sossij Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Clintons cards in admin too: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/10/clinton-cards-squeezed-facebook-age The British high street is dead – let's celebrate: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/22/british-high-street-dead-lets-celebrate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Just passed a Sports Direct and, despite all the news stories about how it is benefiting from the competition failing, the windows were covered in absolutely huge floor to top of window 'HUGE REDUCTIONS' posters. It made me pause and wonder whether it is a candidate for this thread... and now it is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzb Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 When you shop in these malls, most of what you are paying is rent to the mall owner. I should I say the owner of the loan that bought the mall. At some point, as these bankrupcies proceed, the rentals are not going to cover their loan repayments. So there will be a reset, when the malls have been re-bought at non-delusional prices. It's who can stay in the game long enough for that to happen. I would say Argos can cut down to core presence in non-expensive locations. Also we have the phenomenon of "key" stores being charged only nominal rents to stay. I've heard this is happening with M&S and Debenhams quite a lot. So they are in a good position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 When you shop in these malls, most of what you are paying is rent to the mall owner. I should I say the owner of the loan that bought the mall. At some point, as these bankrupcies proceed, the rentals are not going to cover their loan repayments. So there will be a reset, when the malls have been re-bought at non-delusional prices. It's who can stay in the game long enough for that to happen. I would say Argos can cut down to core presence in non-expensive locations. Also we have the phenomenon of "key" stores being charged only nominal rents to stay. I've heard this is happening with M&S and Debenhams quite a lot. So they are in a good position. I did some IT work for a UK water company who, during the boom, had senior management who claimed they were now a property company rather than a company that provided you with clean water and took away your sewage. Property was sexy. Water was not - and they bought and built shopping malls across the UK and EU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 As there's no reason to go into town anymore, I think I'll just make a cup of coffee and drink it at home. We live quite close to the station, and there is a coffee stand there. One of my neighbours goes there to buy coffee several times a day. I can only assume that her kettle (or maybe her brain) is broken. Also, am I alone in actually preferring the taste of instant coffee over the more pretentious offerings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Also, am I alone in actually preferring the taste of instant coffee over the more pretentious offerings? No. You are not alone. Then there were two. All we need now is a bald guy in a black outfit, a cool dude and that bloke from Mission Impossible to turn up and we are about to become Starbucks' worst nightmare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 No. You are not alone. Then there were two. All we need now is a bald guy in a black outfit, a cool dude and that bloke from Mission Impossible to turn up and we are about to become Starbucks' worst nightmare! I always carry my flask around with me, you never know when you might need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I always carry my flask around with me, you never know when you might need it. And how much would it cost to fill that flask at Starbucks prices? That's coffee equity you've got, right there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bowman Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Cheap price to pay for shareholder confidence. Buys them time to stuff their pockets before it all goes pop. Good point lets wait and see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 And how much would it cost to fill that flask at Starbucks prices? That's coffee equity you've got, right there! I met a blind date for coffee at Starbucks once - her suggestion. Being a good HPCer I had kept well clear of such places for, oh, forever. I ended up in this long queue out in the street waiting to be served - at which point I should have bought some Starbucks shares - and when I got to pay for the coffee I almost had a fit. There were people in the queue ahead of me paying between £20 and £30 for what looked like a couple of coffees and a couple of buns/cakes. Naturally I quickly ditched her as being too rich - ha ha - for me. Better HPCers than I would have gone for the coffee and never returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57percent Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Page 3 and no-one's mentioned Halfords! In reality it could be nearly anyone on the high street, but I'll go non high street .... Ocado. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Page 3 and no-one's mentioned Halfords! In reality it could be nearly anyone on the high street, but I'll go non high street .... Ocado. I thought Waitrose/John Lewis bought them out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blobloblob Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Oxfam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepLurker Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 My money's on Mothercare. Passed by their Exeter store on the Thursday before Christmas and it was totally devoid of customers. Always a sure sign that a retailer is struggling. Can't say I agree. As a proud parent, it's the obvious place-to-go, unrivalled range, prices are fairly competitive, good staff. They might have over-expanded - you don't need a Mothercare superstore in every small town. I don't know, maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koala_bear Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I thought Waitrose/John Lewis bought them out? They sold out as soon as they could. Ocado has run it to saturation in the high end market and finding serving the top of the middle segment less profitable with lots of well publicised operating issues. The items that should flag up the retailers on death row: large debts high rents Very few assets, as much leased as possible (Private equity ownership - high debt and less public information on their finances) As such Ocado ticks 2 boxes, but mothercare ticks all main boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldbug9999 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 My long shot bet: Maplins. (I have no reason to back this up apart from the local Maplins shop moving into a smaller office space just a few months ago). And really, what is their USP? Don't get me wrong I love Maplins, I can walk around for an hour just looking at stuff as the next geek. The geek appeal is thier USP. What they have done is to do the exact opposite what is considered de-riguer retail chain strategy in the modern world: instead of having a limited range of only most popular product lines, they have specialised in dozens of little niches (cheap-ass disco gear, satelite TV, electronic components etc) and made a great success of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuG III Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 The British high street is dead – let's celebrate: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/22/british-high-street-dead-lets-celebrate Even by the standards of the Guardian, this article is remarkable for its narrow-minded metro-elitism. So when all the shops are closed, and all the cars are banned, loads of independent start-ups are just going to open up spontaneously? That might work in Westerham, Amersham or similar gucci little market towns in the south east's commuter belt but its sure as hell not going to happen in some depressed ex-mill town in the north. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saving For a Space Ship Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 (edited) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/22/british-high-street-dead-lets-celebrate Even by the standards of the Guardian, this article is remarkable for its narrow-minded metro-elitism. So when all the shops are closed, and all the cars are banned, loads of independent start-ups are just going to open up spontaneously? That might work in Westerham, Amersham or similar gucci little market towns in the south east's commuter belt but its sure as hell not going to happen in some depressed ex-mill town in the north. Don't expect much from a Wayne Hemingway article. Thanks for pointing it out though, as I got curious as to how his Beach Pods were doing, and thought it deserved its own thread They appear to have dropped from £64K to £18K ! http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=186820&st=0#entry909237530 Edited January 15, 2013 by Saving For a Space Ship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rit Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 What I find funny is that the Daily Mail has listed Past Times today as a possible future shutdown. Daily Mail's view on life http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262399/HMV-turns-millions-customers-collapses-administration.html Where the world got to nearly a year ago http://www.retail-week.com/property/past-times-disappears-from-high-street-as-all-shops-closed/5034078.article They do still trade, but its far cheaper to sell tat online than on the high street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonytramcar Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I would think BHS is a contender - large dreary stores, few customers, and uninspiring stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnionTerror Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 When I was at Comet, our new supervisor had joined from Mothercare. Ours is a local, out of town style shop. He said that they were on a £1m a year, 10 year lease. The last tax year, that store made £5,000 profit over that entire year. I've heard Maplins are on a fairly to very good footing...They were offered Comet, but turned them down...I think they took on a few old outlets though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiCasaSuCasa Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 HMV got a new CEO in September 2012... Yeah...the guy who used to run Jessops! You couldn't make it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybong Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 (edited) Travel companies. The last time I went past Hays Travel there were no customers and the 5 assistants looked even more glum than usual. It was quite startling, a sort of moment - as if they'd just been given some bad news. Edited January 15, 2013 by billybong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammysnake Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Lets face it Anything other than the supermarket giants have shot it. Do not buy any vouchers, gift cards from anywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy soy Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Game, Homebase,Argos,Wickes,Staples,footlocker,whsmiths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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