DOOM: Thorntons

[eek]

Coming soon, 61 new Pret/Starbucks locations.
It must have been a very hard business even pre-Covid. Just go to Tesco.

60 - the Thorntons in Darlo isn't big enough for a starbucks.

[vetran]

Exactly. The high street is dead. The sooner companies come to terms with that, the better. Supermarkets and women's clothes shops and perhaps a few speciality food shops. Anything else that isn't better served online?

No high streets will become destinations. You see food and entertainment venues developing. Most of our local towns & villages have filled with masses of restaurants.

Now shops that don't realise that not being interesting or very convenient compared to the internet will fold.

Most of the department stores were pretty empty of a Saturday, if I went into town I would rarely hit Debenhams or M&S apparently no one else did either.

[Mordac]

Once Hotel Chocolat opened, Thornton's days were numbered.

You beat me to it. Hotel Chocolat deserve to be in the premium price point, and Thornton's barely compete with some Supermarket own-brand products on quality.

[Mordac]

Made a fortune out of reselling Thorntons this Mothers Day and ready for Easter for more on Amazon. Mwahahahahahahahaaaaa!

You have a warehouse full of chocolate ready for the Easter rush? Don't worry, the Borrowers WILL find it...

[d000hg]

Exactly. The high street is dead. The sooner companies come to terms with that, the better. Supermarkets and women's clothes shops and perhaps a few speciality food shops. Anything else that isn't better served online?

I wouldn't go that far. There is a place for an independent/interesting chocolatier but not for a shop just selling the same stuff they sell in the supermarket. It's like Whittards compared to PG Tips launching a store.

[SueEllen]

No high streets will become destinations. You see food and entertainment venues developing. Most of our local towns & villages have filled with masses of restaurants.

Now shops that don't realise that not being interesting or very convenient compared to the internet will fold.

Most of the department stores were pretty empty of a Saturday, if I went into town I would rarely hit Debenhams or M&S apparently no one else did either.

M&S in my local area is very busy. It is busier than the Sainsburys a few doors down from it as it is food hall is busy. It's like people visit the foodhall then remember they need to get a few items of clothing so go and have a look.

[mattster]

No high streets will become destinations. You see food and entertainment venues developing. Most of our local towns & villages have filled with masses of restaurants.

Now shops that don't realise that not being interesting or very convenient compared to the internet will fold.

Most of the department stores were pretty empty of a Saturday, if I went into town I would rarely hit Debenhams or M&S apparently no one else did either.

Maybe - we'll see. I'd love to see a return of decent, independent shops but I struggle to see how they will make it work financially when competing against online, with the overheads of bricks and mortar. Convenience and price win in the end for most consumers, so the "product" is going to have to be pretty compelling to get people traipsing in. Our local high street is turning more to betting shops, charity shops and pound shops. I really wish we had an influx of masses of restaurants, because those that we do have are generally pretty poor.

[d000hg]

We're already seeing a rise in independents. A lot come and go, many seem to close almost immediately but some do gain traction. Coffeeshops, delis, micropubs - definitely a lean towards hospitality but also places like weigh-shops, eco/vegan stuff, bottle-shops.

However these guys are never going to be making the big bucks which raises big issues with business rates.

[vetran]

M&S in my local area is very busy. It is busier than the Sainsburys a few doors down from it as it is food hall is busy. It's like people visit the foodhall then remember they need to get a few items of clothing so go and have a look.

Who buys M&S clothes, they used be the place to get a decent cheap suit 30 years ago but they went downhill. Decent gents socks etc again gone cheap and nasty better in primark. MIL used be an avid M&S fan now there is nothing there she likes, its Next & Boutiques for her. Same for

The food court as you say is busy but if they don't change the clothes section they are going to become just food.

[SueEllen]

Who buys M&S clothes, they used be the place to get a decent cheap suit 30 years ago but they went downhill. Decent gents socks etc again gone cheap and nasty better in primark. MIL used be an avid M&S fan now there is nothing there she likes, its Next & Boutiques for her. Same for

The food court as you say is busy but if they don't change the clothes section they are going to become just food.

Primark is closed and doesn't have an online presence.

If you want clothing or presents and can't them online then you have to get it from a shop that is open.

M&S is open because it has a food hall and also sells some of this stuff.