2013 unlucky for some closure predictions

Paul_Rosser · Jan 17, 2013

papverpoppies said:
Wait to we get virtual online shopping where you will be able to see, taste and handle the goods before buying

Pops ~xx~

Once 3D printing matures a bit and everyone has a unit in their home this may become a reality.

gr9ce · Jan 18, 2013

Naturally newspapers are now awash with high street doom stories..

Didn't realise Stead & Simpson had gone..

Also over 140 retailers on the critical 'watch' list? can we name 140 still trading?

Thorntons have moved to selling within supermarkets like Asda....job done.

Off in search of a horse burger to cheer myself up...

herewegoagain. · Jan 18, 2013

makemoney said:
And now blockbusters DVD rental, thats not a big surprise with all the unemployed, I guess they have the free time but no money,

I wouldnt bet on that one ! some of the 'lovely' claimants I have the 'benefit' (get it!) to know of, seem to have more disposable income than us daft beggars working full time !!!

There is always money for ciggies, cheap cider, faux 'sports' wear etc... !!

herewegoagain. · Jan 18, 2013

papverpoppies said:
Noticed the Thorntons brand being sold in Poundland.
Who have thought it.

What a downfall eh !! that would explain the short dated Thorntons stock in Poundland...

Thorntons IMH sold their soul when they started selling to Tesco - great at the start, increased turnover, but obviously battered down in price by Tesco...

Cheapening the brand.....

Not making their goods 'special' anymore - slippery slope

As the OP says, Poundland, next stop...

Esk247 · Jan 18, 2013

Paul_Rosser said:
Once 3D printing matures a bit and everyone has a unit in their home this may become a reality.

When 3D printing becomes the norm, it will end the need for retail completely. There won't be any need for manufacturers at all unless you're welding something together or building a ship.

They can already make lighting, components, cases and models in a 3D printer in minutes. Why would you bother going to a shop or even using a website when you can just print yourself a remote control?

Paul_Rosser · Jan 18, 2013

Esk247 said:
When 3D printing becomes the norm, it will end the need for retail completely. There won't be any need for manufacturers at all unless you're welding something together or building a ship.

They can already make lighting, components, cases and models in a 3D printer in minutes. Why would you bother going to a shop or even using a website when you can just print yourself a remote control?

The issue will be piracy, at the moment you may be able to download some MP3's or a movie, once you can pirate a physical item just by downloading the specifications for it, then it's a whole different issue.

Also can't see 3D printing being able to create high tech products such as laptops, tablets etc. Well not for a price that would be acceptable to a consumer.

melinda1609 · Jan 18, 2013

how about fashion market? something like the one in spitalfield london where you can rent a space for your brand/products?

is there any market showcases independent fashion brand/young designer products at the moment?

PrestonLad · Jan 18, 2013

gr9ce said:
Naturally newspapers are now awash with high street doom stories..

Didn't realise Stead & Simpson had gone..

Also over 140 retailers on the critical 'watch' list? can we name 140 still trading?

Thorntons have moved to selling within supermarkets like Asda....job done.

Off in search of a horse burger to cheer myself up...

I don't think Stead & Simpson has gone. Certainly not in my local high street.

I saw signs in their window recently... first that they would be closing down, and then they said they'd been saved.

TBH... this was their 3rd "closing down" sale they've had in short time (both previous ones proved fake - one having the words 'for refurbishment' in 9 font letters on the poster) - so I didn't take much notice of the recent notices. But my guess is that they went into admin, then came out of it. Google didn't provide an immediate answer.

Paul_Rosser · Jan 18, 2013

Stead & Simpson went into admin a few years ago and were bought by the Shoe Zone group.

doherty_1980 · Jan 18, 2013

mhall said:
I'm only predicting for the year, as the original thread title.

As regards illegal - If these are there, they are very well hidden (mind you, their site does keep crashing on me)

if the website operator is a company, the website and any other web pages of the company should display details including:

registered company name

the part of the UK in which the company is registered

registered company number

registered office address

the fact that it is a limited company if it is:

a limited company which does not have to use limited as part of its
registered name, or

a community interest company which is not a public company

I would never buy from a website hiding behind a "contact us " form or email only.

All that information is clearly on their website so there's nothing illegal about it. Surely someone who worries about something as minor as that when it comes to a large company would bother to read the terms and conditions?

mhall · Jan 18, 2013

doherty_1980 said:
All that information is clearly on their website so there's nothing illegal about it. Surely someone who worries about something as minor as that when it comes to a large company would bother to read the terms and conditions?

As I said, their website keeps crashing on me, but as you can't access the details unless you download the terms and conditions, that is not easy access IMHO

eventdomain · Jan 18, 2013

so rental was the only option and they made a lot from it.

I was a Duty Manager for Blockbuster UK Group in 97, and they did well from paying crap money (£3ph to staff) and just £10k to management - but it was v-cushy work though...

The hours managers had to work were crazy @ 80 hours a week

although I wasn't doing that as mine was at 35 hours. In the end they 'dispensed' with managers and got the staff to run the stores.

Yup - their snacks were crazy priced! Hargen Daz ice cream was good though... £4.99 a tub.

kelvin1950 · Jan 18, 2013

doherty_1980 said:
All that information is clearly on their website so there's nothing illegal about it. Surely someone who worries about something as minor as that when it comes to a large company would bother to read the terms and conditions?

Why would they put it there instead of "contact us"?

missynatalie · Jan 20, 2013

Putting my two-pence worth on WHSmith - I just don't feel that they offer anything anymore.
Waterstones is a much nicer place to browse for books, many people aren't even buying books off the high street anymore! Their drinks and sweets are so expensive and they don't even do games/dvds anymore. In my opinion, the only thing they have left worthwhile is newspapers!

Paul_Rosser · Jan 20, 2013

eventdomain said:
I was a Duty Manager for Blockbuster UK Group in 97, and they did well from paying crap money (£3ph to staff) and just £10k to management - but it was v-cushy work though...

The hours managers had to work were crazy @ 80 hours a week although I wasn't doing that as mine was at 35 hours. In the end they 'dispensed' with managers and got the staff to run the stores.

Yup - their snacks were crazy priced! Hargen Daz ice cream was good though... £4.99 a tub.

I worked at BBV when they started to sell haagen dazs, the freezers they used were rubbish and if they went below a certain temperature the entire lot had to be binned, weirdly as the staff could then take it all home with them this happened at least once a week

missynatalie said:
Putting my two-pence worth on WHSmith - I just don't feel that they offer anything anymore.
Waterstones is a much nicer place to browse for books, many people aren't even buying books off the high street anymore! Their drinks and sweets are so expensive and they don't even do games/dvds anymore. In my opinion, the only thing they have left worthwhile is newspapers!

Smiths seem to have the monopoly on train stations so I can see them closing a lot of high street stores, but the ones at stations I would imagine do a good trade.

alphanumeric · Jan 20, 2013

Talay said:
Ahead of the game ? nope, the game has changed. Amazon is already running same day delivery, within hours in select cities, trying to perfect the concept. Of course, you won't get the obscure 3 7/16 torque wrench in downtown Somerset in 20 minutes but fast moving goods will surely go this way of instant gratification.

Argos can deliver in under an hour to most major cities.

Lunazzurra · Jan 20, 2013

missynatalie said:
Putting my two-pence worth on WHSmith - I just don't feel that they offer anything anymore.
Waterstones is a much nicer place to browse for books, many people aren't even buying books off the high street anymore! Their drinks and sweets are so expensive and they don't even do games/dvds anymore. In my opinion, the only thing they have left worthwhile is newspapers!

Waterstones is part of the HMV group I think. Ironically, our (very popular) Waterstones closed down about two years ago to make way for an HMV because they said that was going to be more profitable!!! Now our HMV will probably close too.

Interestingly - I've taken a couple of short train journeys in the last couple of days - not a Kindle or e-reader in sight - but plenty of 'proper' books.

My money for companies very close to the edge of a sandstone eroding cliff are:-

Clintons (Do you ever see anyone in them anymore?)
Card Fair (Ditto)
Card Factory (Ditto)
M&S Clothing??? (Apparently losing out big time to Primark & Debenhams)

Dare I say - John Lewis (Internet sales up - store sales down? Never knowingly undersold just isn't true anymore).
Argos? - (Whatever you want never appears to be in stock. Out of date models available because they have to purchase to far in advance for prep of 'new' catalogue).

There are some 140 high street names on the 'critical' list so I think 2013 will see the demise of some very surprising, very big names. Names we expect to be strong, names we expect to see on the High Street. March, April & May will be very interesting.

Paul_Rosser · Jan 20, 2013

Esk247 · Jan 20, 2013

HMV Group aren't going under as far as i'm aware

Just HMV Music Ltd, HMV IP Ltd and Fopp Entertainments Ltd

HMV group are still fully operational and so are their subsidiary companies.

Amanda Dawson · Jan 21, 2013

For me BLOCKBUSTER for sure

... I had a great start for 2013 and really looking forward to it .

GRDCredit · Jan 21, 2013

alphanumeric said:
Argos can deliver in under an hour to most major cities.

Run that by me again?

If I live in Bristol - for example - you are saying I can order and have deliver in under 60 minutes from Argos?

Talay · Jan 22, 2013

GRDCredit said:
Run that by me again?

If I live in Bristol - for example - you are saying I can order and have deliver in under 60 minutes from Argos?

It isn't Argos doing the delivering but some partner company, who charge a fair premium, can deliver certain items in certain places, perhaps with a sliding scale for a larger window to deliver but essentially trying to leverage the logistics as per Amazon's offering.

alphanumeric · Jan 26, 2013

GRDCredit said:
Run that by me again?

If I live in Bristol - for example - you are saying I can order and have deliver in under 60 minutes from Argos?

its run by a company called shutl - http://www.shutl.co.uk/

Alan · Jan 26, 2013

Nuno said:
Well Argos today reported growth in it's business.
"Argos has tapped into a rich seam of growth," said Neil Saunders of retail analysts Conlumino

And it would seem click and collect is the reason.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21057345

In my opinion Argos will sink, not this quarter, but ......

Talay · Jan 27, 2013

roibot said:
In my opinion Argos will sink, not this quarter, but ......

How about if it transformed ?

Dump the expensive high street stores and put terminals in supermarkets. Delivery is to home or to the supermarket or some out of town facility already being used by someone else, such as Homebase.

Add in the near instant delivery being trialled and you have a compelling business model I think.

All the logistical elements are already there apart from the instant purchase and the quick delivery could resolve that. Order on the way into Tesco and pick it up after you've completed your grocery shopping.

Nuno · Jan 27, 2013

I used a Waterstones voucher online yesterday. What a Bag 'O Poo experience. They didn't have the books I wanted, (they had 1 0f 5). OK two were a bit obscure but have been on my Amazon Favorites for months.
The suggestions were pathetic. New releases in Politics and Philosophy was empty, just blank. They only stored my basket for about 15 minutes before it emptied by itself.

Compare this to Amazon. Just not the same league. And with a threatened High Street presence because of rates and rents, Waterstones need to win on the internet front, (or at least compete), if they want to survive.

A horrible WH Smith type experience.
Room 101.

Esk247 · Jan 27, 2013

Surely poor customer experiences would be reported at the weekly meeting with the web/marketing/operations team at Waterstones, you'd think wouldn't you?

It just doesn't seem to happen at big companies like Waterstones, they don't heed the warnings, it's as if they live in their own little bubble and ignore all the competition because they're obviously better than everyone else..oh..wait..they're not.

It staggers me how big headed some companies are at head office level. I've had those meetings where the directors literally think they're market leaders in their field even when they're so clearly not.

billie1 · Jan 27, 2013

My two cents tells me:

Clinton Cards, Rymans and I have a feeling about Debenhams.

businessfunding · Jan 27, 2013

billie1 said:
My two cents tells me:

Clinton Cards, Rymans and I have a feeling about Debenhams.

I think you've missed the boat on Clintons

Rymans are losing turnover but are cash rich with minimal debt so any withrawal will be strategic not forced.

Talay · Jan 28, 2013

kickstartbtm said:
I think you've missed the boat on Clintons

Rymans are losing turnover but are cash rich with minimal debt so any withrawal will be strategic not forced.

Rymans is a dog of a company from a customer shopping experience. Crap piled high, overpriced, missing essential items and minimum wage no knowledge staff.

I could see it reversing out of the High Street as all its impulse buys are catered for elsewhere and non essentials are far cheaper online.

q3605x · Jan 28, 2013

Hello all.

I came onto this forum hoping to find positive minded business folk who would be chatting about the recent lull in sales throughout the UK as a whole.

Instead I have come across this post.

Highly disappointing tbh, you all look like quite experienced business people or leaders. But seeing you make your negative comments about other businesses and talking them out of businesses is rather upsetting.

I own a chain of shops in Northern Ireland finding it hard here. And to be honest I would be really gutted to hear someone talk about my business the way you have spoke about businesses, it's like some of you want other businesses to fail.

Where are your positive points of views?

How about we start a new thread, who is staying strong during these hard times?

Talay · Jan 28, 2013

q3605x said:
Hello all.

I came onto this forum hoping to find positive minded business folk who would be chatting about the recent lull in sales throughout the UK as a whole.

Instead I have come across this post.

Highly disappointing tbh, you all look like quite experienced business people or leaders. But seeing you make your negative comments about other businesses and talking them out of businesses is rather upsetting.

I own a chain of shops in Northern Ireland finding it hard here. And to be honest I would be really gutted to hear someone talk about my business the way you have spoke about businesses, it's like some of you want other businesses to fail.

Where are your positive points of views?

How about we start a new thread, who is staying strong during these hard times?

I find nothing amusing in folk losing their jobs but as well as the "fun" element of correctly predicting which dinosaur of the High Street will fail next, the output of discussion here may well provoke just a single business to review their offering and make critical last minute changes which saves jobs.

In any case, the demise of Jessops would be good for independent camera shops, Comet going to the wall probably helps the remaining electrical stores and no-one can fathom out how Clinton Cards lasted so long in the first place !

daveymck · Jan 28, 2013

Clintons are still going are shutting one store near me in Aberdeen but have done out the other one in some supposedly upmarket looking wood, seem to be doing more ornaments seem to be modelling more on Collectibles which I think is only around in the North East England.

Thornton's have ruined their brand but not sure what will happen as their stores are a mix of their own and franchised ones but dunno how big the split is, Hotel Chocolate was probably the final nail in the coffin for them.

Simply Bedrooms · Jan 28, 2013

Talay said:
I find nothing amusing in folk losing their jobs but as well as the "fun" element of correctly predicting which dinosaur of the High Street will fail next, the output of discussion here may well provoke just a single business to review their offering and make critical last minute changes which saves jobs.

In any case, the demise of Jessops would be good for independent camera shops, Comet going to the wall probably helps the remaining electrical stores and no-one can fathom out how Clinton Cards lasted so long in the first place !

Totally agree, nobody wants to see people losing their livelihood, but its amazing how some of these so called big businesses survive so long, making it difficult for genuine entreprenuers to expand a profitable business.

Nuno · Jan 28, 2013

q3605x said:
Hello all.

I came onto this forum hoping to find positive minded business folk who would be chatting about the recent lull in sales throughout the UK as a whole.

Instead I have come across this post.

Highly disappointing tbh, you all look like quite experienced business people or leaders. But seeing you make your negative comments about other businesses and talking them out of businesses is rather upsetting.

I own a chain of shops in Northern Ireland finding it hard here. And to be honest I would be really gutted to hear someone talk about my business the way you have spoke about businesses, it's like some of you want other businesses to fail.

Where are your positive points of views?

How about we start a new thread, who is staying strong during these hard times?

Talk here is totally irrelevant as to whether a chain survives or not. However by focusing on some of the mistakes made by the chains which are contributing to their death, some of the store owners here -and others- might avoid those mistakes, and be able to survive and grow through difficult times.

So the effect of this thread is quite likely to be positive for those who read it. The threats are highlighted and so made avoidable rather ignored because they make for uncomfortable reading.

Montclair1977 · Jan 28, 2013

Luckily I don't think the old fashioned convenience store will ever go out of Fashion so i'm safe for the time being..

kelvin1950 · Jan 28, 2013

q3605x said:
Hello all.

I came onto this forum hoping to find positive minded business folk who would be chatting about the recent lull in sales throughout the UK as a whole.

Instead I have come across this post.

Highly disappointing tbh, you all look like quite experienced business people or leaders. But seeing you make your negative comments about other businesses and talking them out of businesses is rather upsetting.

I own a chain of shops in Northern Ireland finding it hard here. And to be honest I would be really gutted to hear someone talk about my business the way you have spoke about businesses, it's like some of you want other businesses to fail.

Where are your positive points of views?

The positives are easy to see, if you look. What did Comet, Blockbuster, etc. do wrong? How can we avoid going the same way?

q3605x said:
How about we start a new thread, who is staying strong during these hard times?

Start one, I'm sure everyone will contribute.

papverpoppies · Jan 28, 2013

q3605x said:
Hello all.

I came onto this forum hoping to find positive minded business folk who would be chatting about the recent lull in sales throughout the UK as a whole.

Instead I have come across this post.

Highly disappointing tbh, you all look like quite experienced business people or leaders. But seeing you make your negative comments about other businesses and talking them out of businesses is rather upsetting.

I own a chain of shops in Northern Ireland finding it hard here. And to be honest I would be really gutted to hear someone talk about my business the way you have spoke about businesses, it's like some of you want other businesses to fail.

Where are your positive points of views?

How about we start a new thread, who is staying strong during these hard times?

No amount of window dressing will alter the facts.
Nothing to stop anyone stating the other side of the coin (as you have suggested) but shops are going under - not sure ignoring that fact is of any value to them or anyone else.

Do not think for one minute anyone is revelling in any stores demise.
Whatever we think/thought of the general attitude of the store, lots and lots of people are out of work - and not likely to find another job soon.
Who would want to gloat over that aspect.

Talking about stores closing is not the issue here, the issue is getting the 'market place right' and offering a service/product that people want, as well as moving with the times.
Plus a sprinkling of good fortune in these hard times

Poppy ~xx~

PrestonLad · Jan 28, 2013

q3605x said:
Hello all.

I came onto this forum hoping to find positive minded business folk who would be chatting about the recent lull in sales throughout the UK as a whole.

Instead I have come across this post.

Highly disappointing tbh, you all look like quite experienced business people or leaders. But seeing you make your negative comments about other businesses and talking them out of businesses is rather upsetting.

I own a chain of shops in Northern Ireland finding it hard here. And to be honest I would be really gutted to hear someone talk about my business the way you have spoke about businesses, it's like some of you want other businesses to fail.

Where are your positive points of views?

How about we start a new thread, who is staying strong during these hard times?

I can really understand your reservations. But others have already expressed some real positives that come out of the thread.

And, although it's difficult to see at first, you'll soon realise that the people contributing here are a community who know each other, sometimes personally, but mainly in a cyberspace way, and so there is an air of familiarity that has to be taken into account.

As such, this community has a real mix of threads, from hard headed advice, news, opinion and some that are the sorts of topics you'd expect a group of small business people to chat about over a beer. I think this thread falls into that category. I can't speak for every individual post, but as a whole, in that context, I don't think there's anything to apologise for.

Having said that, I emphasise that I understand how it must look to a complete newcomer, but I'm sure if you engage with the forum, you'll soon get a feel for the dynamics and realise it's a largely very positive place to be. Welcome !

gr9ce · Jan 29, 2013

I make no apologies for continuing a thread started in 2012.

We do not gloat but as said we do discuss how possibly some chains may be under strain.

Another positive is that someone with some influence may just happen upon this site and the thread and feel as we do that something must be done.

Many here know why many traditional retailers face hard times. We also know the playing field is not level. No branch of Clintons could redirect its profits via Luxembourg.

Starbucks threaten to throw their toys out the pram and cease an expansion programme. No doubt all the independent cafes and coffee shops will be crying in their brews. They have to pay true taxes on their profits within the UK. Will an absence of Star leave high streets without a coffee?

Shopping habits will change with technology. Here we try and deter newcomers from investing in a mistake and redirect their enthusiasm to retailing formats that may lead to success.

Why an organisation is at risk by general concensus is a wake up call. Why an organisation will survive is a role model and encouragement for others.

As with life we all live and die only some live longer than others. Perhaps here we seek and discuss the chance of immortality?

2013 unlucky for some closure predictions

Esk247

doherty_1980

eventdomain

kelvin1950

missynatalie

Lunazzurra

Esk247

GRDCredit

Esk247

businessfunding

daveymck

Montclair1977

kelvin1950

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