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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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gfloyd wrote: | mark occomore wrote: | I have noticed that there are around 10 empty units where I live who have ceased trading. Some smaller shopping areas could end up being like ghost towns. |
Madness. Ghost Town. We are back to the early 1980s again.
Suggs might increase his royalties. |
It was the specials. Remember the Video with the band members in a car... " Awwww... Its feeling like a ghost town " |
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John W
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, I lived in that ghost town then!
And, amazingly, 1980's the death of some of the old bits of British Leyland (Triumph Spitfire and TR7 plants, Morris Engines) and of Herberts and countless other engineering works, the City of Coventry survived, and they now have one of the lowest unemployment levels. I don't know what work everyone does now, though there are a dozen new business parks on the outskirts, and the two booming universities Warwick and Coventry now employ 1000's.
Maybe like me 1000s of folk got new jobs and had to drive 50 miles round trip to Birmingham
John |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4861 Location: Here, There, Everywhere.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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mark occomore wrote: |
It was the specials. |
_________________ His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west..... |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 11258 Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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and they were driving in a black Vauxhall PA Cresta... _________________ Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! 13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Retailers going bust is traumatic enough. Suppliers or other companies further back in the chain can be even more so.
Zavvi was effectively torpedoed beneath the water line by the demise of Woolworth's wholesale operation.
A major supplier of freshly squeezed orange juice (SunJuice) has succumbed this week, and this may cause a temporary shortage at supermarkets.
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=197025
Time to get that Christmas present juicer out of the loft and buy a few nets of the raw thing. _________________ Ron |
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Ian Robinson Site Admin
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3609 Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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I've known this for a while, but JJB finally admitted they're in trouble today. Should limp on for a little while, and personally I hope they recover - I make toys for them! |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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Tough Ian, would suggest you widen your customer base... soon! |
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Ian Robinson Site Admin
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3609 Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Boy Perkins wrote: | Tough Ian, would suggest you widen your customer base... soon! |
Yeah, we are. We're concentrating on supermarkets now, and I've got a fair number of toys in "major retailers" |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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Ian Robinson wrote: | I've known this for a while, but JJB finally admitted they're in trouble today. Should limp on for a little while, and personally I hope they recover - I make toys for them! |
They been having a massive sale. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Ian Robinson Site Admin
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3609 Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:37 am Post subject: |
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mark occomore wrote: | Ian Robinson wrote: | I've known this for a while, but JJB finally admitted they're in trouble today. Should limp on for a little while, and personally I hope they recover - I make toys for them! |
They been having a massive sale. |
Yes, they've had to have a sale because their warehouses are full. They've taken in no new stock since May. |
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Ian Robinson Site Admin
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3609 Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:47 am Post subject: |
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Hamley's Icelandic owner has applied for bankruptcy - luckily I don't supply them any more! |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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Ian Robinson wrote: | Hamley's Icelandic owner has applied for bankruptcy - luckily I don't supply them any more! |
They are in talks to save the company.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7869342.stm
___________
I could swear, but what the hell is going on |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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I read that Pick n Mix will be available online. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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MadeinSurrey
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3130 Location: The Beautiful South
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: |
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I'm sure it's still prevalent, maybe we frequent higher class establishments now Ron _________________ MiS |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Or just don't notice it any more? |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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One of Woolworth's old stores has been bought by its manager!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1142256/Former-manager-bear-lose-job-Woolies-buys-old-store-reopens--WELLWORTHS.html
I thought the Wellworth name was used by Woolworth's occasionally. I hope she's checked, and registered it, and Wellies.
It may have been profitable before, but a stand-alone store in a popular high street is high rent, and it won't get Woolies supplier terms. Pessimist that I am, I would say if that if Wilkinson's weren't interested in it, it might be tough going.
But good luck to them! _________________ Ron |
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Rachel Guest
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Ron, Dorchester is way to up-market for a Wilkinsons That would never do. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:24 am Post subject: |
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Funny, I always thought Wilkinsons was one rung above Woolies, but then our Woolies was dire. _________________ Ron |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Dorchester is not so very up market... lot of good working class rural folk round there. Should be good for a range of shops, hopefully!
... and not so big that all the multi chains will hog every premises either. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting stuff kids clothing chain Adams who went into Administration has been rescued. Still gives a few quid for PricewaterhouseCoopers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7891292.stm |
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nod
Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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RockitRon wrote: | I thought the Wellworth name was used by Woolworth's occasionally. I hope she's checked, and registered it, and Wellies.
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Wellworth is a store / chain in Northern Ireland isn't it ? |
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Rachel Guest
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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nod wrote: | RockitRon wrote: | I thought the Wellworth name was used by Woolworth's occasionally. I hope she's checked, and registered it, and Wellies.
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Wellworth is a store / chain in Northern Ireland isn't it ? |
Only until 1997 according to wiki-
Sorry BP was just teasing- re "up-market".
Dorchester is just like anywhere else- all sorts of people.
There is a massive range of independant shops in Dorchester; not that many chains at all, and the chains there are, are very small outlets. Mainly, cos the shops are so tiny.
To get on in Dorchester you need to wear a hat. When I first moved here, I noticed lots of people with odd hats, or was it lots of odd people wearing hats. Anyway the thing is, and I've not discovered where it is yet, but I think there is a secret-society in Dorchester, and the wearing of an odd hat, is part of it. In the early days when I didn't have any hats at all - service in the shops was poor- people were cold and distant. Now I have a range of odd hats - I couldn't be more welcome. Some hats are more powerful than others. Black hats seem to have the best effect. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 11258 Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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I love it... sounds like something from the Avengers or The Prisoner!
Be seeing you! _________________ Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! 13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be. |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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The secret hats of Dorchester... I must have a look the next time I pass through!!! |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:04 am Post subject: |
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Update on the Zavvi front:-
The business effectively closes on 20th February, with the closure of 18 more stores, including the old flagship in Oxford Street.
That leaves ten, which have definitely been sold, and three more which are still in negotiation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7897506.stm
We predicted the demise of the business here as soon as Virgin offloaded it. In the end it was very unlucky that it got holed beneath the waterline by the failure of its supplier, Woolworths, but I still think it would have happened, sooner rather than later. _________________ Ron
Last edited by RockitRon on Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:42 am Post subject: |
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Striding back from Sydenham railway station this morning, I noticed the large, To Let notice affixed to the roof of the former hairdressing salon, Indian Red. It's a corner unit at 303, Holywood Road, Belfast. During the sixties it was the premises of T J McCleery, grocer.
Either the hairdresser has re-located to other premises; or they could be another casualty of the current recession. I imagine florists and some hairdressers have been adversely affected by the economic circumstances.
A chip shop has just opened and a hairdresser has closed. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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You forgot to mention the shop selling Norwegian trolls. _________________ Ron
Last edited by RockitRon on Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | The administrators of Stylo, which owns the Barratts and PriceLess chains of shoe shops, is closing 220 stores with the loss of 2,500 jobs. |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7899640.stm |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Close to home, The Tales of Robin Hood, a similar themed venue to the Jorvik Centre in York and seen here - the building on the right
has gone into administration and closed, for the want of £250,000 immediately, which was needed to pay the rent to landlord Tesco, who had decided to double it. The place is 20 years old and did need more spending on it, but the city council declined to help out.
However, plans are afoot for a 100 metre statue of Robin Hood, which will tower over the city (it's twice the height of that horse at Ebbsfleet, and will cost, wait for it, £20 million). And the county council plans to spend over £10 million on a new Robin Hood Visitor Centre in Sherwood Forest.
Recession? What recession? _________________ Ron |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Good grief, hope they don't put one of Little John up alongside!!! |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Not actually in administration, but the only other competition to HMV in Nottingham, the legendary independent record retailer Selectadisc, open since 1966, has decided to call it a day. See thread in the Music Chat
http://www.r2ok.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?p=62271#62271 _________________ Ron |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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I feel a bit like you-know-who, running this thread and keeping a note of all these well known names biting the dust, but anyway, Principles, the women's fashion chain that has a lot of concessions inside Debenhams, is the latest. Debs is finalising a deal to buy the brand and stock, but not the 94 stand-alone stores.
A final look at Zavvi, before HMV removes the signage.
I was slightly surprised they bought it. The site was previously a WH Smith which moved and then closed, and, although it is just 75 yards up from M&S, and there is a Lakeland, which people will always go out of their way for, next door but one, there are a lot of empty shops round about.
_________________ Ron |
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Ron,
As far as I know the Principles' concessions in Debenhams will remain but the stand alone shops will go. I like the brand and feel sorry for the girls in my fairly local store that I got to know quite well over the years.
H _________________ 88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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Boy Perkins
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 128
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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Principles losing their girls is sad but girls without principles is another matter all together... |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Helen May wrote: | Hi Ron,
As far as I know the Principles' concessions in Debenhams will remain but the stand alone shops will go. I like the brand and feel sorry for the girls in my fairly local store that I got to know quite well over the years.
H |
Hello, H
Yes, that seems to be what will happen, and it makes sense.
I must say that, here at least, Debenhams could have made more of the brand. From what I have seen they have some very nice clothes, but the area devoted to it is almost hidden away, at the back of the store; perhaps they'll make more of it as they now own it outright. (For my wife, the other disadvantage is that, usually, it's the last port of call on the route of our shopping trips and she's either loaded and spent up already or so fed up and disenchanted she just wants to get home!) _________________ Ron |
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colby
Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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RockitRon wrote: | From what I have seen they have some very nice clothes, but the area devoted to it is almost hidden away, at the back of the store; perhaps they'll make more of it as they now own it outright. |
I guess it comes down to money. In-store franchisees have to lease their "pitch" according to the value of the floorspace, so that might account for Principles' lack of visibility in some stores (especially the older ones, I would imagine). |
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 4088 Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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I find it hard to believe that a buyer couldn't be found for Principles. I took a stroll round their store in Peterborough the other day and there was a huge range of interesting stuff. I'll be sad to see it go. _________________ Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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