Another Two - More To Come No Doubt

[Bazile]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43223175

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43225248

Maplin and Toys R Us - Gone Under ( Unless They can be rescued )

[New Judge]

"All this bad news and we ain't even left the EU ,yet, OMG."

And what, pray tell, is the failure of these two companies (one a subsidiary of an American outfit that has been struggling for some time) anything to do with the UK leaving the EU?

[EDDIE51]

Tuvok ,same for my town center. 5 charity shops ( who pay just 20% of the business rates) 7 hairdressers, 2 nail parlours , 5 coffee shops, 2 tattoo parlours. 2 vaping retailers, 4 funeral directors, 5 estate agents. 2 florists .
But the only food seller is a very small Morrisons . Everyone shops at the Tesco Extra 1 & 1/4 miles outside the town center.

[Jackdaw33]

Same here. We only have a tiny little Sainsbury's and an Iceland since the Co-op closed down 6 months ago, and with it went the Post Office.

[gulliver1]

As previously mentioned on this post , it's all due to the weaker pound since the Brexit vote , and there is much more to come.

[New Judge]

Yes but what has the weaker pound (whether caused by Brexit or not) to do with the collapse of these two (particularly Toys R Us)?

[youngmafbog]

You do spout some rubbish Gulliver, are you still at school and not done economics yet or did you simply fall asleep in it ?

Another reason for the fall of the High Street is the exorbitant parking fees. Add this to exorbitant business rates and stores are struggling before they start. We had one once, gave it up because rent and rates were starting to take more than we did. However Maplin and TRU would not, in the main, have been affected by this.

It's interesting to see reactions about Toys R Us around. Does anyone remember when they were the bad boys closing down small toy shops who could not compete with their bulk buying.

Another point on Amazon. Much is made about Amazon tax etc but Amazon is a market place (effectively fixed price EBay) where smaller companies (and some larger) can peddle their wares. And they do pay tax.

[Garaman]

What is odd, is folk complaining about shops they didn't use closing down. People get the high street that their shopping habits demand.

I only really see the West End which is booming like never before, and that isn't just down to tourist.

[gulliver1]

BOG 08.33. So sorry that my answers upset you so much, No I am not still at school , but it does seem like you are still in the Playground.

[youngmafbog]

Really Gulliver?

[Togo]

Looks like Carpetright will go to the wall.

[gulliver1]

ITs looking that bad that even the Tories could go to the wall.

[steg]

///It’s nothing to do with the weaker pound. A weaker pound should encourage foreign visitors to spend their money here. I’m not say Maplins is lying. I’m suggesting they are stretching the truth///

I’ve had “foreign visitors” ask me directions for most places in and around perth area , but never directions to maplin. I’m guessing that maplin isn’t on the top of most“foreign visitors” list of places to visit

[Buenchico]

New Look and House of Fraser will probably be among the next to go, as they've both been seeking emergency financial support recently.

[Old_Geezer]

Weaker pound is a clear nonsense. Unless customers are ordering from abroad, the same items will raise or fall in price the same throughout the UK. What rival was getting the national market instead ? Clearly just anti-Brexit propaganda.

Unless my memory fails me, I came across Maplin as a mail order company (one that managed to convince potential customers to BUY their catalogue) for years before they had a local shop. So they must've be capable of Net trade, so one wonders what the real issue was.

[EDDIE51]

Just a point to AOG, Toys R Us had a huge selection of video games entire sections were devoted to them.
However as said, you could buy the same video games much cheaper online. People used to go to Toys R Us to try out the games, as they had them all available as demonstrations . Then go and actually buy them online.

[Ryzen]

Booth the chemist.......watch this space!

[Ryzen]

..sorry Boots

[jordyboy14]

I am really surprised that pets rus is still going as the prices are ridiculous

[Kromovaracun]

A weaker pound also has a clear effect on any business which relies on importing products or materials... which Maplin clearly does, as they've said it's a big factor.

[Jackdaw33]

As a child we always used Boot's but not any more. From being value for money they are now the dearest chemists on the High Street.