Failing retailers

Davesnave

PaulF81 wrote: »

Wheras one gets to pick one's christmas tree annually from the estate!:D

Almost. We have a very incestuous economy here, so the 'estate' is owned by someone who will cheerfully swap something useful for a tree, but some people will use that money stuff .

Sibley

I'm really shocked.
Don't like seeing any companies like that going under. Family names.

FTBFun

This is my 7th Xmas time as a London resident and the first one where I haven't needed to brave the nightmare that is Oxford Street - the vast majority of gifts bought online, the remainder picked up in local shops and supermarkets. It's been rather easier I must say.

FTBFun

Generali wrote: »

There are 2 shops in the City that sell Loakes Oxford brogues for less than £100. One is just off Watling St near where Bar Calona used to be and the other is in Houndsditch. They cost $600/pr in Sydney!

Gen can you remember what its called? I need some new shoes and work around the corner from Watling St.

Generali

FTBFun wrote: »

Gen can you remember what its called? I need some new shoes and work around the corner from Watling St.

Walk down Watling St from the St Mary-le-Bow/Cheapside end, take the first left and the shop is (was?) on the left.

The 'model number' of the shoes is 747.

suki1001

Joe_Bloggs wrote: »

It might help the prospects of online retailers if there was a better way of collecting stuff when you are not in. Letter box sized cans/packages are a thought.

More secure places to pick up stuff in your local area are worth some investment.

Why not pick up online stuff from local shops, for a fee. It's not original but it's not really taking off as a national system.

J_B.

I love my local butchers. They have an online shop and deliver for free same day or when you like. It's such a brilliant service, I don't see how a supermarket could compete with this, this is the way for local shops to go I think. It's crazy to think that many local shops like this had a delivery boy years ago in the good old days.

lemonjelly

There are many things which can be bought online.
However there are also many things which are better bought in person. The experience of shopping online is in no way comparable to shopping in person.

I am not the world greatest or most regular shopper. However by buying groceries online, you don't get to chose which lettuce you want, or even which replacement items some numpty thinks you'd prefer instead. You also don't necessarily see something you haven't had in years & would like to try again, or a new product that may go down well.

Clothes shopping - I'd always prefer to clothes shop in person. See how the things hang/fit etc. Inspect the quality.

Certain household items I'd prefer to buy after holding them, to see how well they'd suit the purpose they're intended for.

That said, there are many other items (home entertainments, cd's/dvd's, tickets etc) that I can see an online market for.

But there is more to be said for shopping than the stuff you get. There's the experience ( which a few might moan about) but going shopping on a wintery evening, & popping along to the german market for example for some mulled wine or similar, or having a suprise hot dog, or even a small meal can add to the experience. As can the social contact, with strangers, or bumping in to an old friend, or a chat with anyone.

Doing everything from a computer terminal might save a few pennies, but there may be other costs too.

MacMickster

lemonjelly wrote: »

But there is more to be said for shopping than the stuff you get. There's the experience ( which a few might moan about) but going shopping on a wintery evening, & popping along to the german market for example for some mulled wine or similar, or having a suprise hot dog, or even a small meal can add to the experience. As can the social contact, with strangers, or bumping in to an old friend, or a chat with anyone.

Doing everything from a computer terminal might save a few pennies, but there may be other costs too.

For my father-in-law, who is in his late 80s, the trip to the post office and then the shops on pension day is the one day that he gets to interact with people other than immediate family, and meets many others in the same situation.

Buying online cuts out the chat about the weather with the friendly shop assistant, or the conversation about family with the woman who always sits on the same seat in the market square. The health of the high street is important for the health of our society in general. For too many people, the dominance of the internet reduces social interaction to a bit of tapping on a keyboard whilst stuck in their own home.

suki1001

MacMickster wrote: »

For my father-in-law, who is in his late 80s, the trip to the post office and then the shops on pension day is the one day that he gets to interact with people other than immediate family, and meets many others in the same situation.

Buying online cuts out the chat about the weather with the friendly shop assistant, or the conversation about family with the woman who always sits on the same seat in the market square. The health of the high street is important for the health of our society in general. For too many people, the dominance of the internet reduces social interaction to a bit of tapping on a keyboard whilst stuck in their own home.

I agree about the smaller shops. However, working in a clothing shop in a town I have this really bizarre experience every time I work. If you watch people shopping they wonder about like zombies - it sounds strange, and I didn't realise people did it, but they do, I can really see how "dawn of the dead" got their inspiration. There is no interaction, they are lost in their own worlds. I'd say they interact with people no more than they would do on the internet, and if they weren't out shopping, they'd be watching daytime tv.
They speak if they have to.

grizzly1911

Whilst the cost of doing business for high street retailers is an issue local councils have also help starve them of trade through Car Park Tax in many towns and the high price of fuel reduces the number of"speculative" shops (it certainly does in our case).

I know of one council (and a number of others) that has all but closed down the town centre and the main stores have moved to a retail park 400metres away.

If retail is in such steep decline why do the Shopping Malls and Outlet Sites appear to do so well? Is it because the goods are marked up properly.

We do a lot of internet shopping. It suits us at present but that doesn't always work if you aren't able to receive deliveries. It isn't just about price either, it can also be that what you want isn't readily available locally or it saves an uneccessary journey to where you know it is available saving cost and time.

I have yet to be convinced to grocery shop online though.