Woolies - closing down sale tomorrow (11/12/08)

annaroo

It sounds to me that everyone is trying to wish another store to go under! It is this sort of scaremongering that brings companies/banks down and that exacerbates the problem. There are people who have jobs in all these stores, you should think of them before trying to see which store can go under!

Dodsy

My money is on Zavvi, the guarantees Branson provided as part of the sale expire on the 27th Dec so they will be in the same position as Woolies with no credit insurance which means cash on delivery for stock. Also they have yet to file their 2007 accounts.

kayharcombe

I went into main town centre woolies today which is coventry central. Someone had queued for an hour and was annoyed to have not been given 50% off everything, even though the signs said very clearly up to 50% off, 10% off this, 30% off that. Staff getting the brunt of people not reading correctly. One checkout lady was in tears saying she didnt know if she was going to get paid, and i know this lady has very young children, as she lives not too far from me.

Again, as with other posters views, they thought they would get plasma tv`s and ps3`s etc less than half price. Many thought `up to 50% off` meant `you pay up to 50% of starting price` I mainly got childrens clothes at 30% off, but already sale prices, and a wii game, already half price, then 10% off.

I personaly would not have bought anything electrical of value, in case of faults, but noticed an awful lot was 10% off, wrapping paper and chocolates in particular. I do really feel for staff, getting the brunt of this, most stores have up to sales, and most people expect to read small print of offers nowadays. how many other stores will follow as woollies will no longer be bringing in customers? 30,000 jobs will just be the start, very sad

RHYSDAD

Woolies. Bad for the staff but it won't be missed by me. Overpriced cack....

LeLLe

I hope no-one else goes either. It's quite sad all these well known names could be no more.

And back to woolies, i went to the Big W store in Edinburgh and got as far as the car park which was FULL, decided against going in because i could only imagine what the queues would be like!

Knightowl

Dodsy wrote: »

My money is on Zavvi, the guarantees Branson provided as part of the sale expire on the 27th Dec so they will be in the same position as Woolies with no credit insurance which means cash on delivery for stock. Also they have yet to file their 2007 accounts.

I would have to agree on this as the logic is sound...........Zavvi is on dodgy ground and have been from the beginning regardless of Branson guarantees they would not have been viable if they had not negotiated rent/lease deals.

I would have to throw a BIG one here into the hat "HARVEY'S" they are having some big Sales of recent.
The parent company also owns ROSEBYS (or did) and also
BENSON'S BEDS anybody noticed them closing too?:rolleyes:

Chief1975

karenw wrote: »

So do you think smiths will go down the same path as wollies then

Not in the short term but its not rocket science to predict that for lots of the big High Street names there is going to come a time (some sooner than others) when their retail business is not sustainable in the face of low cost internet only operations.

Sooler

dickibobboy wrote: »

Goodbye woolies

they'll be back, in name at least - the brand is too valuable:rudolf::rudolf::rudolf:

kiddy_guy

x-Princess-Vikki-x wrote: »

why do u say Monsoon and Accessorize?

I think depending on how their sale goes, from where a lot of their revenue is generated, they'll struggle into the new year with expensive products - as they won't compete on the price with the supermarkets - and they've had to reduce prices on some things this Xmas - in their traditional strong period. Reducing Partywear is a sign of something a bit wrong, when people are buying for Xmas parties and new year. I've heard a few inside bits and bobs, but I think they are comparable to the Pier for Home but for Fashion. I.e relatively expensive - you'll either love it or never shop there. They appeal to a certain market, but it isn't mainstream - and what they do mainstream, everyone else does cheaper. IMO

bigturnip

We are about to go into the longest and deepest recession the world has ever seen. Woolies is just the tip of the iceberg, dozens of high street names will disappear over the next few years. After previous recessions new stores have come in and risen from the ashes, not this time, the high street is just not as profitable as it once was.

High street shopping is dead, long live supermarkets and the internet.