Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[lookapigeon]

Hasn't Homebase been on its last legs for a couple of decades? I'm sure it wasn't doing too well when I was at college, goodness knows how's it's kept hanging on for so long

A good description for the state of my local store, went in there trying to find some specific lightbulbs that I would think any DIY place might have, left empty handed, the whole store looked very unkempt and pretty much dying. Plenty of screenwash or paint to be had though (!).

 

[DelW]

I think it depends on location, my local Homebase seems to do okay as it's the only homewares / DIY "big shed" in the area. There's a B&Q and a Screwfix about 5 miles away (but about 20 minutes drive on slow urban roads) while B&M, Home Bargains etc. are about half an hour's drive away.

 

[jon0844]

I think it depends on location, my local Homebase seems to do okay as it's the only homewares / DIY "big shed" in the area. There's a B&Q and a Screwfix about 5 miles away (but about 20 minutes drive on slow urban roads) while B&M, Home Bargains etc. are about half an hour's drive away.

I can't actually say what my local Homebase is like now because I haven't been there in at least five years.

And I used to visit Homebase quite a lot, for various things. I guess the fact I've felt ZERO need to go there of late must be quite telling.

 

[GusB]

I think it depends on location, my local Homebase seems to do okay as it's the only homewares / DIY "big shed" in the area.

My local Homebase disappeared years ago; it had started out as a branch of Texas before being taken over. When it first opened there was an independent DIY store on the other side of town and a traditional "fork 'andles" hardware store in the town centre.

I'm guessing that it was the arrival of B&Q a few yards away that hastened its demise - it's a bigger unit with more space.

These days the town centre hardware store is long gone. Decora, the independent DIY place, is still around and can be quite competitive on price for certain items. It has also recently expanded its cafe, so I assume it's doing well enough. I suppose that was simply no room in the local market for three large-ish retailers in that sector.

I last visited Homebase when the Inverness branch was having its closing down "sale" and it was quite a sorry sight. The staff were totally disinterested; understandable (to an extent) if they were losing their jobs, but I wonder if this was a contributory factor in the first place!

 

[D6130]

These days the town centre hardware store is long gone.

Sorry, this is O/T....but I can't resist mentioning that our local high street hardware shop in Hebden Bridge is called 'Totally Screwed'! Maybe that's what's happening to Homebase?

 

[Bald Rick]

I can't actually say what my local Homebase is like now because I haven't been there in at least five years.

And I used to visit Homebase quite a lot, for various things. I guess the fact I've felt ZERO need to go there of late must be quite telling.

Your local Homebase became a B&M some time ago!
(unless you mean the St Albans one)

 

[jon0844]

Your local Homebase became a B&M some time ago!
(unless you mean the St Albans one)

St Albans, which I always preferred due to easier parking and a better layout. That was also one of the stores that became Bunnings.

I visited Dunelm not so long ago so know it's still there!

 

[Peter Sarf]

Homebase looks like it's going to become history that the Range is reported to be interested in snapping up their stores, probably waiting for the right moment then swoop in. Sainsburys are actually converting a number of Homebase stores into supermarkets.

Homebase cannot compete with the likes of B&Q & Wickes plus Screwfix & Toolstation also B&M and The Range.

My local one got converted into Home Bargains & Food Warehouse and the last remaining Homebase in the area probably will become a B&M or The Range store as Home Bargains is few doors down and a John Lewis homestore is across the road potentially attracting affluent shoppers with their JL/Waitrose bags!

At first I thought I was on a post from five years ago.

I have not seem a Homebase for at least five years but I have read some still exist.

That BBC News was 6 years ago, Bunnings was a disaster! There was a Homebase in my town until around 2015 and that store is now a B&Ms. That store closed before the Wesfarmers mistake.

I don't foresee any future of Homebase stores, I think all stores will be closed in the near future.

Does anyone remember Texas Homecare?

Six years ago makes sense - it is when I started forgetting to go to Homebase. I really thought they had all gone anyway. Texas Homecare was the diy store nearest to me in Croydon. Texas merged with Homebase in the 90s (very roughly) and all the ones I saw were re-branded Homebase. So my nearest diy store was Homebase and I often used to wonder if I was the only person in it !. It has ended up as a much more busy Morrisons.

That was taken over by Homebase wasn't it? There was also Focus DIY at one point.

Focus diy - I seem to recall that was created by WHSmith ?. Long gone as has its near neighbour Payless diy. both my next nearest diy stores on the West side of Croydon.

Hasn't Homebase been on its last legs for a couple of decades? I'm sure it wasn't doing too well when I was at college, goodness knows how's it's kept hanging on for so long

I really thought Homebase was long gone already !.

I can't actually say what my local Homebase is like now because I haven't been there in at least five years.

And I used to visit Homebase quite a lot, for various things. I guess the fact I've felt ZERO need to go there of late must be quite telling.

My nearest Homebase, ex Texas in 1988 is now a Morrisons. The car park is no longer deserted like it was all the way from 1988 to 2010 (rough guess at a date whenever Homebase gave up there).

Like you I ended up not missing Homebase and none of the ones I frequented or passed by are in existence so Homebase must be very very small if it still exists. The Homebase I last visited is now the Range and seems quite useful for the sort of things Homebase ended up selling but it is somehow more inspiring than homebase.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Goodness Texas Home care. That's a blast for my childhood. They always used to have really good in-store advertising promos on there in House music system

 

[Acey]

I still visit Homebase ( Sevenoaks ) regularly ,they still apparently have 145 stores across the UK

 

[david1212]

I think it depends on location, my local Homebase seems to do okay as it's the only homewares / DIY "big shed" in the area. There's a B&Q and a Screwfix about 5 miles away (but about 20 minutes drive on slow urban roads) while B&M, Home Bargains etc. are about half an hour's drive away.

Likewise only Homebase in the local area now so if that closed and not replaced nominally like-for-like it would be a problem.
The Range opened a while ago. I haven't been in but based on other stores paint / DIY range will be limited.
There is both Screwfix and Toolstation which are the ' go to ' for plumbing and electrical fittings but they don't stock paint.
B&Q & Wickes are both ~12 miles away.

 

[dgl]

do it all and Focus DIY were separate companies originally as was Great Mills, Focus DIY acquiring them all.
Going by Wikipedia,
do it all was part of WHSmith and later merged with Payless DIY and became a 50-50 joint venture with Boots until WHSmith sold their stake to Boots for £1.
Focus also owned Wickes at one point and later sold Wickes off for a tidy profit.

Locally we have a B&Q plus both Weymouth (well Chickerell really) and Dorchester have a Toolstation and a Screwfix, so we do quite well, plus pretty much all the major builders merchants and a Brewers decorator shop.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

do it all and Focus DIY were separate companies originally as was Great Mills, Focus DIY acquiring them all.
Going by Wikipedia,
do it all was part of WHSmith and later merged with Payless DIY and became a 50-50 joint venture with Boots until WHSmith sold their stake to Boots for £1.
Focus also owned Wickes at one point and later sold Wickes off for a tidy profit.

Locally we have a B&Q plus both Weymouth (well Chickerell really) and Dorchester have a Toolstation and a Screwfix, so we do quite well, plus pretty much all the major builders merchants and a Brewers decorator shop.

Cheers for the info. Just looked up Atlantic Homecare was Irish and had some stores in the UK and disappeared sometime in the 90's. They & Do It All had stores at the original Wessex Gate park in Poole in the 80s-90s then went when the park had a revamp introducing Curry's PC World, DFS etc at turn of the millennium.

Atlantic seems to have since rebranded into Woodies another Irish DIY chain with stores only in the Republic. Homebase appears to be in trouble over in Ireland too. Maybe we would have had Woodies here if there had been no Focus & Do It All etc but then again Woodies might then decide to pull out of the UK and sell all to Homebase and we likely will see the same situation as now!

 

[Snow1964]

It seems ISG, which was UKs sixth largest construction group entered administration last night

The nation’s sixth-largest building contractor, ISG, has filed for administration, casting uncertainty over scores of projects nationwide
Following months of speculation about the company’s financial future, six UK subsidiaries of the £2.2 billion contracting giant, including its main ISG Construction arm, lodged court applications yesterday afternoon (19 September).
In an email sent to staff last night confirming the administration, ISG chief executive Zoe Price confirmed that offices would be closed, sites would not open and that all subcontractors would be stood down.

Top contractor heads for collapse, leaving doubts over major projects

The nation’s sixth-largest building contractor, ISG, has filed for administration, casting uncertainty over scores of projects nationwide

www.architectsjournal.co.uk

 

[duffield]

It seems ISG, which was UKs sixth largest construction group entered administration last night

Top contractor heads for collapse, leaving doubts over major projects

The nation’s sixth-largest building contractor, ISG, has filed for administration, casting uncertainty over scores of projects nationwide

www.architectsjournal.co.uk

No mention in the article, but I wonder if they were working on any railway projects?

 

[trebor79]

I keep wondering about Burger King. Some of their town and city locations are alright. But they are relatively few and far between compare to McDonald's. About 25 years ago they seemed roughly equal in number of outlets, McDonald's has just gone ballistic.
As I say, BK city locations seem alright. But the wayside ones which are generally a converted Little Chef are awful. Usually a limited menu, very few customers, depressing decor and smelly not very clean toilets. Hardly entices you to visit a city centre one in future.
McDonald's meanwhile you get the same experience whether it's roadside or city centre. Nice decor, modern building, busy, clean toilets, full menu.

A shame really as BK burgers beat Mcdonald's hands down.

As an aside I see McDonald's are opening another 200. We must reach peak McDonald's soon surely? They always seem busy but I think they've lost the plot somewhere. Times past you orders and paid at the counter and had your food, hot, in about 30 seconds.
Now you order at a screen, wait ages whilst it's made to order and somehow they manage to ensure it's stone cold when you get it.
It's not even that cheap anymore.

 

[Dai Corner]

As an aside I see McDonald's are opening another 200. We must reach peak McDonald's soon surely? They always seem busy but I think they've lost the plot somewhere. Times past you orders and paid at the counter and had your food, hot, in about 30 seconds.
Now you order at a screen, wait ages whilst it's made to order and somehow they manage to ensure it's stone cold when you get it.
It's not even that cheap anymore.

I only use them on Mondays, when they send me a special offer via their app. IIRC last week it was a Quarter pounder for £1.49 which I felt was fair value.

 

[route101]

I keep wondering about Burger King. Some of their town and city locations are alright. But they are relatively few and far between compare to McDonald's. About 25 years ago they seemed roughly equal in number of outlets, McDonald's has just gone ballistic.
As I say, BK city locations seem alright. But the wayside ones which are generally a converted Little Chef are awful. Usually a limited menu, very few customers, depressing decor and smelly not very clean toilets. Hardly entices you to visit a city centre one in future.
McDonald's meanwhile you get the same experience whether it's roadside or city centre. Nice decor, modern building, busy, clean toilets, full menu.

A shame really as BK burgers beat Mcdonald's hands down.

As an aside I see McDonald's are opening another 200. We must reach peak McDonald's soon surely? They always seem busy but I think they've lost the plot somewhere. Times past you orders and paid at the counter and had your food, hot, in about 30 seconds.
Now you order at a screen, wait ages whilst it's made to order and somehow they manage to ensure it's stone cold when you get it.
It's not even that cheap anymore.

I think there has been more Burger Kings opening of late. Perhaps there is a new franchise partner. I do find BK hit and miss with service and product. They have opened a few new ones at two local airports to me. When was the last time you saw a McDonalds at a UK airport?
One of the local McDonalds is a Road Chef location and I when I feel like a McDonalds I forgo a normal drive thru one and go to the road chef location as its quieter and better run.

 

[Phil56]

I agree about the awful Burger Kings in old Little Chef outlets. There's one at Skipton which is absolutely awful. Disinterested staff, disgusting toilets, and despite it being very quiet when we last went in, it took over 30 minutes to serve our simple burger and fries meals. There was just a couple of staff shuffling around behind the counter and in the kitchen area seemingly not remotely interested, just chatting away, disappearing and then returning a few minutes later (presumably fag break). And then, after all that, the fries were stone cold!

I've found motorway service station outlets of BK to be pretty good. Usually pretty busy but they seem to actually get on with it, usually pretty quick service and hot (ish) food. We live not too far from Burton services (near Carnforth), and rather go to a "proper" BK in Lancaster or Morecambe, we go the back way (via A6) to Burton services instead. There's also another good one on the M62 near Leeds (I think it's called Hartshead Moor) who we've also found to be good. However, having said that, the Scotch Corner one is absolutely appalling.

But we definitely try to use BK rather than McDonalds these days. Used to like MaccyD's but they've really gone downhill, with slow service, cold food, etc - they've sold their soul to Just Eat and Deliveroo, whose drivers take precedence leaving "normal" customers waiting whilst parts of their order goes cold.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have limited experience of roadside burger kings but the couple at service stations I have used have been excellent and some of the city centre outlets of recent vintage are exceptionally good with a burger offering that offering surpasses a local gastropub, I should of course remind everyone who didn't know that I cannot stand McDonald's food of any kind apart from ice cream, which isn't of their own manufacturing anyway

 

[route101]

Burger King seems have differing pricing across high street, service station and railway stores. There is no saver menu or acceptance of vouchers in the service station and railway station stores.

 

[Ken X]

I think there has been more Burger Kings opening of late. Perhaps there is a new franchise partner. I do find BK hit and miss with service and product. They have opened a few new ones at two local airports to me. When was the last time you saw a McDonalds at a UK airport?
One of the local McDonalds is a Road Chef location and I when I feel like a McDonalds I forgo a normal drive thru one and go to the road chef location as its quieter and better run.

There was a time when Burger King had a creditable go at setting fire to airports at several locations, the one I got involved with was at Heathrow. This was a few years ago now but IIRC they were not popular for some time afterwards.
There was a McDonald's at Gatwick South Terminal exit road when I last visited.

 

[johntea]

There surely must be a tipping point coming soon for fast food chains when I can easily afford a KFC for example but don't bother now when they're exceeding a ten pound note for just a standard 'box meal' at which point I might as well go to the likes of Wetherspoons for a burger, chips and alcoholic drink for around the same price!

The policy these days seems to be 'make the menu expensive then force users to use the app for discounts' a bit like the supermarkets with their loyalty cards pricing

 

[65477]

Using the search thread facility -no one seems to have said Greater Anglia.

 

[brad465]

What are the chances of Temu being shut down in the UK (and other countries)? It's the butt of jokes for being a scam/not what's expected, while the pricing of products on it has that "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is" feeling.

 

[PauloDavesi]

Temu is not as bad as some people claim. Yes, a number of the products are not of the highest quality, but they sella lot of items that work well and are useful,
Their big advantage is the massive range that you can select from allowing low cost impulse purchases from the comfort of home.

 

[skyhigh]

Using the search thread facility -no one seems to have said Greater Anglia.

Why do you think they will disappear soon?

 

[DelW]

Temu is not as bad as some people claim. Yes, a number of the products are not of the highest quality, but they sella lot of items that work well and are useful,
Their big advantage is the massive range that you can select from allowing low cost impulse purchases from the comfort of home.

I wonder what proportion of the stuff Temu sells fails to meet British or European safety standards, electrical regulations, etc? Amazon has been regularly (and rightly) criticised by Which* among others for facilitating the import of unsafe products, but I suspect Temu may be much worse.

*(Unable to provide a link as I read paper copies)

 

[cactustwirly]

I wonder what proportion of the stuff Temu sells fails to meet British or European safety standards, electrical regulations, etc? Amazon has been regularly (and rightly) criticised by Which* among others for facilitating the import of unsafe products, but I suspect Temu may be much worse.

*(Unable to provide a link as I read paper copies)

Probably most of it.
Unfortunately the enforcement of safety legislation is not great in this country.

 

[SteveM70]

Re Temu, it depends what you’re buying. I saw a jacket I liked on a different website for £55, looked on Temu and literally the same thing was £12-something with free postage. Identical down to the lining and the label on the inside.

Arrived within a week and all good.

Would I buy anything electrical from there? No chance