MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Couldn't think of the name of it earlier but it's just popped into my head...
From what I remember Largs would be perfect for an M&S food hall...
The high street
- Thread starter Tashyboy
- Start date
Couldn't think of the name of it earlier but it's just popped into my head...
From what I remember Largs would be perfect for an M&S food hall...
Sweep
Journeyman Pro
Or visiting such shops on business with a boot load of samples.
Or disabled.
Or you live in the countryside and the nearest bus stop is 2 miles away.
Or you have an alternative that allows you to use and benefit from the convenience of using your own car without parking charges, like an out of town shopping centre - which brings us back to the original question of why the high street is dying.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
The chances of getting a disabled parking spot at an out of town shopping centre are about zip...
As the folk that feel using public transport is beneath them are probably the same ones taking up disabled/parent & child parking spots... As walking more than five paces is probably beneath them also... They do so because they know no bugger is going to challenge them... Park in a disabled spot in my High Street [without the appropriate badge] and you'll get ticketed...
Sweep
Journeyman Pro
The high street used to be considered One Stop Shopping.
Park your car or get off the bus. Do your shopping on one street or market. Hoof it all back to your car or home on the bus.
Now your one stop is your tablet. The shop does the hoofing for you. For those who still want the shopping experience, there are the out of town centres. Free parking, good public transport links, under cover, warm, clean...
My grandad had a shop in a local town. If he was still here the shop couldn’t exist where it was now, even though in those days it was right in the middle of town. The town centre has effectively moved twice since then. Once in the 70’s when they built the wind tunnel precinct and just recently when they made land available near the new motorway, put a new road in and attracted the big stores and eateries.
My grandma would go to the market almost every day to buy food. It took ages. Mainly because she would stop and talk to everyone. It was as much a social experience as shopping. People don’t have the time these days. Quite sad really.
Sweep
Journeyman Pro
As you should if you park in a disabled bay anywhere, but I have to say I see plenty of available disabled bays where I go.
However, I was simply demonstrating why parking charges are a problem for more than those who don’t want to use public transport. To many cars and vans are a necessity.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
On this I will 100% agree... For the life of me I can't work out why folk are so [seemingly] 'time poor' these days...
I've taken up cooking again and its great going to Asian or Afro-Caribbean shops where they'll take an interest in you offering advice on recipes etc...
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Strange, we have a new one (M+S foodhall) about to open any day now. I assume M+S have done their homework but I cant see how it's going to work here (Oban). We have a Tesco, Aldi, Lidl close by and a Farmfoods a bit further away already and we're not exactly awash with ££ in this area, dont see many range rovers, mercs and beemers or the onviously well off (although west coasters dont do fashion, they do function).
Last time I went onto a M+S foodhall in Fort William of all places (another new one, dont understand that one either) looking for some sandwiches took a look at the prices and made a hasty retreat back to Morrisons.
M&S must think they have a market in Oban - but I wouldn't think Oban is a natural home for an M&S...it's not exactly awash with more expensive outlets other than a couple or three 'tourist and tartan' places - must be targetting the 'white settler' market
Anyway - going to be in Oban mid Sept - one evening and passing through like, I think, many if not most visitors to Oban will do - and so just this morning booked our B&B in Oban for the night before the 6:15am boat to Tiree.
I don’t think public transport is beneath me, but I wouldn’t use it by choice anymore. Currently I live in a a village outside of town. I can walk just over a mile to the local bus stop or train station and then pay £5 to travel or I can drive and pay similar to park (or park a shorr distance away and walk in). If I’m just having a nose I may park outside, but if shopping the I’ll pay to park.
I think people use public transport less now as it’s more convenient to drive, bit because of some arrogance. As to the correlation between people jumping in a disability spot and not using public transport. Imo that’s ridiculous. Generally the people that do that are doing so in their 4x4/bmw (other stereotypical manufacturers are available) and they do so simply without caring of the financial benefit of public transport.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Wouldn't be bad - a large quite affluent retired community; lots of day trippers from Glasgow, and a steady stream of wealthy golfers from overseas and south of the border in the area.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I used to daily pop into town for my newspaper and to grab a late morning coffee or a quick sandwich for lunch. Could park on one of our town's main streets for free (was for half an hour I think so perfect for a quick 'pop-in'). Then they stuck charges on the parking on that street and I stopped going in.
GB72
Money List Winner
Certainly the traditional high street model is now outdated. Harks back to a time when people worked in or near the town centre, probably one of the parents was home all day so had the time to visit etc.
People are time poor now when compared to the opening times on the high street. Longer working hours (mine are 9-5.30 minimum), out of town working, a desire to enjoy leisure activities on Saturday etc means that shops with traditional opening hours (9-5 weekdays and in some instance 9-3 on Saturday, no Sunday opening) means that many people just could not shop on a high street even if they wanted to.
You then have the issue of the high street selling out to chain stores over the years. What you then had was a high street that was less convenient but only offered the same shopping options as an out of town shopping centre. You know what, people went to the chain stores out of town and so the high street ones showed less profit and were closed down. Meanwhile, habits had changed and so the high street was not the first port of call.
My idea is much along the same lines as others, bring in cafes, nice bars etc but then add to that evening opening hours. I would certainly look to go for a stroll around the shops, a drink and a bite to eat at 7.00 at night if the atmosphere was right.
People are time poor now when compared to the opening times on the high street. Longer working hours (mine are 9-5.30 minimum), out of town working, a desire to enjoy leisure activities on Saturday etc means that shops with traditional opening hours (9-5 weekdays and in some instance 9-3 on Saturday, no Sunday opening) means that many people just could not shop on a high street even if they wanted to.
You then have the issue of the high street selling out to chain stores over the years. What you then had was a high street that was less convenient but only offered the same shopping options as an out of town shopping centre. You know what, people went to the chain stores out of town and so the high street ones showed less profit and were closed down. Meanwhile, habits had changed and so the high street was not the first port of call.
My idea is much along the same lines as others, bring in cafes, nice bars etc but then add to that evening opening hours. I would certainly look to go for a stroll around the shops, a drink and a bite to eat at 7.00 at night if the atmosphere was right.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
And so - the High Street and Town Centre shopping will die and the retail units will be converted into housing. As in time the conversions into housing passes a threshold and there will arise the need for immediate local shops to service these homes - and shops will reappear?
Sweep
Journeyman Pro
That is exactly what will happen and indeed has been happening if we care to look - as I demonstrated in my earlier post about a town centre local to me effectively moving twice over the past 40 years. My brother now lives in an ultra trendy apartment in what was a run down part of the city centre and all the shops opening around where he lives reflect the newly arrived affluence.
Even putting online shopping aside for a moment, the high street has had to change to cope with the demands of shoppers and the ever more sophisticated ways of retailing.
I do think though that the shops that reappear or survive will be more immediate requirement, convenience or specialist outlets. The vast majority of retail purchasing and marketing will be done online.
GB72
Money List Winner
The other option is for smaller, viewing shops where people can get a proper look, and maybe a bit of advice on items that they then order online or via terminals in store for a later collection. Pretty much the same model as most furniture stores.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
As has already been noted can't for the life of me understand how folk can buy clobber without first trying it on especially footwear...
Yet, it would seem, one of the early 'casualties' were the numerous shoe retailers...
Yet, it would seem, one of the early 'casualties' were the numerous shoe retailers...
GB72
Money List Winner
I guess you look at the type of shoe retailer. As soon as fashion and labels become more important in shoes, the average high street shoe retailer struggled. Then you have places like TK Maxx etc selling labels at low prices whilst the likes to H&M, New Look etc catered for the 'disposable' outfit market whilst clothes shops like Next increased their shoe offerings and the market changes meant that dedicated shoe shops were always going to struggle. Add to that the change in the trainer market when people wanted a specific trainer and not just a generic one and you saw the end of the dedicated shoe shop.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Fair comment... Can't disagree with that...
They say you start and then finish your days in Clarks... Well I am very much part of the second bit and there's still a Clarks presence in my High Streets... So, I am alright Jack, I suppose...
Cherry13
Head Pro
The experience of try before you buy has changed. My wife buys from ASOS, tries it in the comfort of her own house, with multiple shoes and multiple other outfits. Then returns anything she doesn’t want free of charge. This often involves friends and multiple glasses of wine also.
Times are changing, and the experience people want from shopping is changing.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
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Cherry13
Head Pro
A bit like Ann Summers parties but without the 'toys'
Haha, a very eloquent way of putting it!!