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Whsmith In Talks To Quit

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nicebloke1 | 16:02 Sat 25th Jan 2025 | News
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Looks like WHSimth are in talks to quit the high street, not really a suprise its been on the wobble for some time. But I guess KS government will take the blame? so whos going to throw the first punch at labour?

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Excellent! More vacant shops for Turkish barbers, nail bars, kebab shops and other cash-based money laundering ideas from those willing to throw in with local councillors on the make.

There will be many businesses quitting through Labour's tax plans. When they are gone they won't be coming back. Tough on the redundant staff & less money for the treasury.

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You mean like, the high street has only just started to become empty over the last few weeks. <:0)

I'm surprised WHS didn't disappear years ago. I've not felt the need to enter one of their dismal stores for a very long time.

Link here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7zj8yr5x7o

Sp1814 asked about which High Street companies were likely to fold, way back in 2016.  My list at that time was as follows:
HMV
Mothercare
W H Smith
Debenhams
Carpetright
Little Chef
Clarks Shoes

(Looking at that list, I don't seem to score too badly as a business analyst, it seems!)

Prudie and New Judge also mentioned W H Smith, so it's hardly news that their High Street stores (rather than their travel outlets) are struggling.

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1496066.html

It's hard to see how any other business owner can make much money from operating the former W H Smith stores using a similar business model.  So it might be hard for WHS to find a buyer.  (If I was a potential purchaser though, I might consider switching the model to something closer to that used by Waterstones, concentrating on book sales and possibly including coffee shops within the stores).

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A lot of them also have post offices inside them?

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The list is interesting because it lists expensive shops that have gone under.

https://www.drapersonline.com/news/worse-set-to-come-for-store-closures-in-2025?utm_source=WordPress&utm_medium=Recommendation&amp;utm_campaign=Recommended_Articles

The forecast is for a record number of stores and shops to close in 2025 with the loss of thousand of jobs. They blame the rising costs caused by Reeves budget.  Who else should we blame?

// I've not felt the need to enter one of their dismal stores for a very long time.//

Maybe the stores have been brightened up since your last visit.

And just even more famous High St names going to the wall because of Brexit .What a shame .Britain is slowly but surely losing its identity.

Clarks is still thriving and HMV is enoying a renaissance. 

Debenhams was the shocker for me and I'm disgusted that the name has been bought by a company that has very little understanding of the Trades Descriptions Act and is frankly, rogue.

Shopping habits have changed but I don't think the internet is entirely to blame.  My local home brew has been in business for 30+ years but has grown beyond all expectation because that embraced distance selling.  

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I remember reading somewhere sometime back, a business man, or woman cant remember, saying that the problem with higher managment in most companies haven't a glue how to generate increase profit / growth, but on a yearly basis they are expected to do so.

What do they do? Take the easy option, reduce staff and pile thd extra work load onto the remaining staff. This gives them an instant uplift in profit with the stroke of a pen, their job is now safe until next year.

Lol Doug! I've had my suspicions! 🤣

Still, shame to see W.H.Smith shops closing.

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I believe that there are now 65% of people shopping online, that is very hefty indeed.

Thanks, Buen.  I have seen numerous adverts from Debenhams for airfryers reduced from £300 to £70, obscure brands available elsewhere for around £50. 

>>> "Clarks is still thriving"

I'm glad that you're not my accountant, Barry, if you think that a loss of £25.2m in the most recently-reported financial year is 'thriving'!
 

//ake the easy option, reduce staff and pile thd extra work load onto the remaining staff.//

If that were the case wouldn't productivity be increasing? (It isn't.)

I didn't know that, Buen.  I just notice that Clark's is very busy every time I pass.

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My local Debenhams when sold changed to House of Fraser, its changed again some months back too Fraser's, and thats just the ground floor, the upper floor is now Sports Direct. You really cant work out who owns or runs what anywhere now. What I do see is that this building regardless, is still struggling to attract customers, god knows how they cover the overheads?

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