Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Politics & Current Affairs => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on January 25, 2021, 11:47:00 AM

Title: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Nearly Sane on January 25, 2021, 11:47:00 AM
Debenhams' shops are big pieces of real estate for someone to pick up - the Littlewoods shop in Glasgow is still empty, and there a lot of empty shops even before Covid

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55793411
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Steve H on January 25, 2021, 11:54:58 AM
Shit! We've got a big Debenhams in Hemel Hempstead!
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Nearly Sane on January 25, 2021, 12:21:00 PM
Shit! We've got a big Debenhams in Hemel Hempstead!
What is the high street like in terms of empty properties there?
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Harrowby Hall on January 25, 2021, 06:08:57 PM
How interested is any retailer going to be in a department store? Acres of expensive floorspace every square foot of which must generate income. I think that anyone with shares in a property owning company must expect thin dividends now ...
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Nearly Sane on January 25, 2021, 06:35:34 PM
How interested is any retailer going to be in a department store? Acres of expensive floorspace every square foot of which must generate income. I think that anyone with shares in a property owning company must expect thin dividends now ...
I suspect rather like Jenner's which Edinburgh is losing some buildings might suit conversion to hotels but they will be few.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55796806
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Steve H on January 25, 2021, 10:45:58 PM
What is the high street like in terms of empty properties there?
Not too bad, I don't think.
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Nearly Sane on February 01, 2021, 06:15:28 PM

Asos buys   Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands brands - more retail job losses and empty shops


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55884596
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: jeremyp on February 02, 2021, 08:45:34 AM
Shit! We've got a big Debenhams in Hemel Hempstead!
No you haven't.

Unfortunately.
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Roses on February 02, 2021, 02:39:19 PM
As the pandemic doesn't show any signs of losing its grip on the world anytime soon, I suspect many more shops will be offering on-line shopping only.
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Outrider on February 03, 2021, 09:07:22 AM
As the pandemic doesn't show any signs of losing its grip on the world anytime soon, I suspect many more shops will be offering on-line shopping only.

The pandemic might hasten the exodus, but it's commercial pressures that are seeing the shift to on-line stores.  It used to be that we had local shops, then out of town commercial shopping areas eked out an economy of scale and saw the larger shops move out to those - cue calls of 'death of the high street' - and charity shops and cafes moved in.  Now Amazon and the like are showing a business model that makes another economic benefit, and enough people are willing to work within those confines and restrictions that it's commercially viable and undercuts the bricks-and-mortar business model.

Unless you have a product or service that needs face-to-face contact, the future seems to be on-line.

O.
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Steve H on February 03, 2021, 09:10:09 AM
As the pandemic doesn't show any signs of losing its grip on the world anytime soon, I suspect many more shops will be offering on-line shopping only.
The vaccines are being administered world-wide, so we're quite likely to be back to something approaching normal within a few months. The trend to online shopping was proceeding apace before Covid, and will continue to do so.
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Nearly Sane on February 03, 2021, 09:24:21 AM
The vaccines are being administered world-wide, so we're quite likely to be back to something approaching normal within a few months. The trend to online shopping was proceeding apace before Covid, and will continue to do so.
True, but as with many things, e.g. homeworking, Covid has added impetus to this. There's going to be a lot empty real estate on the high street, and that's going to make it less enticing for people to go to it.
Title: Re: Boohoo buys Debenhams brand but all shops to close
Post by: Roses on February 03, 2021, 10:36:29 AM
The vaccines are being administered world-wide, so we're quite likely to be back to something approaching normal within a few months. The trend to online shopping was proceeding apace before Covid, and will continue to do so.

I agree that shopping on-line is the way it will continue to be done. I do most of my clothes shopping on-line.