennis court, all free. Can launch canoe, paddle round and dock at a pub if I want. That highstreet here is sound, 2 miles away it is a horror show, all charity shops, betting places and expensive cafes, some decent restaurants so thats all I go to really. bit of a mess, all shopping done online or at a major supermarket.

 

[Bingoman]

Is the high street doomed as the title says, well my local high street is defo because tonight I am told that the local discount store QD is close in two months time due the lack of footfall?

Not only that the local pet shop is also closing down as is m &co too and in the last couple months we had Barclays bank and the Nottingham building society close too and nothing has replaced them and there is other empty shop in town that have been closed down for years and nothing replaced them either.?

And on top of that the local council have got money for from Government to improve the high street and what they are doing is winding one side of the street and the two lane road will become one on each side, taking out the traffic lights and putting in a roundabout to improve congestion?

And putting a zebra crossing In further downs and taking down an icon called the founnwhere the roundabout is and moving it elsewhere?

It also means the buses have nowhere to turn around unless they go way out of town and making the buses very late to pick it passengers up

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

They need to get people to a social hub in different ways, then have the shops around that for footfall.
I guess that has already been thought of though and hasn't worked. The areas are too urban and are not nice to meet friends and hang out. Everything is made of concrete and coffee shops and a greggs are not a big enough draw.
As for clothes shops, I prefer to try things on, but the ones around my way have sod all in stock. Nothing in my size and they seem to just have empty shelves and clothes all over the floor. Visit the store and see that a couple of times and you don't bother going back.

 

[moochedit]

there's more Argos, B&M, Iceland and more all closing shops this month - see full list

I imagine some of these are a real hammer blow to some places.

Argos's are mostly moving inside sainsburys stores as sainsburys own them now. The Argos in coventry town center (and a lot of other shops, pubs etc) are closing soon or have already closed due to part of the city center being demolished for redevelopment soon.

 

[Dystopiary]

Next has bought the Cath Kidston brand.

Next has taken on the name and intellectual property but not Cath Kidston's four shops.

Administrators PwC said the shops would stay open while "operations are wound down", but added there would be redundancies.

Next has been snapping up struggling retailers, buying Made.com and fashion chain Joules late last year.

Cath Kidston collapsed in 2020 with the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs and the closure of all its UK shops.

It was bought and relaunched by private investment firm, Baring Private Equity Asia, which then sold the business last July to restructuring firm Hilco Capital.

Hilco had reportedly been looking at a sale of the business last month.

PwC said the retail sector "continues to be exposed to testing market conditions".

Cath Kidston had been hit by the "decline in consumer spending driven by cost-of-living pressures and rising costs," administrator Zelf Hussain said.

Retailer Next buys Cath Kidston in £8.5m deal