The Retail Apocalypse (Incorporating Casual Dining Closures)

Preezy wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:

Winckle wrote:Embattled high street retailers call for help as closures soar

The Guardian wrote:Retailers have called for “decisive action” from the government to support the UK’s battered high streets after new data showed the number of shops, pubs and restaurants lying empty has soared by more than 4,400 in the first six months of this year.

What's the government going to do? Force people to go shopping?

These businesses need to adapt or die, they shouldn't be expecting a handout just to stay alive.

To play Devil's Advocate, you could argue that the business rates tax is too high. Your point is correct of course.

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I would have thought clothes shops would have been the most likely to remain open and are best suited in my view to physical shops because you can't beat seeing clothing in person and being able to try them on. I've never bought shoes online for example because my shoe size fluctuates depending on the type of shoe. I did see a TV programme earlier in the year saying that the amount of online clothing purchases sent back to retailers is unbelievable (either because they're wearing it once and sending it back, it doesn't fit properly, or they don't like it).

Gemini73 wrote:

Preezy wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:

Winckle wrote:Embattled high street retailers call for help as closures soar

The Guardian wrote:Retailers have called for “decisive action” from the government to support the UK’s battered high streets after new data showed the number of shops, pubs and restaurants lying empty has soared by more than 4,400 in the first six months of this year.

What's the government going to do? Force people to go shopping?

These businesses need to adapt or die, they shouldn't be expecting a handout just to stay alive.

Yep. Trouble is a lot of these retailers think the public owe them a living. Like you say though, adapt or die. It's not up to the public or the Government to save these businesses.

I 100% agree, but I wonder what the difference is between the cost of paying long unemployment benefit v pumping a few quid into those businesses?

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I think as well as buying online with better experiences, photography, Instagram etc people are getting a bit more frugal and ethical I hope. Noticing that they are simply wasting money.

The logistics industry is terrible for emissions though and can't cope.

Moggy wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:

Preezy wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:

Winckle wrote:Embattled high street retailers call for help as closures soar

The Guardian wrote:Retailers have called for “decisive action” from the government to support the UK’s battered high streets after new data showed the number of shops, pubs and restaurants lying empty has soared by more than 4,400 in the first six months of this year.

What's the government going to do? Force people to go shopping?

These businesses need to adapt or die, they shouldn't be expecting a handout just to stay alive.

Yep. Trouble is a lot of these retailers think the public owe them a living. Like you say though, adapt or die. It's not up to the public or the Government to save these businesses.

I 100% agree, but I wonder what the difference is between the cost of paying long unemployment benefit v pumping a few quid into those businesses?

While there is an argument for that, retailers also have to help themselves. How many times have we seen a high street retailer pulled from administration by a buyer only to ignore what put them there in the first place to then just collapse altogether a few years down the line?

Not exactly Retail

https://news.sky.com/story/administrati ... s-11556210

i and Scotsman owner put into administration

Yeah local newspapers are dying on their arses.

i don't believe it!

Gemini73 wrote:

Moggy wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:

Preezy wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:

Winckle wrote:Embattled high street retailers call for help as closures soar

The Guardian wrote:Retailers have called for “decisive action” from the government to support the UK’s battered high streets after new data showed the number of shops, pubs and restaurants lying empty has soared by more than 4,400 in the first six months of this year.

What's the government going to do? Force people to go shopping?

These businesses need to adapt or die, they shouldn't be expecting a handout just to stay alive.

Yep. Trouble is a lot of these retailers think the public owe them a living. Like you say though, adapt or die. It's not up to the public or the Government to save these businesses.

I 100% agree, but I wonder what the difference is between the cost of paying long unemployment benefit v pumping a few quid into those businesses?

While there is an argument for that, retailers also have to help themselves. How many times have we seen a high street retailer pulled from administration by a buyer only to ignore what put them there in the first place to then just collapse altogether a few years down the line?

the other issue is unit rent prices. Here in Southend property companies keep uping the rent of units by 2-3% a year which is cutting into shops already razor thin profit margins. I realise that these companies need to show year on year growth but surely all the empty units are hurting their bottom line as well.

Green Gecko wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I think as well as buying online with better experiences, photography, Instagram etc people are getting a bit more frugal and ethical I hope. Noticing that they are simply wasting money.

The logistics industry is terrible for emissions though and can't cope.

You can return products for free in to most internet clothing shops. A know a lot of girls who will just buy three pairs of the same jeans in around about their size and send back the ones that don't fit or don't like. Or just keep buying different bits and pieces until they found what they actually liked. It's actually a lot easier for them because they use to do the same thing from retail stores as they didn't like changing rooms as there were often queues and they could just take the packages to the local newsagent to be returned.

Personally I prefer going to a shop as looking at pictures on the internet is a nightmare.

lex-man wrote:

Green Gecko wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I think as well as buying online with better experiences, photography, Instagram etc people are getting a bit more frugal and ethical I hope. Noticing that they are simply wasting money.

The logistics industry is terrible for emissions though and can't cope.

You can return products for free in to most internet clothing shops. A know a lot of girls who will just buy three pairs of the same jeans in around about their size and send back the ones that don't fit or don't like. Or just keep buying different bits and pieces until they found what they actually liked. It's actually a lot easier for them because they use to do the same thing from retail stores as they didn't like changing rooms as there were often queues and they could just take the packages to the local newsagent to be returned.

Personally I prefer going to a shop as looking at pictures on the internet is a nightmare.

This what my wife does. With working full time, raising a family, chair of a PTA of our local primary school and being a governor at another school the ability to just order online and then send back what she doesn't need with ease is a boon for her clothes shopping.

Green Gecko wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I think as well as buying online with better experiences, photography, Instagram etc people are getting a bit more frugal and ethical I hope. Noticing that they are simply wasting money.

The logistics industry is terrible for emissions though and can't cope.

Superamrket own ranges also arent total gooseberry fool any more so I imagine that Hoover's up a large chunk of demand too as people are already there to do shopping and grab stuff at the same time

Errkal wrote:

Green Gecko wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I think as well as buying online with better experiences, photography, Instagram etc people are getting a bit more frugal and ethical I hope. Noticing that they are simply wasting money.

The logistics industry is terrible for emissions though and can't cope.

Superamrket own ranges also arent total gooseberry fool any more so I imagine that Hoover's up a large chunk of demand too as people are already there to do shopping and grab stuff at the same time

Aside from footwear I'm not into expensive branded stuff so buy a lot of my day to day clothing from George of Asda. It's affordable and pretty good quality. They do some pretty cool t-shirts from time to time as well.

Gemini73 wrote:

Errkal wrote:

Green Gecko wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:Retailers shut 2,700 shops in first half of the year. Clothes shops are dropping like flies, which is surprising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46142025

I think as well as buying online with better experiences, photography, Instagram etc people are getting a bit more frugal and ethical I hope. Noticing that they are simply wasting money.

The logistics industry is terrible for emissions though and can't cope.

Superamrket own ranges also arent total gooseberry fool any more so I imagine that Hoover's up a large chunk of demand too as people are already there to do shopping and grab stuff at the same time

Aside from footwear I'm not into expensive branded stuff so buy a lot of my day to day clothing from George of Asda. It's affordable and pretty good quality. They do some pretty cool t-shirts from time to time as well.

Also now you can get decent t's on any corner of the web through subs and things there isn't as much need for high street ones.

Some good news for once (aside from further loss of jobs).

Betting shops are shutting down en masse due in part to restrictions on fixed odds betting terminals and online gambling.

My local Coral has shut down and the Paddy Power has a to let sign outside

NickSCFC wrote:Some good news for once (aside from further loss of jobs).

Betting shops are shutting down en masse due in part to restrictions on fixed odds betting terminals and online gambling.

My local Coral has shut down and the Paddy Power has a to let sign outside

I wonder what even more shitty shop thing will take over the units.

I'm hoping around our town centre the decline of shops will let them lighten up rules around pub licenses etc.

We have had a few really nice bottle shops and small pubs open that are doing really well, shops may not be doing well but at least in Hastings places that do specialist beers, wines and food and do it well are thriving.

Errkal wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:Some good news for once (aside from further loss of jobs).

Betting shops are shutting down en masse due in part to restrictions on fixed odds betting terminals and online gambling.

My local Coral has shut down and the Paddy Power has a to let sign outside

I wonder what even more shitty shop thing will take over the units.

Errkal wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:Some good news for once (aside from further loss of jobs).

Betting shops are shutting down en masse due in part to restrictions on fixed odds betting terminals and online gambling.

My local Coral has shut down and the Paddy Power has a to let sign outside

I wonder what even more shitty shop thing will take over the units.

Probably more of those incomprehensible shops that seem to only sell suitcases, rugs and mirrors that somehow exist.

Trelliz wrote:

Errkal wrote:

NickSCFC wrote:Some good news for once (aside from further loss of jobs).

Betting shops are shutting down en masse due in part to restrictions on fixed odds betting terminals and online gambling.

My local Coral has shut down and the Paddy Power has a to let sign outside

I wonder what even more shitty shop thing will take over the units.

Probably more of those incomprehensible shops that seem to only sell suitcases, rugs and mirrors that somehow exist.

I needed to buy a shaving mirror the other day as the bathroom in my new place has the sink under the window so you can't mount a proper mirror.

Of course I bought it on Amazon prime like a sane person instead of going into one of those crazy suitcase, rug, and mirror shops.

Convinced those random shops are money-laundering fronts for the mob. They can't possibly make enough money to pay the rent, their suppliers and their staff.