Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

johntea · 9 Feb 2020

Steddenm said:
Also, Didn't realise that Poundworld were back as One Below.

Not quite, the original gaffer of Poundworld (Chris Edwards) sold up around 2015 and the new owners basically wrecked the entire operation (it went from being a pound store to a fairly poor discount store compared to the likes of Home Bargains / B&M) and it went bust

Chris then got took on by Poundstretcher for a bit but that relationship didn't work out too well as they basically refused to listen to any of his ideas, there was a Channel 4 documentary about it which I'm surprised ever got to air considering what a bad light it showed Poundstretcher in!

Then he got bored of retirement and OneBelow was born with all items apparently £1 or under, fun fact if you go to the one at Bradford Forster Square I believe that is now the UK's largest pound shop!

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Ashley Hill · 9 Feb 2020

Newton Abbot has Tesco,Sainsburys,Asda,Lidl and the contravertial Aldi while Paignton has the same except minus Tesco and add Morrisons. Poor nearby Totnes only has a Morrisons which reaps the financial benefits of its monopoly.
The NA Aldi in case your wondering is contravertial because it is built on the site of the GWR C&W works. When Aldi applied to demolish it several groups campaigned to save the building. It then burnt down! Within weeks work started on erecting Aldi.

krus_aragon · 10 Feb 2020

tbtc said:
As well as noticing that the balance of shop floor has been tipped more in favour of "games" and "hardware", there's also no longer a "children's" section of DVDs - maybe because there's less of a distinction nowadays and so many things (e.g. superheroes) targeted at both kids and adults (so no stigma)?

I suspect the children's section is more affected by the trend toward streaming: a lot of youngsters these days watch little live TV these days, much of it is streamed from youtibe, iplayer, etc. Given that, what market is there for selling them DVDs?

dgl · 10 Feb 2020

We have all the major supermarkets within ~15mi, having 2 Lidl's, 2 Aldi's (the one in the center of Weymouth due to be replaced by a bigger Aldi ~1mi up the road), 2 Iceland's, 2 Tesco's, 1 ASDA, 2 Waitrose's, a Sainsburys and a Morrisons.

In terms of store layout all but the ASDA are pretty much the same with the ASDA having a mezzanine floor added making the bottom quite claustrophobic.
In terms of the actual shopping experience I think Morrisons wins that one easily, with it's range of counters, good meal deal that includes the DIY salad bar (the price of which having gone back to £3), a bakery that actually makes some stuff from scratch (the label on the baked good telling you whether it was either made from scratch or just baked in store), and the best café of all supermarkets which has to be one of the best deals going food wise with a main, drink and pudding for £7.50 after 3pm, and currently 3 sausages, egg, chips and beans for £2.80!

My local store (since November) is a Lidl and for what I need it's fine, it's a nice 15min walk past the Quay and it's light and airy when you do go in, the surprise isle can have some great things and gives you all teh more reason to visit to see what's new. The vegetable pizza slices are the bomb!

One thing I do like is when you compare the Dorchester Tesco to the Dorchester Waitrose the Tesco is much grander/posher externally, it's certinaly no quick to build metal shell type building and has not only pagodas on the walking route through the car park but fountains as you drive in as well. Supposedly Prince Charles had a hand in the design.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.7...4!1sDsjW2Czsfoatx0uB6gb2kw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

ainsworth74 · 10 Feb 2020

tbtc said:
I'm wondering about takeaway delivery companies - is there really a market out there for as many as we currently have?

On a similar vein I've been wondering about vape shops. There seem to about a dozen (an exaggeration but not by much!) in Middlesbrough town centre and that seems to be a pattern repeated across the UK. Surely there isn't actually enough demand for that many shops?

Dai Corner · 10 Feb 2020

ainsworth74 said:
On a similar vein I've been wondering about vape shops. There seem to about a dozen (an exaggeration but not by much!) in Middlesbrough town centre and that seems to be a pattern repeated across the UK. Surely there isn't actually enough demand for that many shops?

I've wondered too, especially as there don't seem to be that many vapers about. There weren't a similar number of standalone tobacconists shops as far as I remember. Perhaps it's not only vaping supplies they sell?

D365 · 10 Feb 2020

Dai Corner said:
Perhaps it's not only vaping supplies they sell?

The "fad" phase of vaping has definitely been and gone, thank god. In Sheffield there are a number of vaping shops that also do tech repairs for some reason...

d9009alycidon · 10 Feb 2020

Dai Corner said:
I've wondered too, especially as there don't seem to be that many vapers about. There weren't a similar number of standalone tobacconists shops as far as I remember. Perhaps it's not only vaping supplies they sell?

Sometimes these shops are used as a front for criminal activities such as money laundering (allegedly). I was told that it was the reason for the huge number of tanning salons for a good while but they have moved on the vape shops

Meerkat · 10 Feb 2020

d9009alycidon said:
Sometimes these shops are used as a front for criminal activities such as money laundering (allegedly). I was told that it was the reason for the huge number of tanning salons for a good while but they have moved on the vape shops

That was my first thought!
Takeaways, barbers/salons, nail bars, vape shops - all cash rich businesses though vape shops have a physical product (much easier for the police/taxman to prove they didn’t sell X refills than it is to prove 200 people didn’t have haircuts....)

richw · 10 Feb 2020

Meerkat said:
That was my first thought!
Takeaways, barbers/salons, nail bars, vape shops - all cash rich businesses though vape shops have a physical product (much easier for the police/taxman to prove they didn’t sell X refills than it is to prove 200 people didn’t have haircuts....)

a lot make their own flavours etc, but still guessing quantities must match

route101 · 10 Feb 2020

d9009alycidon said:
Sometimes these shops are used as a front for criminal activities such as money laundering (allegedly). I was told that it was the reason for the huge number of tanning salons for a good while but they have moved on the vape shops

Is that the case with certain newsagents too , ones that have limited stock on shelves ive been told .

underbank · 10 Feb 2020

d9009alycidon said:
Sometimes these shops are used as a front for criminal activities such as money laundering (allegedly). I was told that it was the reason for the huge number of tanning salons for a good while but they have moved on the vape shops

Also laundrettes, amusement arcades, and even small pie/sandwich shops - as said by someone else - basically any "cash" business, particularly ones that never seem to be busy. HMRC are usually interested in businesses where sales/profits appear too low - they're not bothered about those which look to be doing OK, average turnover, average margins/ratios, etc. There was a small sandwich/cake shop in our town that never seemed to have many customers and barely any stock to sell - after a few years, it was in the local paper that the owners had been locked up for drug dealing and using the shop as a front.

DaleCooper · 10 Feb 2020

I'm picking up some good tips from this thread, now all I need is some dodgy cash to launder.

TrainBoy98 · 10 Feb 2020

dgl said:
Beales now have a list of 12 stores that are defiantly closing, after not being able to sell the business as a going concern, with the others staying open with the hope that they find a buyer for what's left.
One surprise is that Bournemouth is in the list given that's where it all started and where it is run from. One thing that MAY save Bournemouth is the plan to convert the upper floors into flats, not only bringing in some much needed cash but I believe it should also reduce their business rates due to the lowing of floor space, which are currently over £400,000 a year.

The ones that will close in ~8 weeks are, Bournemouth, Hexham, Worthing, Tonbridge, Peterborough, Mansfield, Keighley, Perth, Spalding, Wisbech, Bedford and Yeovil.

Oddly, the Worthing one has just been downsized in the way that you're talking about Bournemouth.

Upstairs being closed and converted to flats, and then part of the large ground floor has been turned into smaller standalone shops and rented out. Clearly hasn't worked here as it's still closing ‍♂️

krus_aragon · 11 Feb 2020

DaleCooper said:
I'm picking up some good tips from this thread, now all I need is some dodgy cash to launder.

Make sure you use the new polymer notes, they don't fall apart in the wash.

R G NOW. · 11 Feb 2020

One thing to note is in Gloucester we also had a surge of vaping shops all over the city. Now many seem to have disappeared lately.

Techniquest · 11 Feb 2020

R G NOW. said:
One thing to note is in Gloucester we also had a surge of vaping shops all over the city. Now many seem to have disappeared lately.

Hereford's not long had another one open, we've got so many of them now it's incredible how any of them make money. If I don't go for a day out tomorrow, as is likely to be the case, then I'll have to go and count the vape shops just out of interest.

Considering much of the city still puffs away like chimneys on cigarettes, packet or roll-your-own, there seems to be little need for a vape shop. Mind you I think one of them did close, got replaced with a salon I think.

We even recently-ish got a small casino near the city centre McDonalds, which I really don't understand the need for here. I certainly haven't been aware of any desire to have one open!

Bring on the end of vape shops, and let's accelerate the process of people actually giving up smoking properly...

ComUtoR · 11 Feb 2020

Air Italy is going into Liquidation

Quote from Forbes.com

The investors behind Air Italy, Qatar Airways and the Aga Khan, have announced the end of the airline, a two-year venture that was launched with much fanfare, colorful rebranding, and high hopes, but was unable to overcome the harsh realities of a complex market. In Italy, it seems, only Alitalia can afford to fly bankrupt.

R G NOW. · 11 Feb 2020

Techniquest said:
Hereford's not long had another one open, we've got so many of them now it's incredible how any of them make money. If I don't go for a day out tomorrow, as is likely to be the case, then I'll have to go and count the vape shops just out of interest.

Considering much of the city still puffs away like chimneys on cigarettes, packet or roll-your-own, there seems to be little need for a vape shop. Mind you I think one of them did close, got replaced with a salon I think.

We even recently-ish got a small casino near the city centre McDonalds, which I really don't understand the need for here. I certainly haven't been aware of any desire to have one open!

Bring on the end of vape shops, and let's accelerate the process of people actually giving up smoking properly...

Perhaps business rates in Hereford are cheap and they manage to make a living.

Kite159 · 11 Feb 2020

Techniquest said:
Hereford's not long had another one open, we've got so many of them now it's incredible how any of them make money. If I don't go for a day out tomorrow, as is likely to be the case, then I'll have to go and count the vape shops just out of interest.

Considering much of the city still puffs away like chimneys on cigarettes, packet or roll-your-own, there seems to be little need for a vape shop. Mind you I think one of them did close, got replaced with a salon I think.

We even recently-ish got a small casino near the city centre McDonalds, which I really don't understand the need for here. I certainly haven't been aware of any desire to have one open!

Bring on the end of vape shops, and let's accelerate the process of people actually giving up smoking properly...

Andover is the same with vape shops popping up in the shopping centre, lasting for 6 months before closing (and reopening under a different name in another unit, due to getting some money back/rebate from the council for using long term empty units).

Before the Vape shops it was mobile phone accessory shops (£10 for a cheap case you could pick up for a couple quid from Amazon) & bag shops (the sort which would break after a couple uses)

Bobdogs · 12 Feb 2020

In Carmarthen there are 2 vape shops.
When I walk past, they rarely have any customers. At the one, the owner (I presume) is nearly always stood outside smoking a rolly.
The other business that I don't understand how they survive are those that are in reasonable sized retail units with hundreds of phone cases etc displayed on the walls. Never many customers in there either.
Nearby,outside a small town about 15 miles from Swansea there is a car dealership with at least 100 nearly new used cars on the huge forecourt half the size of a football pitch. How do they survive? How do they finance the vehicles which turned up overnight after this brand new showroom and workshop was built. The surrounding area is more green fields and few chimneys.

61653 HTAFC · 12 Feb 2020

cactustwirly said:
Lidl have an instore bakery, and is actually better than other supermarkets offerings, as the bread is actually properly cooked, and everything is freshly baked.
Ok they probably have the dough pre made and brought in frozen, but I' guessing this is the same across all of the supermarkets.

Best thing about the Lidl bakery? If you go in when it's not too busy and they don't have the item you want in the bakery trays, they'll make it for you there and then. Nothing quite like a freshly baked, still warm from the oven pretzel!

DavidGrain · 12 Feb 2020

Ashley Hill said:
When all these big high street names started closing I was surprised how many of them didn't own the buildings they occupied even though they had been there for decades.

The problem is most of the stores have been through the hands of asset-strippers who get control, sell off the property and lease it back, then take the cash and sell on the business.

PG · 12 Feb 2020

Bobdogs said:
In Carmarthen there are 2 vape shops.
When I walk past, they rarely have any customers. At the one, the owner (I presume) is nearly always stood outside smoking a rolly.
The other business that I don't understand how they survive are those that are in reasonable sized retail units with hundreds of phone cases etc displayed on the walls. Never many customers in there either.
Nearby,outside a small town about 15 miles from Swansea there is a car dealership with at least 100 nearly new used cars on the huge forecourt half the size of a football pitch. How do they survive? How do they finance the vehicles which turned up overnight after this brand new showroom and workshop was built. The surrounding area is more green fields and few chimneys.

I wonder what the next trend will be to replace the plethora of vape shops?

On your second point I have a relative in the motor trade who informed me that there are firms who rent stock i.e. cars to dealers so they (the dealers) don't actually own the vehicles that are for sale on their forecourt!

richw · 12 Feb 2020

The vape shop here in Liskeard has just been evicted. Shutters down and bailiff notice stuck on the shutters

R G NOW. · 12 Feb 2020

richw said:
The vape shop here in Liskeard has just been evicted. Shutters down and bailiff notice stuck on the shutters

Perhaps they did not pay the rent.

DaleCooper · 12 Feb 2020

richw said:
The vape shop here in Liskeard has just been evicted. Shutters down and bailiff notice stuck on the shutters

Were they smoked out?

PG · 12 Feb 2020

R G NOW. said:
Perhaps they did not pay the rent.

Maybe the washing machine broke down... for laundering money

C J Snarzell · 12 Feb 2020

Vape shops will die out but I do think there will continue to be a smaller market for them.

I use a vape & what I have found in recent months is that I'm using it less & less and not addicted to it. Many people can take it or leave it with E-cigs.

The government are clearly doing everything they can to drive out cigarettes - packets of ten were stopped in 2017 & the next to go is ALL methanol & flavoured cigarettes in May. The next chancellor's budget will also see the annual rise in duty on a packet yet again - 50p or more do reckon?

E-cigs are popular at the moment but the craze will slowly die down as most public places still ban them like they do with cigarettes. Some countries, like Thailand - E-cigs are banned completely!!!

CJ

PG · 12 Feb 2020

C J Snarzell said:
...next to go is ALL methanol & flavoured cigarettes in May.

I'm guessing methanol was probably already banned and its menthol which goes in May, ironically IIRC due to an EU directive now that we are no longer an EU member!

Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

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