http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21047652
thats the third retail chain in a week to go under.
Hardly surprising tbh. Dying if not already dead market segment.
My sympathy for the employees, but it was predictable. Would you have bought shares in them five years ago?
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From 2008
[video=youtube;3TrPwOrf4sM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TrPwOrf4sM[/video]
Quotethats the third retail chain in a week to go under.
It's the third retail chain that didn't move with the times, and got burned.
It's horrible for the folks who will almost certainly lose their jobs, but not surprising in the slightest.[/COLOR]
Damn shame.
They were so well placed to do a Lovefilm type thing but hey ho.
This and hmv has links back to the thread a few weeks ago on tax. How can established uk companies compete with net companies that don't pay tax it's not consumer choice as mr cable thinks its an unlevel playing field any way got to eat mr horse burger now
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Aye, reducing business rates for retailers would help as would other incentives and breaks. Sure we can't afford it but getting *some* money in would be better than having these places going into administration all the time.
Quote from: Penfold;365033Aye, reducing business rates for retailers would help as would other incentives and breaks. Sure we can't afford it but getting *some* money in would be better than having these places going into administration all the time.
Business rates are a joke, killing off the high street shops, how can they compete with the digital age which is cheaper, quicker and less stressie, no parking, no fuel, no traffic jams etc.
Quote from: Snokio;365034Business rates are a joke
Every 6 months I review my preference for renting business premises instead of working from my home office.
Every 6 months I conclude it is way cheaper to continue working from home.
Business rates are a big chunk of that decision.
Following on from what Penfold said, the Business Rates model is what is broken imo and does not well suit the internet world as it relies on bricks & mortar. VAT is a much better model imo, it allows development without costs, entrepreneurship without overhead and only charges when you sell something (which would hit ALL of the internet retailers). Unfortunately we've already had the VAT rise, so the loss of revenue of BR were removed would have to come from central government somehow.
TL hope you claim exp for home as an office
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Tis a shame about blockbuster, but when I was told by my family that they had gone under my reply was "Really? I thought they did years ago" as the Blockbuster near me closed and I did not find one in any of the surrounding towns or even Leeds one of the largest economic centre's in England.
So I would say poor advertising, due to no one knowing they where around or where they were, and lack of knowledge on the part of perspective customers would also apply as I and many others thought they closed years back.
I'm sure business rates are a problem for retailers and leave them at a disadvantage compared to online stores. However I do wonder if that's the main reason why the stores that have gone under have done so. I'm more inclined to think that it's about the whole move from high street retail over to online retail and how much more preferable it is for consumers to buy certain products online rather than in a shop. Online shopping is often cheaper but it's also more convenient. Consumers seem to have quickly taken to shopping online and naturally go to the companies that have the online facilities. The irony is that HMV, Blockbuster and Jessops all have or had online stores. Sadly though they came to the party far too late. Amazon, Steam, LoveFilm, Sky Movies etc were already there and well known. I do think the primary cause of these companies failing is due to their senior management not being able or willing to get their companies online fast enough and effectively enough. They're retailers with a traditional retailers mindset. I just don't think they had a real desire to change their business models, rather they felt they had to change and did so reluctantly. Hence they built online stores that were often poorly advertised and mirrored their store prices rather than discounted them. During the boom times they could survive well enough as there was business for everyone but now we're all being far more careful about spending money they're finding they don't have a robust business model or a loyal customer base.
The big supermarkets saw the change and all started offering home delivery services before any new businesses (Amazon Groceries :) ) cold come and take it away from them. If Blockbuster had moved to a Love Film concept ten years ago they'd probably be a healthy company. As broadband becomes ubiquitous I wonder what else we'll be buying primarily online and what other bricks and mortar companies will fail to get on board in time?
What he said.
I think you'll see a massive shift over the next 10 years from highstreet to ghost town. Realistically what can you not buy online now, cheaper? Essentials aside I very rarely go to a town center, I mooch around Currys now and then when she's buying an item of kids clothing for a present from Next, but it's all last minute stuff.
'There is no need for the highstreet we are on the cusp of a major shift in the way that retail services are delivered. Tomorrow will be a very different world from that which we currently know'....................Ben Bennage Bennington, Social and Retail Expert, 2013.
no surprise, i thought the host company for blockbuster tanked like last year, and the swedish section too, the danish one is pretty damn close too atm..
We're already seeing a shift in our town from retail premises to coffee shops, restaurants and bars. That will be the highstreet of the future, a place to socialise, get fed and watered :)
Quote from: Gandalf;365072We're already seeing a shift in our town from retail premises to coffee shops, restaurants and bars. That will be the highstreet of the future, a place to socialise, get fed and watered :)
And you like it
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Quote from: Gandalf;365072We're already seeing a shift in our town from retail premises to coffee shops, restaurants and bars. That will be the highstreet of the future, a place to socialise, get fed and watered :)
I was writing a detailed response to how I think the town centre would have to change in the future. I wasn't happy with how I'd put it so didn't post it in the end, but this summarises it nicely. The town centre will be an entertainment centre. Food, drink & activity centre. Out of town for shopping of things you need to see in person and internet for things cheap and quick and easy. If you can have next day delivery and get stuff delivered to your house when you're out safely there's not really a down side to online. So as long as your house is fitted with a secure delivery point (or a nearby business is willing to accept deliveries for you - for a small enough fee) then online will dominate everything.
Summary:
Town Centre: Entertainment Hub. A goldmine for dating hotspots etc.
Out of town retail: Shopping Hub. A location for checking out goods that need a hands on. (especially clothing)
Online: Everything else.
I'm fairly sure that in 10 years time Cambridge city centre will be one, gigantic John Lewis. A terrifying vision of the future.
I do have to disagree with the town centre theory, at least not for all town centre's, as I believe it will be partially based upon location as well, I for one live not far from Dewsbury in west yorkshire and for lack of description the town centre is a dump, littered with dis-used shops and a stain of a reputation, in part due to being surrounded by some pretty rough council estates, and with a drug's trade like I have not seen in such a small community, this town for one I would not open any sort of entertainment or restraunt venue.
I am assuming the town centre theory also doesn't apply to large economic city's for example Leeds and Manchester possess both qualities of shopping hub's and at night Entertainment hub's due to there economic growth and popularity for there variety of comedy, music, film and free art's venues.
Not surpised the high street is going down the pan I do all my shopping online bar food shopping.
where do you food shop? mines become a combination of farm shop's and supermarkets, depending on the farmers near you ya can save a pretty penny, plus lets you just buy what you need so you dont have extra :D
Blockbuster has been 'saved':
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/24/blockbuster-uk-purchased-keeps-staff-and-stores-afloat/
Good news. Some happy people going to work tomorrow.