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HMV into admin tomorrow. Who next?







JCL666

absurdism
Sep 23, 2011
2,190
My two pence worth for store closures: 1- Halfords. Have been on thin ice before.
2 - travel agents (retail arms) how many people in this day and age go into a travel agent to book all their travel? Most of the time I go its just to pick up a brochure then book online.

Not sure about travel agents. I did some analysis for one of the largest long haul ones and their high street shops were a growth area. In fact areas where they opened a new one saw a rise in sales on all channels (eg people from the area buying online and on the phone).
Plus some of the companies use their high street stores to take phone bookings as well.

If they go under it'll be because they're so badly managed.
 










Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,952
Surrey
There is nothing controversial in saying that the internet, with it's multitude of cost saving features, is going to be the death of the high street in this country. People in this country are very price sensitive in most areas of shopping. I wonder whether there will come a point when shops are going to start charging for entry? Unlikely of course, so perhaps we'll end up subsidising stores through our council taxes? Most people would object, but do we really want a high street of boarded up premises indispersed with poundlands and a handful of McHighstreet conglomerates? Even the coffee shops will lose their appeal if that happens as there will be no reason for people to go there.

It really is sad to see shops like Woolworths and now HMV disappear off our high streets forever. :(
 




pornomagboy

wake me up before you gogo who needs potter when
May 16, 2006
6,089
peacehaven




beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
36,015
Why do we need the High Street?

is the question people seem to overlook. what is the purpose of the high street, is it a place to purchase products and services or is it a destination for leisure in its own right. the former is dealt with by online retail, the latter is in demand and will ensure some core high street, and large shopping centres, will continue.
 


Badger

NOT the Honey Badger
NSC Patron
May 8, 2007
13,104
Toronto
Soon all High Streets will look like:

Costa -- Next -- Starbucks -- Topshop -- Nero -- Primark -- McDonalds -- H&M -- Tesco Express -- Hollister -- Sainsbury's Local
 


Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,952
Surrey
I reckon most on here will say they did most of their Christmas shopping on-line. I certainly did. However, I do find myself on the local highstreet fairly regulalrly. Sometimes it is easier just to go and collect a few cheap bits and bobs from the highstreet rather tha faffing about on a computer, and then once I'm there I might browse some of the shops until I get bored and go home. I don't enjoy that anyway as I already spend my working life at a computer screen.

I'm not sure what percentage of the population uses the high street like this, but I'd certainly miss it if we didn't have it.
 




Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
32,468
Brighton
Thing is they did seem to get it right. A few years back they had a decent price-competitive online model which was a good compliment to their stores. I'm not sure where that bit went wrong.

No one used it. And their website is HORRIBLE.
 


Austrian Gull

Well-known member
Feb 5, 2009
2,497
Linz, Austria
A sad day for the British high street whatever you think about HMV's business model.

If and when Waterstones goes belly up, they'll be no shop left to drag my sorry arse to any town centre.
 


Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
32,468
Brighton
Soon all High Streets will look like:

Costa -- Next -- Tesco Metro -- Starbucks -- Tesco Extra -- Topshop -- Tesco Local -- Nero -- Tesco Express -- Primark -- McDonalds -- H&M -- Tesco Express -- Hollister -- Tesco -- Tesco -- Sainsbury's Local

Corrected for you.
 




Common as Mook

Not Posh as Fook
Jul 26, 2004
5,642
Clothes.

There will always be a need for clothes shops because you can't try things on online. That's what our high streets will look like in the future - restaurants, bars and clothes shops.
 


Badger

NOT the Honey Badger
NSC Patron
May 8, 2007
13,104
Toronto
Corrected for you.

:lolol: Apparently Tesco have got their own "independent" coffee shop chain now so I imagine that would be dotted around too.

I used to be able to spend ages wandering around town looking in shops (I know, I'm a bit of a GIRL). These days going into town is a fairly short-lived experience because there are far fewer shops that I actually want to go in. Decent and affordable men's clothes shops seem to be a dying breed unless I want to dress like a 14-year old.
 


Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
32,468
Brighton
:lolol: Apparently Tesco have got their own "independent" coffee shop chain now so I imagine that would be dotted around too.

I used to be able to spend ages wandering around town looking in shops (I know, I'm a bit of a GIRL). These days going into town is a fairly short-lived experience because there are far fewer shops that I actually want to go in. Decent and affordable men's clothes shops seem to be a dying breed unless I want to dress like a 14-year old.

For me it's a short one if I'm round the Churchill Square area, but there's still a fair bit to see in The Lanes/North Laine/The Laines/The North Laine/Laine/Pedants.
 


Badger

NOT the Honey Badger
NSC Patron
May 8, 2007
13,104
Toronto
For me it's a short one if I'm round the Churchill Square area, but there's still a fair bit to see in The Lanes/North Laine/The Laines/The North Laine/Laine/Pedants.

Or, as I once heard some American tourist describe it, "The Laneways".
 




Yoda

English & European
They now won't accept vouchers or gift cards - one of my lad's Xmas presents up the spout!

I hate it the way they are allowed to get away with this. It's like they are saying, 'We've got your money, we don't care if you have anything to show for it'.

I was given one for my birthday at the end of last month, was going to use it to get an xbox game when I got paid next week. f*** em now if that's their attitude.
 


KZNSeagull

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2007
21,094
Wolsingham, County Durham
is the question people seem to overlook. what is the purpose of the high street, is it a place to purchase products and services or is it a destination for leisure in its own right. the former is dealt with by online retail, the latter is in demand and will ensure some core high street, and large shopping centres, will continue.

What will these core high street and large shopping centres sell then? There is only so much coffee one person can drink. Job creation is a rather important role of the high street and it is the best way of keeping communities alive by circulating your hard-earned, locally. This should not be underestimated.
 


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