The High Street.

[Kellfire]

To be honest the high street and a good example is Debenhams sell “tat” brands of no interest .. just went online to see what they had, came back with your in a virtual queue... may be a bit impatient but I try not to queue at any point unless I am being paid for it then I will queue all day.
That may sound selfish, but in reality it’s about time and the finite time we have.
The high street is only going through a natural decline and I am sure it will return in some form or other.. but no need to support it let it die of natural causes.

I’m sure the people who lose their job and become permanently dependent on benefits would disagree with your assessment. Meanwhile the rich get richer.

 

[harpo_72]

I’m sure the people who lose their job and become permanently dependent on benefits would disagree with your assessment. Meanwhile the rich get richer.

I am sure they are unhappy yes, but there is no point complaining about it, it is just natural progression.. the writing has been on the wall and no one really has made an effort to change to help the high street and they haven’t reacted either.
But Mr Green and Mr Ashley don’t help matters or opinions

 

[Slime]

“Forced to close”, why ?

The building needed repairs that they couldn't afford, so they surrendered the lease.
All allegedly, I might add.

 

[Tashyboy]

Mansfield town is pedestrianised from 10.00 am. Bottom line delivery drivers are not allowed to drop off or pick up. The traffic wardens are ready to pounce and they do. I dropped off five large bin bags of stuff in the British heart foundation shop. Missis T was sat in the car. I came out to a ticket. Missis T told the warden where I was. I was stood 15 yards away.
90 seconds of goodwill cost me. I don’t take my stuff there now.

 

[Slime]

I moved away from my home town in 1987. When I heard Jeffrey's had closed I could have cried. Bought my first proper cricket bat and keepers gloves in there. Lots of fishing tackle and subbutteo in there too.

Proper old shop. Had a lovely atmosphere, even its own smell.

The Internet has been killing the High Street for years. Covid is another big nail. Although large chains could be replaced by local smaller shops again if landlords are realistic about rents, councils about rates and entrepreneurs allowed to get on with it.

Where abouts were you?
I spent many a Saturday upstairs in their fishing tackle department.
I'd be there for hours, and yes, it did have it's own smell.
Apparently it was the last family run business to move out of Guildford High Street which was, and may still be, the 2nd most expensive street in England, just behind Regent Street or Bond Street, I can't remember which.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Where abouts were you?
I spent many a Saturday upstairs in their fishing tackle department.
I'd be there for hours, and yes, it did have it's own smell.
Apparently it was the last family run business to move out of Guildford High Street which was, and may still be, the 2nd most expensive street in England, just behind Regent Street or Bond Street, I can't remember which.

Quite a lot of empty shop units on the High Street these days. But still seems to be doing OK. I‘m guessing that the Debenhams at the bottom of the High Street will become residential apartments as it is in a beautiful location by the river and has underground parking.

 

[IanM]

Where abouts were you?
I spent many a Saturday upstairs in their fishing tackle department.
I'd be there for hours, and yes, it did have it's own smell.

Guildford. Born in St Lukes. Lived in Burpham. Went to RGS 75 to 82.

Used to go to Jeffrey's at lunchtime to look at the fishing stuff....marvellous place.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I was listening to a retail analyst last night on the way home. She was giving her own thoughts and then gave a sobbering comment. She has 2 daughters and their shopping gets delivered to the house. They don't have mother / daughter shopping days as she had with her mother, they don't go with their friends into town for shopping. They meet friends socially, in coffee shops, bars, chain restaurants and the like. If they are not using the high street then the high street has to adapt to suit. Older people still do all of the above but they do not shop in Top Shop, Miss Selfridge etc.

I live in a market town that has a very succesful high street but the key shopping area is owned and run by a property company, not the council. It looks great, is well maintained, has a good range of shops, targetting the demographic of the town, lots of tea shops, restaurants etc. Two new pubs have just opened, a 3rd is being renovated now for opening by easter. In normal times it is bustling at night at weekends, it has become a destination. The council helpded, partly for other reasons, and agreed to a disk parking system that means you can park for 4 hours free of charge. That is a massive help. It can work but you need people in charge who understand what they are doing.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Our town still has a lovely family owned department store (Elphicks) slap bang in the centre of town - I think it's well supported by the community - has a good cafe - and has a reputation for putting on a superb and fun Christmas shop-widow display. It's been covered up for weeks bit no doubt all will be revealed today. We'll wander into town early this evening as it usually looks beautiful in the dark. And it's my 'go-to' store for the little additional Christmas present I buy for my Mrs - though she always tells be not to buy her anything

 

[Orikoru]

Certainly for Watford. Intu are going bust, Debenhams also, and John Lewis have permanently closed their massive store (JL have been in Watford for around 100 years).

Yeah I couldn't believe that John Lewis shut, and then the Debenhams went as well, from the section that they only recently invested in as well.

I've always leaned towards ordering online for convenience, but the shopping centre is decent if you don't quite know what you're looking for.

 

[GreiginFife]

Our town still has a lovely family owned department store (Elphicks) slap bang in the centre of town - I think it's well supported by the community - has a good cafe - and has a reputation for putting on a superb and fun Christmas shop-widow display. It's been covered up for weeks bit no doubt all will be revealed today. We'll wander into town early this evening as it usually looks beautiful in the dark. And it's my 'go-to' store for the little additional Christmas present I buy for my Mrs - though she always tells be not to buy her anything

Yeah, and you know what happens that one time you take her at her word...

 

[williamalex1]

Just heard our nearest Santander branch is closing, seemingly they can't come to an agreement with the landlord.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Yeah, and you know what happens that one time you take her at her word...

Oh absolutely...

 

[IanM]

Our town still has a lovely family owned department store (Elphicks) slap bang in the centre of town - I think it's well supported by the community - has a good cafe - and has a reputation for putting on a superb and fun Christmas shop-widow display. It's been covered up for weeks bit no doubt all will be revealed today. We'll wander into town early this evening as it usually looks beautiful in the dark. And it's my 'go-to' store for the little additional Christmas present I buy for my Mrs - though she always tells be not to buy her anything

I think my mum-in-law would chain herself to the railings if Elphicks ever closed!!

 

[Bdill93]

Worcester town centre is made up enitrely of coffee shops (mostly costas).

Id only go to town for a haircut or a meal out. Oh and for last minute cards/ presents

 

[GB72]

Sometimes I just cannot believe how some companies act. How many emails do I get showing an online exclusive offer then the same chain of stores complaining that nobody visits their shops anymore. Some shops will not even price match their own web site.

Then you have opening hours. High Street stores are open 9-5 in the week when people who work cannot use them, and are then heaving at weekends when people who work would not want to use them.

I have every sympathy for the thousands losing their jobs at the moment but the high street as we know it is a dinosaur. Unless you particularly love the shopping experience, why would you not have items delivered to your door the next day with free returns also collected from you.

I have full sympathy for those losing their jobs but not for the chains of stores that I have seen abandon market town high streets over the years and now complain because those people that they deserted now have no loyalty to their brands.

 

[Sats]

I only ever go in the have my hair cut. If i could, i'd never set foot in a town/city in this country again.

 

[Beedee]

I'll miss the high street. I like being able to touch things and try things before I buy. I don't want to rely totally on reviews when my personal opinion of usability matters. For example, one of my hobbies is photography. I'd hate buying a new camera body costing many £££ without having the chance to get my hands on it first.

I also don't get the "order too much and send most of it back" mentality either. Surely that is more effort that just going and buying something you like that fits in the first place.

I have hardly set foot on the high street this year, but that's because I'm more covid risk adverse than most. Once I've got the jab I want to be back there.

 

[GreiginFife]

The way that we consume everything from news to material goods has changed rapidly over the last 10-15 years, the sad reality is that the high street has failed to adapt with these changes.

Demand for quick and simple fulfillment is at an all time high yet high street stored, by their very nature, negate this by needing the consumer to take action thats beyond quick and simple.

Whilst I have sympathy for those being put out of work, this is a natural cycle just as it has been with businesses and industries that have outmoded themselves in the past. Technology will continue to drive materialistic behaviours until all we have are fulfillment warehouses where once we had stores.

We are all complicit in this move to digital consumerism so all share in the "blame", if blame needs to be apportioned.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I will do a quick count up of coffee stores between the hospital and the Broad Street, so the length of the high street in Reading. I am going to guess it'll be close to 15. That seems to be the only type of shop making a go of things. That and the vape stores, the short lease stores there for a few months selling tat for a quick buck. The Broad Street Mall is desolate and full of empty stores, more and more going in the Oracle centre as well. I am sure Covid has only accelerated the process of the high street changing, but too many brands and chains seem so slow to make any sort of change or try to do anything differently.

Will the high street shopping experience return at all? After Covid recedes into history in 2021 (we can hope!!) I hope stores can make a comeback. For some things, like shoes, suits, etc I want to be able to try things on, browse and compare. At this time of year, there is something fulfilling about going around shops looking for "that" present (again Covid not withstanding) and there are even times when I enjoy a trip out for the day with HID to Bluewater or elsewhere to have a splurge. Of course the convenience and ease of online shopping makes it so quick and simply but sometimes there is nothing better than seeing or feeling something in the flesh