High-street Death List

[RedGreenBen]

Inspired by the demise of Woolworths, the near demise of Whittards (for now the supplies of Earl Grey are safe) and The DeathList 2008....

Who do you think will be the next UK high-street name(s) to bite the dust? To be eligible they must be a genuine retail 'household name' (i.e. not that shop at the end of the road that sells clothes to Goths and smells of patoulli).

I'll start the ball rolling with Jessops. They sell cameras but who doesn't? And expert specialist advice is fine, but only if it was still 1978.

Ben

 

[yacarob1]

The Officer's Club seems to have bitten the dust.

 

[new_trader]

Long Shot - Toys R Us

I can't see how Specialist retailers can last when there are so many general retailers chipping away at their business.

 

[Lightning McQueen]

Here is my short list for death in 2009

B&Q
Boots
Dixons
Laura Ashley
Marks&Spencer
Millets
Thorntons


...of which I would only mourn B&Q, the others are crap shops that I personally wouldn't miss whatsoever.

I am already shedding a tear for Woolies

YouTube - Wooly And Worth YouTube - Woolworth 'Darth Vader' cinema advert

 

[Gumping]

What about Homebase? IMO B&Q is much better - Homebase is just guff, I thought that would go first.

Most of the sports chains have already gone.....what about Zavvi or HMV? Who buys music/DVD's any more? You can pick up the exotic stuff on-line, and get the mainstream stuff in Tesco miles cheaper.

Gap? Expensive cr@p! ( I actually refer to it as cr@p)

Of course if it was totally based on the quality of wares then Primark would go, but somehow I doubt that.....even if their bl00dy trousers shrink when you wash them at 40 degrees

 

[yacarob1]

Currys ?

Another piece of crap.

 

[Gumping]

Currys ?

Another piece of crap.

Probably the weaker out of Currys/Comet - and DSG appears to be on the rocks generally.

 

[timsk]

Here is my short list for death in 2009
B&Q
I would have thought that the DIY chains are likely to hold their own in a recession as more people try and bodge a job themselves rather than get a pro' in to bodge it for them. That said, I'm with Gumping - if any of them bite the dust - Homebase must be the most vulnerable
Boots
Nah, can't see it. People still want drugs, makeup and toiletries. Okay, the supermarkets sell all of this stuff; but who's going to drive to an out of town retail park when they can get it in their lunch hour from Boots on the High St?
Dixons
The jury is out on this one - definitely vulnerable
Laura Ashley
Booger me, are they still here?!!!!
Marks&Spencer
Nah, no way, it's unthinkable! Where will I get my Y fronts if they go? And where will auntie Ethel get her flanelette nightie? If M&S go - we're doomed!
Millets
Yeah - in the same category as Dixons
Thorntons
Agreed. Over rated and over priced choc's - doubt very much that they'll be around in a year's time

Add to the list:
DFS (cr@p furniture endorsed / designed by Linda Barker)
World of Leather (even worse and restricted to leather)
Holland & Barrett (I heard that sales of organic produce have tailed off sharply over the past few months. People will skip vitamins, supplements and health food products or turn to cheaper options)
Tim

 

[Lightning McQueen]

Add to the list:
DFS (cr@p furniture endorsed / designed by Linda Barker)
World of Leather (even worse and restricted to leather)
Holland & Barrett (I heard that sales of organic produce have tailed off sharply over the past few months. People will skip vitamins, supplements and health food products or turn to cheaper options)
Tim

Definitely go with those furniture outlets Tim, I reckon they may get tagged with the dreaded

in 09.

Not so sure on Holland & Barrett.

My reasoning behind my list is that these shops have few to no customers in them when I go past, B&Q being a particular ghost of xmas past on a recent visit, there was no one there! apart from xmas deco shoppers, also they are obviously desperately trying to diversify sales with washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, freezers, cookers, dishwashers etc, not sure big ticket items like £750 fridges will boost sales, very strange tactic, one would have to assume they have the market research to indicate that punters will flock to buy them

 

[yacarob1]

At this rate the High Street will resemble London after the blitz.

 

[Gumping]

At this rate the High Street will resemble London after the blitz.

Why? Were the Tesco stores not bombed in the blitz?

 

[Gumping]

D'you reckon any food retailers might get bashed for selling overpriced, tasteless slop? Can't imagine McD's/BK/KFC going but what about Subway? Waste of space if ever I saw one....

Matalan? Aye it's cheap...but they never stock anything I want to buy.

 

[dick_dastardly]

D'you reckon any food retailers might get bashed for selling overpriced, tasteless slop? Can't imagine McD's/BK/KFC going but what about Subway? Waste of space if ever I saw one....

Matalan? Aye it's cheap...but they never stock anything I want to buy.

What's wrong with Subway ? if the one by me stayed open late at night it will stay in business.


dd

 

[Splitlink]

Why? Were the Tesco stores not bombed in the blitz?

Damned if I can remember if Tesco existed, then. I remember Woolies, M&S, BHS, Boots, Sainsbury's, Cullens, Co-op, Burtons, WH Smith must have been there, too, but can't remember them in the war. Anyone remember The Fifty Shilling Tailors? There was a famous bike store, too, but the name escapes me.

Oh, and I must mention old May. He had a shop on the corner and sold toffee apples...

Split

 

[chilltrader]

So far
=====

- Woolworths
- The Officers Club
- Zavvi
- Whittards

 

[Trader333]

DSG International (which is Currys, PC World and Currys.Digital) has to be high on this list as the city certainly think they have all but had it. The share price has fallen from 160p in July 2007 to just 17p now.


Paul

 

[Atilla]

It's likely to be a Global Death List too... :-0

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

 

[options]

Okay so all those look like good shorts. (I do have a funny feeling that Marks and Spencer will pull it around).

So... Is there ANY British share company that may do well apart from BP (Oil), Astra Zen (Drugs). Actually forget them. Is there any high st store that is likely to do well?

 

[yacarob1]

Actually forget them. Is there any high st store that is likely to do well?

Poundland

 

[yacarob1]

Debenhams, Burtons............death list candidates ?