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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
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    Do you think Chapel Street M and S is at threat?

    https://www.theguardian.com/business...store-closures

    I'm only giving the Colchester one 50:50 and its always busier than i have ever seen the Southport store....
    Last edited by Albion102; 20/05/2018 at 08:38 PM.





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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    'Manchester Hills'
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    Hope not Southport has very few good stores left.

    I use 3 branches in my area on a regular basis.
    All miles apart.

    I would rather lose the Prestwich Branch than Bury or Rawtenstall.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Tiny, Ontario, Canada
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    Thread title edited to remove "&'" ... to keep the stupid Sucuri firewall happy!

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
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    Colchester
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    As the years pile on, I find M&S ever more useful. I was not a particularly frequent visitor when I lived in Southport.

    However I hate it that every time I return more shops have closed and losing M&S would be disastrous.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
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    Quote Originally Posted by Albion102 View Post
    As the years pile on, I find M&S ever more useful. I was not a particularly frequent visitor when I lived in Southport.

    However I hate it that every time I return more shops have closed and losing M&S would be disastrous.
    haha know that feeling!for me thank gawd for easy waistbands aka peter Christian keks.but yep the big players are jumping ship ,not just here in southport .theres a few left to go yet here though!sadly those small estabishments have been hanging in out of dedication ,and lifestyle model of buissness .but I feel town centers will become more small specialised and customer usefull in the future days ,just hope theres enough of us left with yhe energy and support to meet the need! branded goods can be bought at any purchase point the net or store.cant get why people these days will pay for a hyped up name logo,than for a superior non branded item costing less from dedicated and committed producers of their products.bit like the emporers new clothes scenario has taken over the phsychy of the consumer these days.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
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    Quote Originally Posted by jamyramy View Post
    haha know that feeling!for me thank gawd for easy waistbands aka peter Christian keks.but yep the big players are jumping ship ,not just here in southport .theres a few left to go yet here though!sadly those small estabishments have been hanging in out of dedication ,and lifestyle model of buissness .but I feel town centers will become more small specialised and customer usefull in the future days ,just hope theres enough of us left with yhe energy and support to meet the need! branded goods can be bought at any purchase point the net or store.cant get why people these days will pay for a hyped up name logo,than for a superior non branded item costing less from dedicated and committed producers of their products.bit like the emporers new clothes scenario has taken over the phsychy of the consumer these days.
    M & S is heaving when they go around reducing the food which I believe they do every day. When I called in one day around 4.30pm -I thought the store was very popular - then I noticed a large group following an assistant around who was reducing some of the foods.
    Large stores are becoming outdated now, it is far more preferable to walk into a shop, speak to an assistant at the counter to inquire as to what you are looking for - without having to walk up and down large stores, trying to find an assistant - only to discover they do not have what you want. Large stores carry repeated lines of clothing - so typically you could find your neighbour wearing the same clothing - whereas smaller shops carry individual items that are not repeated, and generally carry all sizes in those lines. Half a dozen individual fashion shops are far better than one sprawling store - at a glance at the window display, one can tell if the shop is likely to have what you are looking for in style and quality.
    Unfortunately, the larger chain stores have left a legacy that small shops are struggling to compete with. The large stores have been able to pay higher rates all over the UK due to the ability for their more profitable stores to support weaker stores. The business rates have been set in accordance with the chain stores in relation to the trading space of the shop and its location. The business rates should be set now in accordance with footfall. The more people attracted to any town, would mean an increase in business rates, which would be a much fairer way of setting these rates.
    M & S clothing has reduced in quality - more's the shame. Many Men's lines in Asda's clothing is equal to that of M & S, but at a fraction of the price, yet I would be happy to pay for good quality items. If M & S are to survive - they need to open separate smaller fashion shops, carrying good quality clothing with consideration for colour and style. They should open separate Supermarkets for their foods. These are generally more expensive than other supermarkets, but people will pay more for good products.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    It's mostly to do with driving down costs, stores doing badly are are putting pressure on the landlords to reduce rents and now the big boys are jumping on the bandwagon, it is a race to the bottom!

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Over the hills and far away.
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    Quote Originally Posted by said View Post
    Large stores carry repeated lines of clothing - so typically you could find your neighbour wearing the same clothing - whereas smaller shops carry individual items that are not repeated, and generally carry all sizes in those lines. Half a dozen individual fashion shops are far better than one sprawling store - at a glance at the window display, one can tell if the shop is likely to have what you are looking for in style and quality.
    Smaller shops are usually vastly more expensive and won't carry the same range of sizes as a larger store.

    M&S is usually packed at weekends. Not sure how many are actually buying, but the footfall is certainly there. The food and cafe do really well, so I wouldn't be surprised if they trim the place down rather than closing. Perhaps close the area towards the station and extend the food.

    I agree the quality of clothing has diminished. Not quite the polyester plastic feel of Matalan or Primani, but definitely not up to the standard of previous years.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    'Manchester Hills'
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    I choose to visit a certain branch by the ease of parking if making a special trip.

    Don't buy the clothes my waistline prefers TKMAXX continental sizes.

    If working and on foot the town centre branch of Bury is popular with lunchtime workers.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
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    Quote Originally Posted by said View Post
    The business rates should be set now in accordance with footfall. The more people attracted to any town, would mean an increase in business rates, which would be a much fairer way of setting these rates.
    .
    And how would that work?
    How would you accurately measure footfall?
    Southport attracts huge numbers of visitors for reasons other than shopping which could mean an increase in rates for shops who aren't necessarily getting any of that footfall?
    Or do you plan to count the number of people going in an out of the shops?

  12. #11
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ainsdale on Sea
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    How would you accurately measure footfall?
    Apparently it can be done, how accurate it is, is anybody's guess, but the Southport BID team PAY an outside firm for Southports alleged footfall and claim a great success in its increase since their involvement!

    There again, we all know you make up numbers to suit your cause :-)

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    It's a massive store only busy in the food hall.
    I cut through to get to work or go to the railway station.
    Devil in disguise,

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
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    Quote Originally Posted by salus.populi View Post
    And how would that work?
    How would you accurately measure footfall?
    Southport attracts huge numbers of visitors for reasons other than shopping which could mean an increase in rates for shops who aren't necessarily getting any of that footfall?
    Or do you plan to count the number of people going in an out of the shops?
    Annual Tax Returns??

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
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    Quote Originally Posted by *concerned* View Post
    Apparently it can be done, how accurate it is, is anybody's guess, but the Southport BID team PAY an outside firm for Southports alleged footfall and claim a great success in its increase since their involvement!

    There again, we all know you make up numbers to suit your cause :-)
    They would do! I bet that outside agency are not volunteers!

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
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    Quote Originally Posted by said View Post
    Annual Tax Returns??
    Ok fair enough, but that's not footfall.
    Basing rates on businesses' income seems to make more sense, though many businesses are very creative at hiding their profits to reduce their tax bill. So not only would they be lowering their tax bill they'd be lowering the rates they pay as well. So public services become even more starved of funding.

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