Failing retailers

Davesnave

suki1001 wrote: »

If you watch people shopping they wonder about like zombies.

I am guilty of this. Either it's because the task is mind-numbingly tedious, so I'm meditating, or it's because I haven't a scoobie what to get and I need 99% of my brain power to spot that wondrous pressie that will save my bacon.

Daytime TV? Is there such a thing? I thought there was just a little girl with a balloon.

suki1001

Davesnave wrote: »

I am guilty of this. Either it's because the task is mind-numbingly tedious, so I'm meditating, or it's because I haven't a scoobie what to get and I need 99% of my brain power to spot that wondrous pressie that will save my bacon.

Daytime TV? Is there such a thing? I thought there was just a little girl with a balloon.

I think we are all guilty! Are you one of those panic stricken men that i've seen wondering about?

I suppose shopping centres are designed for us to walk about mindlessly and I think if there were a zombie invasion in one, you really wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the shoppers and the zombies!
Regarding the daytime tv, believe me if only it was a little girl with a balloon, it would have more substance to it than all those trashy programmes put together.;)

fc123

grizzly1911 wrote: »

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.

I wish I had 'total consumer spend' figures of, say this year compared to 5 years ago but across all retail outlets (mall. high st, internet etc). I am sure some spend has just moved from one place (the mall) to online.

I highlighted 'Outlet' sites about mark up.....all outlet sites are clearance so sold at less margin, sometimes at cost. This frees up cash end of season for the supplier but the prices/mark ups don't give a true 'price' as the goods aren't sold at full RP.

The big cost advantage in the large out of town stores is the staff density. You can get away with 1 staff member per 1600 sq ft (this is only what I was told and relates to self serve clothing stores low/mid price range) but in a small high st store (which could only be 2000 sq ft) you often need 1 staff member per 700- 800 sq ft instead as you need crossover staff for breaks/till etc.

P Green is closing many of his small high st stores over the next 3 years as leases come to an end as they are no longer viable.

Small, niche traders are selling online instead and reaching a far wider customer base than they would have had with one single High St trad store.....more T/O, less risk as customers are worldwide (in that gas works don't shut down their street for 6 months...been there, done that ) overheads less despite having photography costs and so on.

On topic, Barrats is unlikely to disapear but be 'bought' with a clean slate though it did go into administration in 2009 and shut half it's stores. Those poor manufaturers though, I feel for them but won't affect UK ones none of their product was made here.

ecember 2011 | By Alex Lawson
Shoe specialist Barratts Priceless Group has collapsed into administration for the second time in two years.



Daniel Butters, Neville Kahn and Adrian Berry, partners at Deloitte, have been appointed joint administrators of the retailer, which has 191 stores, 371 concessions and employs around 3,840 staff.
Competition from discount retailers and poor sales had left the retailer in danger of not being able to pay its next quarterly rent bill on December 25.

Butters said: “Barratts and Priceless Shoes have faced a downturn in trading as a result of the difficult economic conditions.
“This has been exacerbated by the unseasonably mild weather in recent weeks which resulted in fewer sales across new winter lines. We will continue to trade the stores whilst we seek a buyer for all or parts of the business as a going concern.”
“We are working closely with suppliers to ensure the business has the best possible platform to secure a sale, preserve jobs and generate as much value as possible for all creditors.”

The retailer went though one administration in 2009, when 220 of its 380 stores were closed down by Barratts and Priceless Shoes then owner Stylo.
Barratts Priceless’ latest accounts show it made a pre-tax profit of £6.1m in the 18-month period to July 31 2010, recording sales of £218m.

dtsazza

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.

That reminds me to some extent of the desperate ads in the cinemas, trying to sell it as an "experience that you can't get anywhere else".

For the most part, the cinemas fail because the floors are sticky, the other audience members aren't universally quiet, and if you miss a bit or you think the volume is too high/low you can't pause/rewind or adjust it.

Occasionally there's a really good inclusive atmosphere in a film, but for the most part it's a net loss - I'd rather pay less and watch a film in the comfort of my own home, with no strangers interrupting, where I can eat and drink whatever I want for a reasonable price, where I can control the comfort and quality of the couches, screen, sound system etc. to exactly the point I'm prepared to pay for.

And quite frankly, shopping is more or less analogous. It might in theory be an experience, but for the most part it's an annoyance due to the thinly-veiled marketing and minimum-wage robotic staff. Some places are of course better, but the high street as a whole seems to be trying to go for volume and upsell over customer satisfaction; which is fine in one respect as an approach, but the internet can do that so much better. The only thing the high street has going for it is the personal service/experience aspect, and by and large they don't seem to be capitalising on this.

Kennyboy66

dtsazza wrote: »

That reminds me to some extent of the desperate ads in the cinemas, trying to sell it as an "experience that you can't get anywhere else".

For the most part, the cinemas fail because the floors are sticky, the other audience members aren't universally quiet, and if you miss a bit or you think the volume is too high/low you can't pause/rewind or adjust it.

Occasionally there's a really good inclusive atmosphere in a film, but for the most part it's a net loss - I'd rather pay less and watch a film in the comfort of my own home, with no strangers interrupting, where I can eat and drink whatever I want for a reasonable price, where I can control the comfort and quality of the couches, screen, sound system etc. to exactly the point I'm prepared to pay for.

And quite frankly, shopping is more or less analogous. It might in theory be an experience, but for the most part it's an annoyance due to the thinly-veiled marketing and minimum-wage robotic staff. Some places are of course better, but the high street as a whole seems to be trying to go for volume and upsell over customer satisfaction; which is fine in one respect as an approach, but the internet can do that so much better. The only thing the high street has going for it is the personal service/experience aspect, and by and large they don't seem to be capitalising on this.

You could say the same about pubs or sport.

I'd much rather have a pint in a pub than a pint at home.
I'd rather watch live sport than watch it on the telly (with a few exceptions).

lemonjelly

I think there are different things for different times.
I love both going to see bands play their music live. I also like to put on a cd & listen to stuff.

Both have their merits. I like having the options.

lostinrates

dtsazza wrote: »

I'd rather pay less and watch a film in the comfort of my own home, with no strangers interrupting, where I can eat and drink whatever I want for a reasonable price, where I can control the comfort and quality of the couches, screen, sound system etc. to exactly the point I'm prepared to pay for.

this....but I'd add a duvet and a couple of warm purring cats, the posibility to puase and nip for a widdle and freedom from teenagers armed with food t throw

dtsazza

Kennyboy66 wrote: »

You could say the same about pubs or sport.

I'd much rather have a pint in a pub than a pint at home.
I'd rather watch live sport than watch it on the telly (with a few exceptions).

I completely agree, those are analogies too.

I'd rather have mates round for drinks at home than go to a bad pub; but I'm willing to pay several times more for drinks in a decent pub because of the atmosphere, and the experience of going to a pub. On the whole, pubs have got it right.

Ditto sports (apart from those exceptions you mention).

High street shops on the whole tend to be more like bad pubs - more expensive than the alternative and a longer trip to get to, yet they don't offer anything in the way of "specialness" to make it worthwhile.