What chains will be gone by the end of 2012

[chalkie99]

When I was young we shopped at Liptons, MacFisheries, Timothy Whites, Woolworths, Rumbelows Electrical, House of Holland and Brentford Nylons - to name just a few off the top of my head!

Then we popped round to Green Shield to trade in our stamps.

Moral of the story is that times change. always have done, but life goes on.

 

[captaincloser]

When I was young we shopped at Liptons, MacFisheries, Timothy Whites, Woolworths, Rumbelows Electrical, House of Holland and Brentford Nylons - to name just a few off the top of my head!

Then we popped round to Green Shield to trade in our stamps.

Moral of the story is that times change. always have done, but life goes on.

Happy Days

 

[silvermusic]

When I was young we shopped at Liptons, MacFisheries, Timothy Whites, Woolworths, Rumbelows Electrical, House of Holland and Brentford Nylons - to name just a few off the top of my head!

Then we popped round to Green Shield to trade in our stamps.

Green Shield stamps... now that takes me back.

I assume you know what the Green Shield stamp shops turned into?

We use to shop at Fine Fare, Cantors, John Collier, C&A, etc.

 

[papverpoppies]

When I was young we shopped at Liptons, MacFisheries, Timothy Whites, Woolworths, Rumbelows Electrical, House of Holland and Brentford Nylons - to name just a few off the top of my head!

Then we popped round to Green Shield to trade in our stamps.

Moral of the story is that times change. always have done, but life goes on.

Lillian Skinners, for shoes, FineFare for food, remember Liptons, and Brentford Nylons to name but a few of those you mention.

I firmly believe that many shop have a life span, and then it falls out of flavour.
The same thing might pop up down the road, under new management and flying new colours, just enough to fool the public anyway.

Pops ~xx~

 

[captaincloser]

Lillian Skinners, for shoes,

Pops ~xx~

Wasn't it Lilley and Skinners... I remember the shop front.

Lillian Skinner probably had a stall in the local market

....and Sainsburys when it was a real, proper shop before the supermarket trade. It's a different now as chalk and cheese.

 

[Steve Sellers]

I have to say, I think this entire thread is inappropriate. Many of the comments on here name businesses who are apparently in trouble (according to each individual posting), but where is the evidence????

 

[Geoff T]

I have to say, I think this entire thread is inappropriate. Many of the comments on here name businesses who are apparently in trouble (according to each individual posting), but where is the evidence????

The press can speculate - any reason we can't? (we're no getting paid for it either...)

"free speech" an all that...

 

I have to say, I think this entire thread is inappropriate. Many of the comments on here name businesses who are apparently in trouble (according to each individual posting), but where is the evidence????

Quite right all business's in the UK are in trouble.

Earl

 

[Geoff T]

Quite right all business's in the UK are in trouble.

Earl

Quite right - and I'll now say the same thing I've been saying to my clients for a year...

"the longer you can last, the stronger you'll be - because there'll be less competition..."

 

[avantime]

Has anyone suggested Bensons for Beds?

 

[internetspaceships]

Bah Humbug

Tittle tattle and toil and trouble.

Load of Tosh with no basis at all.

 

[Banned]

Isn't it strange that to some it's now become politically incorrect to discuss UK businesses on a United Kingdom Business Forum

There may be no evidence beyond what we as individuals see, hear and thereby conclude. That is why it is called speculation.

Just like I will speculate £5 each way that Charming Lad will loose in the 12.20 at Newbury whereas Double Whammy has a good chance of staying the distance. No evidence to support either mind, but does that make it wrong to discuss?

 

[captaincloser]

UKBF is many good things and it's also the Daily Mail of small business...hence this thread and others like it.

Nothing wrong with that. Nobody is forced to read the threads.

But this one is a perculariarly English form of voyeurism to be sure.

Dont wrap it up as something deeper-it ain't.

 

[Banned]

Dont wrap it up as something deeper-it ain't.

Blimey, if comparing this thread to the 12.20 at Newbury is wrapping it up as something deeper one of us needs to worry

So Captain, which retailer do you see as the big winner of 2012 then and why?

 

[papverpoppies]

Isn't it strange that to some it's now become politically incorrect to discuss UK businesses on a United Kingdom Business Forum

There may be no evidence beyond what we as individuals see, hear and thereby conclude. That is why it is called speculation.

Just like I will speculate £5 each way that Charming Lad will loose in the 12.20 at Newbury whereas Double Whammy has a good chance of staying the distance. No evidence to support either mind, but does that make it wrong to discuss?

Yes, but it is perfectly acceptable to write and slate Tesco et al, by many on here - and pray for their downfall.

Dear me, glad I no longer frequent pubs, the choice of topics that are unsuitable - would leave nothing left to debate.

Get real some of you, we have said nothing on here - that is NOT already plastered all over the public domain, or don't you people live in the real World

By, the way lots of people will die, be born, lose their jobs, their homes....or is that not acceptable either, and just good old rumour spreading.

Pops ~xx~

 

[papverpoppies]

UKBF is many good things and it's also the Daily Mail of small business...hence this thread and others like it.

Nothing wrong with that. Nobody is forced to read the threads.

But this one is a perculariarly English form of voyeurism to be sure.

Dont wrap it up as something deeper-it ain't.

Sucks we have been rumbled - all bets are cancelled lads.

Pops ~xx~

 

[papverpoppies]

Blimey, if comparing this thread to the 12.20 at Newbury is wrapping it up as something deeper one of us needs to worry

So Captain, which retailer do you see as the big winner of 2012 then and why?

Banned 2012 will see Woolworths fortune take a turn for the better

Who is fav for Newbury (any inside tips)

Pops ~xx~

 

[Banned]

Who is fav for Newbury (any inside tips)

Pops ~xx~

I can guarantee the winner in the 12.20 at Newbury will be any horse I haven't betted on. Hence why I'm not gong to predict the disappearance of William Hill from our High Streets.

 

[papverpoppies]

I can guarantee the winner in the 12.20 at Newbury will be any horse I haven't betted on. Hence why I'm not gong to predict the disappearance of William Hill from our High Streets.

Why is someone going to kidnap him

Pops ~xx~

 

[Steve Sellers]

The press can speculate - any reason we can't? (we're no getting paid for it either...)

"free speech" an all that...

Defamation....................

How would you feel if I started a thread speculating that your business was going under? A potential client googles you, comes across the thread, and decides "I'm not going to use Geoff T his business is going down the pan in 2012".

 

[AndyBlue]

Every view given on here is a) Just that an opinion and b) Garnered from evidence already in the public domain i.e. Newspapers, TV, Company accounts. I can't recall anyone on this thread anyone is actually going under, only in their opinion they will go under this year - big difference.

 

[mhall]

I am amused that many of the people moaning about this discussion are the same people that have been saying for years that the High Street is dead and that we should all be on the internet.

 

[captaincloser]

Blimey, if comparing this thread to the 12.20 at Newbury is wrapping it up as something deeper one of us needs to worry

So Captain, which retailer do you see as the big winner of 2012 then and why?

I am not sure about the big winner but the John Lewis partnershp seems pretty much always to be a winner. Class act. One of their flagship stores is Peter Jones in London's Sloane square. An iconic business for a very long time...values, standards, wholesome,clean, polite, I could go on.

However, the stores we get reflect the people we are..same as the TV we get..it's only because we desire no better that we are fed trash...but thats maybe a rant for another day.

Happy New year Mr Banned

 

[captaincloser]

I am amused that many of the people moaning about this discussion are the same people that have been saying for years that the High Street is dead and that we should all be on the internet.

Nobody is moaning about the discussion.You made that up.

Nobody is moaning. I for one just made the comment about the nature of the thread. Its a doomsayers thread frankly..thats comment not moaning.

I for one do not see t'internet replacing the High Street..how very, very boring that would be. Every few generations the High street is cleaned out and thats whats happening now...but replaced by t'internet ? No......we would all die of boredom...mainly the people running t'internet sites when Amazon do a Tesco's on them. A whole nation of shopkeepers chained to t'internet....?

 

[Nuno]

Interestingly The John Lewis Partnership is seen as a key retail indicator in The City.
I admire what they are doing/have done, but think it might be misleading to try to get an indication of the complete retail sector from them. They will almost certainly be survivors.

(As an aside John Lewis is said to be the hardest negotiator of the large retail chains, with the most restrictive contracts. If true it might explain some of their success, but it's odd that Tesco is the whipping boy.)

 

[AndyBlue]

Defamation....................

How would you feel if I started a thread speculating that your business was going under? A potential client googles you, comes across the thread, and decides "I'm not going to use Geoff T his business is going down the pan in 2012".

Nobody is moaning about the discussion.You made that up.

Nobody is moaning. I for one just made the comment about the nature of the thread. Its a doomsayers thread frankly..thats comment not moaning.

Sounds like a moan to me...

 

[GingerBeer]

As a Clintons supplier I'm hoping they will pull through. Things in their favour; A new CEO is only 2 months in the job after years of no change, The bank is still backing them for another 2 years, They are paying on time and faster than some other chains, they have huge potential for shop revamps.

Compared to WHS Clintons head office is organised well and on the ball.

I personally think the only way that Clintons will survive is if they have a major restructure on their retail prices and promote the fact. The last time I went into Clintons for 3 x birthday cards and a small paper gift bag I had hardly any change from a £20 note. My wife has since told me that no one she knows uses Clintons any more as they are way over priced and they all use Card Factory.

 

[papverpoppies]

Most mentioned in this article are the ones mentioned on here..http://www.thisisjersey.com/business/city-news/2011/12/24/retailers-facing-more-tough-times/

Pops ~xx~

 

[mhall]

I personally think the only way that Clintons will survive is if they have a major restructure on their retail prices and promote the fact. The last time I went into Clintons for 3 x birthday cards and a small paper gift bag I had hardly any change from a £20 note. My wife has since told me that no one she knows uses Clintons any more as they are way over priced and they all use Card Factory.

I noticed this year that our local Card Factory, two doors away from Clintons had a massive poster saying "If it's the thought that counts, why are other peoples cards so expensive?" - clever little dig

 

[papverpoppies]

I noticed this year that our local Card Factory, two doors away from Clintons had a massive poster saying "If it's the thought that counts, why are other peoples cards so expensive?" - clever little dig

It is the cost of postage that is killing of the card industry, so cards have got to be a realistic price.

Pops ~xx~

 

I think my lavatory chain may well go this year.

Earl

 

[Banned]

It is the cost of postage that is killing of the card industry, so cards have got to be a realistic price.

Pops ~xx~

Having once had a card shop all I can add is it's a bloody labour intensive and waste high retail business. Never again, margins may be 75%+ POR but that's an irrelevance to your bottom line.

Start dealing with the big names (Carte Blache, Avanti etc) and your down to 50% - 60% POR, but you can return unsold stock for a cost of 20%. Hallmark forget it, they want to merchandise for little margin.

The winners will be firms like Paperchase who both produce and High Street retail directly. Clinton's don't have a hope in hell, hence their high prices to cover the labour costs.

Clinton's have to be one to watch in 2012.

 

[Banned]

I think my lavatory chain may well go this year.

Earl

Ten minutes later and I get it :redface:

Were posh though and have a handle on ours, and - wait for it - it's actually inside as well

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Having once had a card shop all I can add is it's a bloody labour intensive and waste high retail business. Never again, margins may be 75%+ POR but that's an irrelevance to your bottom line.

Start dealing with the big names (Carte Blache, Avanti etc) and your down to 50% - 60% POR, but you can return unsold stock for a cost of 20%. Hallmark forget it, they want to merchandise for little margin.

The winners will be firms like Paperchase who both produce and High Street retail directly. Clinton's don't have a hope in hell, hence their high prices to cover the labour costs.

Clinton's have to be one to watch in 2012.

We make our own cards .......... we also sell all the gorgeous bits and pieces required in order to make your own cards too, our single biggest seller in terms of craft supplies is the card making/paper crafting supplies, we intend to get as many people making their own cards as possible!

 

[Banned]

We make our own cards .......... we also sell all the gorgeous bits and pieces required in order to make your own cards too, our single biggest seller in terms of craft supplies is the card making/paper crafting supplies, we intend to get as many people making their own cards as possible!

That's the way to go, and I'm sure more people will be making their own cards for say £2 than buying a mass produced one for twice or thrice the price.

 

[papverpoppies]

We make our own cards .......... we also sell all the gorgeous bits and pieces required in order to make your own cards too, our single biggest seller in terms of craft supplies is the card making/paper crafting supplies, we intend to get as many people making their own cards as possible!

Amen to that.
Pops ~xx~

 

[Steve Sellers]

Sounds like a moan to me...

If you call pointing out defamatory comments as "moaning" then I guess that makes me Victor Meldrew.

Perhaps you should spend more time worrying about how to run your own business better than the competitors, instead of crossing your fingers and hoping they go bust.

Whilst we are on this subject this whole thread sounds like a big moan.....pot - kettle - black.

 

[Banned]

Perhaps you should spend more time worrying about how to run your own business better than the competitors, instead of crossing your fingers and hoping they go bust.

Your the second person to say that, are you really ignorant as to how your competitors are performing? Does being ignorant to that fact help you? Or are you happy with your head in the sand? I like to think I'm one step ahead of the others BECAUSE I do worry about how the everyone on the High Street is performing and react accordingly.

What do you talk about when your with other people in similar businesses then - the weather :|

Then again I've just noticed your in legal services and consultancy and as such wouldn't be that interested in High Street retailers, whereas retail is my life and business and as such of great interest and speculation to me.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

The winners will be firms like Paperchase who both produce and High Street retail directly. Clinton's don't have a hope in hell, hence their high prices to cover the labour costs.

I doubt that Paperchase pay much lower wages than Clinton's.

If the product doesn't sell it does not help Paperchase to produce themselves. I have become a bit of an expert at telling whether certain stock sells or not. I've been known to turn an item upside down a few down in a stack to see if it is still there a month or so later. I know that Paperchase have some duds. If its their own product they cannot return it. Clintons can ship anything back for a full credit.

 

[Banned]

I doubt that Paperchase pay much lower wages than Clinton's.

If the product doesn't sell it does not help Paperchase to produce themselves. I have become a bit of an expert at telling whether certain stock sells or not. I've been known to turn an item upside down a few down in a stack to see if it is still there a month or so later. I know that Paperchase have some duds. If its their own product they cannot return it. Clintons can ship anything back for a full credit.

Sorry I put it badly, it's not so much the wages or less loss of dud stock, but cutting out the middle man percentage that I was referring to. My bad for not making that clear.