[Closed] High Street january dead pool...

I rarely shop. But this year did all my Christmas shopping in my own town, and it was a revalation.
I got everything I wanted at good prices, enjoyed the touchy feely experience of actually being in a shop, and it was nice to talk to people.
On my home I treated myself and family to a selection of Greek food goodies, after a prolonged taster session (internet beat that)at the market. Then picked up Cycling weekly and drove home.

Big downside is parking. Large portions of car parks are given over to permit holders so empty and out of bounds at weekends. And town centre parking in general is a killer. Having to pay to park is having a strangle hold on retailers I would imagine?
On that subject I tried to visit Giants brand store in Radlett three times and never ever found a free meter, and everything else was residential permit only.

anyone have [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16582233 ]Past Times [/url] ?

Now Peacocks and Bon Marche, yes ive never heard of them either

Good riddance to Peacocks and Bon Marche! The trouble is that the chavettes will waddle over to New Look for their disposable leggingz.

And how did Past Times last this long?

Bon Marche was one of the earliest department stores in London, always had a big plot in Brixton.

there methods may disagree with our western ethics

The Peacocks one is pretty annoying. They made a profit last year, but because RBS* and Barclays refused to restructure their existing debt, they have been forced into closing.

*Yes. That RBS. The one that had to bailed out.

anyone have Past Times ?

Ive still got a blacks gift card from about a year ago, think its got about a tenner on it.

Do you think they will honour it and what's worth getting for a tenner?

Don't see why they wouldn't honor it, as long as it hasn't expired of course. I got one as a present a few months ago but couldn't find anything in Blacks I wanted, but just after New Year I just went and got some socks and dehydrated meals for me and the missus.

and dehydrated meals for me and the missus

You certainly know how to treat a lady 🙂

You certainly know how to treat a lady

50 %off all stock at Past times now.

Probably only on the nety as they have shut a lot of shops.

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-16621080 ]peacocks gone too[/url]

Here's a pretty good summary:
[url= http://www.retailresearch.org/whosegonebust.php ]Retail research = who's gone bust[/url]

I'm lucky enough to live in an area where I have three butchers, three fruit shops, a deli, a fishmonger and a Mad Jack's all within a couple of minutes walk. They all open late too - till sixish - so I can get most of my food from them, and only have to venture to supermarkets for bulk stuff like Marmite.

S'good.

Game... No real surprises there though. Some people must have made a killing by buying at 0.5p and riding the rumours of a takeover. I suspect part of it will reappear.

I worked at Gamestation and was there when Game took over. It was obvious back then and said at the time that having 2 shops competing against each other in the smaller towns was a stupid idea. The big scheme was game would sell mostly new games whole gs concentrated on pre-owned. Some provinces just aren't big enough for 2 shops of this nature and ultimately the rent bill killed (or will kill) the company off. Some people I worked with still work for the company, I'm sorry about their jobs.

Not high street exactly my local photo lab just shut down after I think about 25 years in business. Such a shame.

They were great, really passionate about what they did - bit expensive though so I guess most people just went to ASDA or whatever. I know someone that got some of their wedding photos printed on a machine at ASDA (after I recommended the now-shut-down place) and strangely they weren't too happy with the quality.

They were great, really passionate about what they did - bit expensive though

I've been looking for a retail unit where I live, small market town in the SE, 30k people - just seen a 308 sq ft shop, a block back from the High St, no storage, for 24000 a year rent, rates nearly 8000.
How difficult must it be to run a small business like a photo shop, up against the supermarkets etc with their economies and convenience when your costs are frontloaded like that.

Was that town Chichester?

As 1 closes another opens on my high street. Debenhams are coming to town taking over the empty TJ Hughs shop. News agents has opened around the corner and added fresh baked bread, offy and convenience foods. Just happens to be opposite a bus terminal and stays open late. Another £1 shop is closing down but the whole building is getting a makeover, used to be an ironmongers for yrs & yrs. New toy shop has also opened . A supermarket developer has had an out of town plan refused but offered a site in town which will be controversial due to loss of parking unless they can be imaginative with the site. The old Woolies shop is now a thriving Iceland.
Just need to do something about the roads, too many deaths recently and like everywhere else gridlock and potholes 🙄

Best get used to it, if this is anywhere near true

[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/20/high-street-shops-close-deloitte?newsfeed=true ]40% of high street shops face closure[/url]

I worked at Gamestation and was there when Game took over. It was obvious back then and said at the time that having 2 shops competing against each other in the smaller towns was a stupid idea. The big scheme was game would sell mostly new games whole gs concentrated on pre-owned. Some provinces just aren't big enough for 2 shops of this nature and ultimately the rent bill killed (or will kill) the company off. Some people I worked with still work for the company, I'm sorry about their jobs.

I've watched the Game debacle with interest, as a former employee when I was a student, a gamer and a game dev. I remember some towns had three stores - Electronics Boutique bought out Game and rebranded their stores 'Game', so they had two stores, then bought out Gamestation a couple of years later, adding a third... sometimes even afourth if they'd got a store in Debenhams in addition to their standalone shops.

They really shot themselves in the foot by pushing pre-owned so heavily - it meant less room for new stock, particularly the more obscure titles, and earned the wrath of the publishers. It's not really a surprise that the likes of EA and Ubisoft refused to give them any leeway.

News agents has opened around the corner and added fresh baked bread

That's how you play the game.

They really shot themselves in the foot by pushing pre-owned so heavily - it meant less room for new stock, particularly the more obscure titles, and earned the wrath of the publishers. It's not really a surprise that the likes of EA and Ubisoft refused to give them any leeway.

I disagree here, trade in was a good business model. A title is traded in and resold on average 5 times before it loses it's Market value with the retailers head office being able to decide how much it is worth. An example: a copy of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas could earn and extra £65 ontop of the original purchase price when traded in 5 times until Market value is dropped. Trade in also offered titles at a lower price to those who don't have the funds for RRP or wish to part exchange. Trade in works fine in other countries and could do here.

Having stock of more obscure titles will never bump sales anything like a new COD or MOH title with a TV campaign. A shop needs to stock what sells.

Game was spread too thin and the rent bill killed it off. It's now in admin.

I disagree here, trade in was a good business model. A title is traded in and resold on average 5 times before it loses it's Market value with the retailers head office being able to decide how much it is worth. An example: a copy of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas could earn and extra £65 ontop of the original purchase price when traded in 5 times until Market value is dropped. Trade in also offered titles at a lower price to those who don't have the funds for RRP or wish to part exchange. Trade in works fine in other countries and could do here.

The problem is, it screws over the developers and publishers, who don't see any of the cash from the resale of a title. I don't disagree with people being able to trade in and resell their games, but I don't think it's healthy when a specialist retailer makes it their main focus.

Game and Gamestation would actively push their pre-owned stock ahead of new stock. You can pick up second hand stuff in charity shops, but you don't see huge pre-owned sections of second hand books in Waterstones, or pre-owned CDs and DVDs in HMV. It's the main reason why games have started pushing on-line passes and one-time use codes for additional content.

The problem is, it screws over the developers and publishers, who don't see any of the cash from the resale of a title

Game and Gamestation would actively push their pre-owned stock ahead of new stock