Last men standing on the High Street? (Independent article)

treliac

mizzbiz wrote: »

then we won't be able to get our hair-dressing scissors anywhere at all!

I got some in Tesco once. Or what about Sally's?

mewbie_2

mizzbiz wrote: »

They will probably go out business eventually because of this, then we won't be able to get our hair-dressing scissors and other unusual items anywhere at all!

I am sure that wherever a market exists a business will step in to provide it. Much as potential investors will be watching the falling housing market very carefully for opportunity, so also will people be watching the High Street for an opening.

In a local market it would nice IF Halfords closes (for example) that the local bike seller could prosper from it. Chains are cheaper, but a High street with real people's names above the door is also nice - gives a place a bit of character, a point in being there rather than some faceless place like Bluewater or Milton Keynes.

A._Badger

A very weak article, I thought. Notably askew was the author's confidence in Boots (almost irrelevant when you can buy just about everything it sells, far cheaper in supermarkets), Comet (stuck with same problems as Currys), HMV (can't compete with online sales methods) and Carpetright - carpets? In a massive recession?).

stevetodd

!!!!!!? wrote: »

I'm not much into speculating on the stock markets either. As far as I'm concerned, the name of the game at the moment is to preserve the wealth that you have.

However, once inflation starts to rage (which it eventually will as the governments are going flat out to stoke it as a matter of policy) the price of everything will shoot up and cash will be come increasingly worthless if it is just sitting in a bank. At that point, a stock market tracker fund wouldn't be a bad investment. Certainly a lot better than cash. But not for a while yet......

Yeah I agree, I do have some ISA trackers but was considering buying an ISA gilt or corporate bond this tax coming tax year with my stocks and shares ISA allowance, I don't particularly like those products but I would rather use my ISA allowance and later transfer it into shares. Although I will probably just wait until March next year before deciding, as things may look brighter by then as I think the stock market will start to recover in anticipation of the recession ending, rather than after the recovery.

My immediate problem that I have is that I have a fixed term bond maturing this March with a fair bit in it and nowhere really good to put it as I can't see property being value for at least 12 months.

amcluesent

Unless it's an owner-run Mom & Pop store, the costs of staff are killing the high-street. As numbers and skills are cut, you end up with the "PC World" problem of minimum-wage spotty oiks trying to sell £££ equipment, which isn't viable.

It's no wonder shoppers are being 'trained' in self-checkouts etc. Within 10 years, big stores could be operated 24*7 by Asimo style robots to refill the shelves. RFID chips in all the goods will allow automatic checkouts and eliminate shop-lifting.

robin_banks

I've just read the article and I've got to say I think it's drivel, a previous poster mentioned boots debt levels, they are also very expensive and lost millions on thier wellness/wellbeing range of services.

HMV were deemed to be a 'winner' only because zavvi went into administration. Surely if a direct competitor went into administration and you also overprice products (as HMV do like Zavvi did, they also have a very poor range of stock as Zavvi did) then you too might be in danger?.

Carpetright , B&Q, Ikea's performance all could go either way (though none of them are in any real danger of going under) in the next 2-3 years. Housing slump may affect them, counter argument is people will spend more renovating/improving than moving.

edgex

Boots:
yes theres debt, however the merger did bring with it more pharmacies, & a distribution network. They also have the product range & store locations that the supermarkets cant match.

clk299

I reckon I personally am ensuring the survival of Boots... I spend loads of money in there! But usually on things like my shampoo that they generally don't sell in Tesco and I can usually get it 3 for 2 in Boots which makes it much cheaper than getting it elsewhere. Plus there's advantage points to spend on things too. I like Boots!

mvengemvenge

!!!!!!? wrote: »

They earmark Boots as a potential 'winner' but seem to completely ignore the massive debt burden it was saddled with after a private equity takeover......

Never mind the adverse business conditions - so many otherwise sound firms either leveraged themselves to the max to expand or were taken over with private equity money, the debts being dumped onto the company, that they are in precarious positions now.

Indeed, and they could be the first of many 'big' names to go this year, I think. Some people talk of the next two years being comparable to 1931, never mind 1991 or 1981. I've read a lot of economists who've talked to senior bankers and been told we face the 'end of days', like a new Dark Ages. Whatever actually happens to the West now, the other certainty is that power is moving to the East much faster than people expected. Good job I love doom-and-gloom

amcluesent

>power is moving to the East much faster than people expected<

As a man, I'm beginning to see the attractions of Shariah Law. Every cloud...