Just for interest - Is the high street dead?

[KELKEL]

Hi

I am looking into opening a lingerie shop in my local town.

I beleive there is a need for a small independant lingerie shop in the area offering exceptional customer service, With Lingerie ladies do like and need to be fitted - internet sales are high but is this maybe because there is no where you can buy nice correctly fitted lingerie?

I am just curious what others opinions are of the high street?

 

[TotallySport]

you should be asking the people on your local high street

 

[KELKEL]

That is being done this week ... I have surveys being printed up so I can ask ladies int he area what they are lookking for and would they use a shop if one opened up in the area, what prices are they willing to pay etc etc

 

[emmylou74]

For most high streets YES!

Before I opened I did the same made up questionaires and asked lots of people, the answers showed a strong interest etc etc etc. The reality has been very different. For me anyways.

I would also say get out and take note of the footfall and how busy the carparks are. Then do not just notice the footfall but what kind of footfall it is. Are the people carrying bags or are they just window shopping? What are the other shops like, how busy are they? Do you have a high number of charity shops and bookies on your high street?

My high street has degraded so badly the shops are empty the shopping mall is empty. The type of people coming into the town are coming in for charity shops and poundland and wilkinsons.

 

[KELKEL]

The questionnaires Im receiveing back are coming back in quite strong, I too wonder how reality will differ?

The unit I am looking out is just off our high street, the council have thrown quite a bit of money into the are with bars and restaurants, I have spoken to the designer womenswear shop (which would be next door) they been there 15 years, the footfall is up and down, I have been down the street at various times on different days, spoken to random ladies walking down the street - feedback always positive (would they be negative to you?) there is a hairdressers, beautcians, florist, childrens shoe shop, coffee shop and a new nail bar just opened all on the same street so very aimed at the market I would aim at...

 

[papverpoppies]

Is it an affluent area, because if not I would see it as high risk.
Yes women will spend to have their nails done, after all they are on show, as is their hair.
A cup of coffee, well who does not treat themselves - but as for lingerie.

So, yes the people answering the questionnaire might all be favour, but they might only buy once from you every year!

My local town is fairly well heeled, but could not see it supporting anything like that.

Lingerie is something that does well at Christmas, a birthday present, but does that pay the rent let alone a wage.

Risky would me by answer to you.

Pops ~xx~

 

[KELKEL]

Thank you Pops

I go back and forth with these thoughts in my head everyday.... I do beleive I could do well after a time once people know I am there and the services we offer... I definately need a base... but maybe think a little more outside the box? commiting to a shop lease with rent and rates etc etc fo x amount a years could be a risk in todays 'poor high street' times

 

[Laurenpears]

I think its changed but dont think its dead, there are many things i can buy online, but many that i prefer to buy in a shop where i can try things on etc.
Also find shops have some brilliant offers - ones that even beat online offers.

 

[TheCandyCabin]

If you're in an area that has people with money you could do very well. I think Swimwear is an area that lacks in bigger shops. There is a small lingere shop in Bakewell that also sells swimwear (expensive brands) and she's been there years and years. Also in Sheffield on a main road with other high end shops, there is a lingerie/swimwear shop and again, she's been there yonks. Both have a great selection of swimwear and it's a 'destination' shop too for me when I want something good quality and I don't mind paying a fair bit

People buy swimwear year round as people holiday all year. It's difficult to find a swimsuit in December! So in my opinion, as long as your in an area with other good shops and also sell Swimwear it could do well!

Wish you all the best

 

[mhall]

It's no where near as dead as people claim. If you can provide the customer service you claim and you are good value for money (nothing to do with price) you will be fine, assuming your location is good and your overheads reasonable.

Never trust your questionaire unless it was written and conducted by an independant third party that you can trust- it is very easy to lead customers into answering the questions your way: "Would you shop at a store offering good value and excellent customer service" gives you ZERO real information.

It would be more useful to talk to the other traders, especially if they are niche traders. They will be cagey but may open up to you (bearing in mind they could also be biased as they need more shops to increase their own footfall)

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

"Would you buy xyz if it were available?" will give you an almost entirely positive reply - whereas if people answered the question "are you in a position financially to actually buy xyz even though it's a frivolous luxury product?" will more than likely give you a fairly negative outcome if people answer truthfully and with a bit of realism.
Everybody want nice things; we would like bespoke, unusual, flattering, gorgeous, frivolous non-functional things by the bucket-load. I would.
Can I afford them though? Sadly, I can't really. I may be very occasionally persuaded in a moment of complete madness that I can have something I truly covet, but it doesn't happen very often, and IF it does I have to think up all sorts of downright fibs to tell the OH in order to cover my tracks.

 

[cheap]

I do a lot on line but tend to go to retail parks more than local shops.
Hope this helps.

 

[S-Marketing]

Market and marketing research, when not carried out properly, is worse than useless. You may as well just ask your dog for advice.

The high street is not dead. For those with a decent business brain and a good understanding of proper strategic marketing there is a lot of money to be made.

There are still people around spending a lot of money. The trick is to make sure you get your hands on it.

 

[papverpoppies]

Found this covers most of it.

Pops ~xx~

 

[S-Marketing]

Found this covers most of it.

Pops ~xx~

That is very poor and overly simplistic information. Anyone using that as a foundation for their research is setting themselves up for a fall.

This seems to come up a lot. I might take the time to write a post giving a quick introduction to proper and valuable market and marketing research technique when I get a few mins. Anyone who is interested can feel free to pm me, or keep an eye on the marketing section of the forum for it.

 

[KELKEL]

Found this covers most of it.


thank you so much for thinking of me and posting this... I actually bank with Santander so had already stumbled across it.... I used it as a basis...

It saddens me that the high street seem to be struggling and yet banks, landlords and councils dont seem to want to help independent retailers come into towns

 

[PDRD]

The questionnaires Im receiveing back are coming back in quite strong, I too wonder how reality will differ?

The unit I am looking out is just off our high street, the council have thrown quite a bit of money into the are with bars and restaurants, I have spoken to the designer womenswear shop (which would be next door) they been there 15 years, the footfall is up and down, I have been down the street at various times on different days, spoken to random ladies walking down the street - feedback always positive (would they be negative to you?) there is a hairdressers, beautcians, florist, childrens shoe shop, coffee shop and a new nail bar just opened all on the same street so very aimed at the market I would aim at...

Does the designer womenswear shop have room for expansion? Can you get in with them? Seems like a less risky option if its possible?

 

[papverpoppies]

That is very poor and overly simplistic information. Anyone using that as a foundation for their research is setting themselves up for a fall.

This seems to come up a lot. I might take the time to write a post giving a quick introduction to proper and valuable market and marketing research technique when I get a few mins. Anyone who is interested can feel free to pm me, or keep an eye on the marketing section of the forum for it.

Stretchy you are always very scathing of other market research, but outside of garden advice, I cannot find what else you do.
Where is your marketing company - just curious.

 

[S-Marketing]

Stretchy you are always very scathing of other market research, but outside of garden advice, I cannot find what else you do.
Where is your marketing company - just curious.

Maybe you should look a bit harder. There are plenty of posts on the forum giving more detail of what I do.

Im not being drawn into an argument simply because you have got the hump because I noticed a link you posted was not useful.

My point was simply that anyone following the advice in the link you posted would end up with at best inaccurate, and at worst, misleading data.

 

[emmylou74]

It's no where near as dead as people claim. If you can provide the customer service you claim and you are good value for money (nothing to do with price) you will be fine, assuming your location is good and your overheads reasonable.
quote]

I feel that I am all of that, yet in my experiance price is the over riding factor. I am not alone many of the shops in this high street are dead.

 

[Fred_the_frog]

That is being done this week ... I have surveys being printed up so I can ask ladies int he area what they are lookking for and would they use a shop if one opened up in the area, what prices are they willing to pay etc etc

Don't you own a printer?

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

It's not all about price, although that is certainly a factor. People have to want what you sell, be able to justify purchsing it to themselves and probably to their partners, AND they have to be able to afford it.
If they don't like it, don't need it and can't justify having it, they won't buy it no matter how cheap it is.

 

[gr9ce]

My Recent 'retail experience'
Knew what I wanted was on the internet (stick on soles, favourite comfy shoes wearing out) but hey I was in local town...lets support B&M!
Woolworths used to sell then but they have gone, Boots shoes section nope, shoe shop nope, Wilkinsons nope,bargain drug store type place nope, 99p shop must have! nope, 2 stack em high sell everything shops nope. Gave up as time was pressing, came home ordered 2 pairs on internet job done and no more wasted shoe 'leather'!

I hang my head in shame but obviously not a big seller and 18 pages of 'stick on soles' in ebay search says it all

Is high street dead? times ARE changing!

 

[patientlady]

Hi Kelkel
I have had two close friends that have had lingerie shops. One in Jersey in a great position off the high street. Jersey is an affluent island and she managed to soldier on for 3 years. She had a lovely following but unfortunately as said above many of her sales came from Christmas, birthdays etc. January was a nightmare for returns. I also understand that the stock needs to purchased/deposits around three seasons before hand. My other friend had very similar experiences.
I also know a sales agent, representing three co's that supply swimwear and lingerie and I undestand things are up and down for her. If you would like me to ask her any questions, I am happy to help? It might be useful to have an unbiased view from a supplier...
Hope this helps

 

[KELKEL]

Hi Kelkel
I have had two close friends that have had lingerie shops. One in Jersey in a great position off the high street. Jersey is an affluent island and she managed to soldier on for 3 years. She had a lovely following but unfortunately as said above many of her sales came from Christmas, birthdays etc. January was a nightmare for returns. I also understand that the stock needs to purchased/deposits around three seasons before hand. My other friend had very similar experiences.
I also know a sales agent, representing three co's that supply swimwear and lingerie and I undestand things are up and down for her. If you would like me to ask her any questions, I am happy to help? It might be useful to have an unbiased view from a supplier...
Hope this helps

Thank you patientlady... Any help/research advice you could give me would be really appreciated..... Just heard today that on average 14 shops a day are closing in towns throughout the UK