Death of the department store

Last edited by Death's Head on Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Place your bets on who will be the next to fold. Allders was the first I can remember going (probably not known by some of you on here). Then came BHS, but who will be next to leave the high street/shopping centre?

House of Fraser have recently been bought, but surely they are on borrowed time.

Debenhams have called in consultants to help their business.

Food sales seems to be keeping M&S in business and John Lewis, who I thought were immune to failure reported a drop in profits of 99% year on year.

My bet is on House of Fraser.

I'd say John Lewis (love the place) is going to be next as quality is less important when money is tight. Numbers are terrible for them now and they can't change the brand as the market space below them is already full. Hope they last if only for the scwuns in their cafe and the Christmas adverts.

M and S are very flat at the moment, Debenhams much the same. Just dull stores. When I was in Dusseldorf I went in C & A it was great and much like the old UK store. Nice atmosphere and interesting clothes.

Next to go....in order...

John Lewis
Game
(One of the random burger chains)
Jamie's Italian

I think John Lewis will be alright. The headlines say profits have dropped 99% (from £100m to £1m) but that's only because they focused on reducing their debt by £700m.

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Rubix** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:09 pm

Can’t see John Lewis but let me add a plus one for GAME

PostRe: Death of the department store by KK » Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:13 pm

And to think, both John Lewis and Marks and Spencer are the cornerstones of the new Westfield that’s about to be built next year in Croydon for a 2023 opening. Craziness.

Corazon de Leon

Smart money has to be on House of Fraser really.

Oh and Spud U Like!

How the hell it's still going, so overpriced. Always empty and it's a strawberry floating baked potato in a world that hates carbs.

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Lex-Man** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:56 pm

Corazon de Leon wrote:Smart money has to be on House of Fraser really.

Surely they'll survive now they've been bought out.

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Qikz** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:12 pm

lex-man wrote:
Corazon de Leon wrote:Smart money has to be on House of Fraser really.

Surely they'll survive now they've been bought out.

I mean look at Game, they got bought out and went back into administration again. Then got bought again.

Same shitty shop.

John Lewis' financial results look bad, but they haven't actually lost any money, and department stores seem to survive for a good few years after they start hemorrhaging money anyway from my non-expert knowledge of the sector.

We'd probably stop going to the high street if John Lewis went.

Godzilla wrote:Oh and Spud U Like!

How the hell it's still going, so overpriced. Always empty and it's a strawberry floating baked potato in a world that hates carbs.

I never been in or even seen a Spud U Like.

There is a bloke who sells hot potatoes and parched peas on Preston flag market though. The potatoes aren't baked, just hot.

I always go for the parched peas.

Edit: regarding the question in the OP: I don't know, I don't shop in any of them. My guess would be House of Fraser who to my dismay don't even sell tossed salad and scrambled eggs.

My mum spent a lot of her career working for House of Fraser. I'd be terribly sad if they go.

There's a shiny new John Lewis due to open near us in Cheltenham soon. I get the feeling they're okay for now.

Wickes are struggling as well they could be next to go
Game will go eventually

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Rubix** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:53 am

Lets face it, if game go it wont be missed!

Saying that any boots i pop into is always empty. Same goes for superdrug

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Errkal** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:40 am

Dunno if it is will be John Lewis, as was said they have been clearing debt which will be reason for lower profits as that money is being used to clear their books.

Once that's cleared then all good, assuming doom mogerers don't cause people to not go by miss reporting the lower profits.

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Preezy** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:42 am

I vote Debenhams. They're a poor imitation of John Lewis and their stores are bland as strawberry float. Good riddance.

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Errkal** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:48 am

Preezy wrote:I vote Debenhams. They're a poor imitation of John Lewis and their stores are bland as strawberry float. Good riddance.

I'd agree, their stores always look very run down and dated.

There was a point when they looked but now they just looks like an expensive version of T J Hughes (dunno if they are a national thing but they they a are proper shonky looking department store around Sussex and Kent).

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Bunni** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:56 am

Debenhams make up counters are fairly good and are probably what’s keeping them along. Their clothing ranges (their own, rather than top shop concessions) just seem fairly expensive for generic stuff. I would go out my way to get something specifically from there. But their home ware is okay. I thinking they run too much on rotational/seasonal stuff whereas JL and HoF are more high end quality electicals and homewares.

HMV have got to be on their last legs. I can't even remember the last time I walked past ours and saw someone actually in there.

PostRe: Death of the department store by **Dual** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:24 am

Quite like going into a John Lewis. Their layouts are very pleasing.

Death of the department store

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