Wittards of Chelsea Gone Bust

devils_advocate

drc wrote: »

I'm just guessing, it's not based on any evidence. I always thought that Laura Ashley was overpriced and catered for a very small, specific niche which I can't imagine is that lucrative in these days of 'reinvention, reinvention, reinvention'.

As for Waterstones (and other High Street booksellers) I am guessing that they have seen a lot of business diminish in the face of online competition from sites such as Amazon and Play which offer books at far less cost (although not as satisfying as actually browsing in a good old bookshop).

The niche retailers will survive. Its the "me too" retailers who try to be alittle bit of everone else, like WH Smith, who will go under.

olly300

devils_advocate wrote: »

The niche retailers will survive. Its the "me too" retailers who try to be alittle bit of everone else, like WH Smith, who will go under.

WH Smith is actually doing all right at railway stations and airports. It's the high street larger stores that are dragging the chain down.

So I reckon if WH Smith did go into administration some one would buy them and close down all the high street stores.

drc

devils_advocate wrote: »

The niche retailers will survive. Its the "me too" retailers who try to be alittle bit of everone else, like WH Smith, who will go under.

Maybe, but if you only cater to one specific niche and that niche is broke, who is going to buy your goods?

PasturesNew

Many of these alleged High Street shops I've either never heard of or never seen.

I've been aware of Wittards though - from Shopping Villages. And just this week I found the perfect plate set that I want .... I was waiting another 1-2 years before buying it though. If they do go, I might be able to pick up what I wanted, but if I don't there'll be other plate sets in the world in the future.

zarazara

Bhs , House of Fraser, Karen Millen, Goldsmiths, Debenhams,the islandic bank had connections with them all.

Plasticman

zarazara wrote: »

I think M&S , Waterstones, Next, TK Maxx, Clarkes shoes, Zavvi, JJB Sport,B&Q.

M&S have been through a bad patch but have improved profits over recent years - I wonder if it will be enough to keep them going through these bad times.....

Not sure how profitable Waterstones are, but I can imagine that more people will turn to Amazon (or the library!) as money gets tight.

Zavvi & JJB are possible. B&Q, Homebase etc are going to struggle. I would be surprised if Clark's or Next fell but anything is possible at the moment!

PasturesNew

I've used M&S for bras in the past. But that's all. The rest of their stuff was too pricey.

I did try to buy a suit for a job interview there the other year, I went in and asked for their Petite section and they said "tell us which suit you want to buy and we'll get it sent in, we don't have petite in stock". Which wasn't any good. I wouldn't know if it fitted or suited me ... and it'd have meant a wait and another big trek out to try it.

When I set out that day to find a suit, I assumed "If all else fails, I'll be able to get a functional/smart suit in M&S" but I was wrong!

lisaloo1977

zarazara wrote: »

Bhs , House of Fraser, Karen Millen, Goldsmiths, Debenhams,the islandic bank had connections with them all.

So basically after adding them, you are saying most of the stores on the high street!!!

Do you have any evidence to back any of the names you are throwing around, or are you just practising for a job with sky news?

Not saying they wont, just think that people are talking places in to an early grave using heresay.

Old_Slaphead

Kez100 wrote: »

I would miss Julian Graves.

Would miss ?

Presumably it's only a matter of time before it gets subsumed into the great Holland and Barratt corporate machine......assuming H&B can survive the High Street carnage.

zarazara

I like Julian Graves shop too.
Superdrug having a big sale soon up to 90% off apparently.