Sad demise of the high street

I don't know about your three anus
grumppa but it seems someone is helping things along.
We have been involved in starting a community shop selling mainly local food , run at the moment by volunteers but hopefuĺly one day able to employ staff. It's being paid for by selling community shares.
It has become quite a hub and when its finished will include facilities for disabled people and some workshops.
It has been an uphill struggle though with an unhelpful council at least at the start.
We hope it will gradually encourage other businesses too. I don't think we'll ever attract the big high st names but as they are falling like nine pins perhaps it's as well.

On my recent and first trip to Birmingham the Grand Central development did not give any hint of austerity!

Use them or lose them!

I don't often go into our local larger towns now (say 4 times per year). I prefer to stop in an out of town complex with free parking, easy access and very little traffic jams. I can wander from one store to another, and take goods straight back to the car in a shopping trolley. They have even opened a good card shop there now, and a Boots and a M & S food hall.

I do still enjoy going to a couple of smaller market towns, which have some lovely individual shops and nice cafes.

Things have really changed in recent years. I think high business rates and high car parking costs have been the main cause of the demise of the high street, plus online shopping.

Recently emailed a large High street clothing chain to ask why they don't stock clothes above a 14/16 instore as they sell up to size 22 online. Disappointingly I had a generic email in reply. Surely they are actively encouraging online sales at the detriment to our High Street. I often want to shop in town and bring my instant purchases home, not wait in for deliveries, but come home empty handed. Big stores like John Lewis and Boots both didnt hold lipstick colours in store and told me to go home and order online, but l had paid my parking ticket ( very expensive in our town) and wanted items straight away. This happens so much. John Lewis doesnt have prices on small items and l asked for the price of a butter dish to be told l could download the App and scan the barcodes on all items to get prices! I dont want too! My phone battery goes down quick enough without doing that. It seems my happy and successful shopping days out are becoming fewer.

'I don't know about your three anus
grumppa but it seems someone is helping things along.'

I made a fairly rare trip into my local town the other day in search of some new winter jumpers. Every one of the chain shops, Next, New Look, Dorothy Perkins et al had rail after rail of cheap and nasty acrylic rubbish. Some if it already beginning to bobble!
Eventually found a couple of acceptable items in White Stuff. I'd really rather pay a bit more fore one decent item than buy any number of the majority of what's on offer.
I've started to buy a few items online made from bamboo. Super soft and I really hope more eco friendly, but why couldn't I find anything even vaguely tempting on the high street?

I liked our little Debenhams, but it went years ago. The nearest one is now set to close,but it was a mess on the ground floor and the top floor, only the ladies clothing was laid out attractively - I will miss their lingerie department

A random theory: It would seem that the national obesity epidemic is running in tandem with the escalation in online shopping - after all, if you've let yourself go to pot, weight-wise, then sending for your togs via the Internet is the perfect way to avoid a personal Walk Of Shame to the clothes rail with the XXXL sizes, is it not?

Plus, if the tent you ordered isn't quite the right fit you can just send it back discreetly. No shopping outlets involved so bye-bye shopping centres - not to mention all those jobs. Where does it all end? At the local Job/JokeCentre?

I dont live in the UK but visit regularly, my old hometown Liverpool is seething with designer shops, in Liverpool One, a huge area with only well known brands, people come from far and wide to shop there.We have a house in Kendal Cumbria, where they have just opened a Sainsburys, apart from Sainsburys there is Morrisons, Asda and a Tesco local, these are a little outside the town centre, it will affect local business, which is shame as this little Town is so nice, with independant shops, wonderful surroundings etc, a pleasure to be there. I hope on-line shopping, together with huge supermarkets poping up will not will not be the demise of this lovely Town.

Tax online retailers and delivery companies at a rate commensurate with business rates payable based on square footage by department stores. That might redress the balance slightly, keep department stores open as pleasant places to visit and shop as well as preserve the jobs of thousands of staff. Improve public transport to avoid the need for parking.
Out of town shopping centres with parking are good for food shops.
I'm only really talking about the department stores like Debenham and House of Fraser. Och. Don't get me started on disappeared department stores, my specialist subject.

My town doesn't have a bank although it is a World Heritage Site which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, however non of the shops on the high street belong to any chain at all, all family businesses. The butcher is the best butcher in Wales (that's official) Is this unique I wonder?

The rates and council taxes in our (economically poor) town are astronomical. Parking charges are ridiculous and we are losing shops on a weekly basis and I suspect our small Debenhams will be the next to go. The council are clueless and just don’t seem to be able to join the dots.

Interesting thought! I would have limed an intelligent answer from the Company. I know it cant be space to hold more sizes as their shops are larger than most on High Streets. Perhaps they dont want large people seen going in their shops. Not sure... also they know fashion collaborations sell out quickly so why not order more to cope with demand. At more store they sold out on first day.

We even have an out of town John Lewis, homeware only.

I like Wilko for a bargain, but near me they are all in town centres still, like M & Co, which someone already mentioned, and Bon Marche. I'd go in them much more if they were out of town.

We live in a new town which is thriving but the towns close by are in a downward spiral with mainly empty shops and charity shops. One, which used to be s thriving market town is in danger of the market closing and several banks have closed. A news programme a few days ago said some of the empty shops in the Midlands will be turned into houses and a spokesman for Debenhams said they will be focusing more on eating and drinking: gin bars for example and beauty services.

I make a special effort not to buy newspapers or magazines/cards, etc from a supermarket. Nor will I buy petrol from anywhere but an independent petrol station. Recently a fruit and veg man has opened at our local, independent garden centre - hoorah. Independent shops are probably a little more expensive, but the service is worth it. Car parking charges have a lot to answer for also, as people resent paying extra to use shops, but it can still be cheaper than postage when shopping on-line.

We have a fairly large Tesco's plus a Greggs and a clothes shop run by a lovely couple originally from India (but I doubt it will carry on when they retire). We also have a hardware store on the opposite side and two sweetshops. No butcher/baker or grocer - we do still have our Post Office though, good job as one of the two banks is closing at New Year and we don't know how long the other will stay. The local cafe closed down and then re-opened only to close down again a few weeks ago as they couldn't compete with Greggs - mainly because of the business rates. We also have a little wool/crafts shop and a shop selling Polish produce (we have quite a few Polish families living in the immediate area) and two betting shops!

As a retired Retail consultant over 20 years and over 50 years and operating over 100 stores through out the UK.
I have recently written to the minister in charge who has replied advising me that Sir Timpson and a group will be investigating the retail sector.
I have forwarded all info too his secretary who has confirmed she has received the info.
That s the last I heard, my own research shows that of the group involved, none have operated Retail stores
This now sounds a bit like the Mary Portus TV series !!
Today s daily express outlines a 12 point plan by the former CEO of John Lewis who is now mayor of Birmingham . he could not stop the John Lewis group from sliding downwards even with 50% of their turnover online.
Some while back I wrote to a different minister and outlined what can be done to improve the retail , no reply.
it seems to me that apart from business rates being reduced they do not listen!
The older generation have experienced what makes retail tick.
We now have many out of town shopping centers,where the council agreed to the planning,.
Yes online has more appeal to the younger generation, or where the items cannot be bought any longer in town but in general retailers don't make the effort required to attract the shopper.
I am about to have another go at Sir Timson where required show them what can be done wish me luck

We have 2 fishmongers, butcher, shoe-shop, hardware store, art materials shop, wool/embroidery/haberdashers, electricals and lighting, florist, artisan bakery, picture framers, shoe repair shop, wine/deli, bookshop, greengrocer, gun shop and many others. These are all independents in our small town and, until this thread, I never really appreciated just how well off we are, shop-wise.

I think the dept store has had it’s day.In Victorian times it was a wonderful innovation, but now huge stores feel old fashioned, and the rent they have to pay is massive.
Small shops in covered shopping malls or on the High St work better for everyone.

Free parking would help, what’s the point on 1 hour free slots, not even enough time for a coffee!

pheasant75
May I suggest that you proofread your communication to Lord Timpson before you send any comment.
One never ever refers to a knighted person as Sir Timpson (or other surname)
It's either Sir John (in a letter/email) or Sir John Timpson ( on the envelope) followed by appropriate letters (MBE etc)

pheasant Sir John Timpson is the head of the very successful chain of shoe repair/key cutting/watch battery/passport photoing stores that bear his surname. The company are quick to develop new services when they see a market opportunity - hence the recent introduction of a passport photo services that links directly to the Passport Agency for immediate submission. They also have a strong social policy that among other things offers jobs to ex-convicts to help them get back to work and away from crime.

What is that if not retail?

I would be interested in hearing your views on what should be done to improve retail. GN is a cross section of older people,all of us shoppers and some with retail experience, who would be interested in discussing your experience-based views from their point of view.

We have recently had a very long awaited retail park open in the area. It has a variety of small and large shops, although mainly clothes. It is heaving with shoppers every weekend, thousands more than was predicted. Which just proves to me that people still like the experience of shopping. Nearby town councils are now objecting to plans to extend it to include a more diverse choice of shops, because of the impact it has had on their own town centres. My answer to that would be - lower your business rents and rates to encourage more businesses. Offer free, easy parking and make people feel that you are happy to welcome them instead of making the shopping experience as difficult and expensive as possible. Why would I pay six pounds for a couple of hours parking to visit a town where half the shops are closed and the rest are charity, coffee or fast food?