Peacocks files notice of intention to appoint administrator .....
| Related: | Entertainment & Leisure•Shopping•Other Shopping |
Oh my, just another nail in the death of the high street. The statement reads that 611 Peacocks stores and 394 Bonmarche shops in the UK are now at risk and these shops are everywhere and focal points to most of us. Again the sharp suited administrators come into the scene and earn from this, albeit for a brief time. This only amplifies my thinking that bright, expensive floor space and business rates to match will never survive the shopping revolution as it sinks into deeper recession.
So what are the alternatives? If it's all simply about no money in people's pockets endorsed by crippling business rates, crippling energy costs, greedy commercial landlords and over zealous bureaucracy, should the government create radicial initiatives to stop this rot. If nothing happens, we will all be shopping on line soon ....
Responses (17)
Oh dear what a sad tale Snoopy. Bonmarche is one of my favourite shops as it caters very well for the slightly older ladies with nice modern designs etc. I would be very very sad to see this shop go. On the other hand I'm not keep on Peacocks and rarely see anything I like when I have a quick look.
Oh dear, things must be getting pretty dire when the more 'affordable' stores are going to the wall. I suppose it just means that people on lower incomes can hardly afford any discretionary spending, while the better off can still afford to shop at the more upmarket shops.
I agree with Sabre that I've never seen anything appealing in Peacocks, but I do quite like Bonmarche which, as she says, offers some stylish clothes which are not designed for anorexic teenagers.
Sad. My DIL's like to shop at Peacocks for the children. I quite like Bonmarche for their selection of undies and have one of their loyalty cards.
As Feline says what hope is there if the affordable stores are going to the wall. Not everyone likes to shop online.
I've never shopped there, but it's always worrying when a big chain goes into receivership. Which budget clothes shop next? Primark? TK Maxx?
Yup G-Man we'll all end up wearing fig leaves at this rate.
You've given me an idea, Lillie, I used to have a fig tree in the garden. Perhaps I should get another one and go into business selling the leaves.
Hope you get some large leaves off Feline cos I certainly need more than one !!!
Good idea Feline, make sure there's one for our Snoopy. I'm sure he'll want an XL.
Sabre, all the 'real' women would need more than one!
As you ladies mention XL, I am taking that on the chin but it reminded me of a joke ...
A man enters a costume shop and says to the female clerk, "I'm going to a costume party and I'd like to go as Adam."
The girl goes to the back of the shop and brings the man a fig leaf.
"Oh, that's not big enough," he says, with a chuckle.
The girl brings out a bigger leaf.
"Nope," he says, "still not big enough."
So, the girl brings out a HUGE fig leaf.
"Sorry, but that's still not big enough," he says, with a broad grin.
"Listen, Hot Shot," the girl snaps, "why not just throw it over your shoulder and go as a petrol pump!"
Haaa that's a good un Snoopy. Are you trying to tell us something personal here??
LOL, Snoops - have you got a photo you could upload....?
Ladies, ladies, ladies ... despite how much I love you all, I would kindly request that you refrain from making smutty remarks and innuendos in this manner ... it is very embarrassing.
A bit of town centre free parking would not go amiss to make the High Street more able to compete with the internet! Why so many parking restrictions, also? There seems little encouragement to attempt to travel to a town, but that must help the environment..............
Good point re the car parking greydo. Just cutting the cost in the main car parks would be a start for me.
Good point Lillie! Some town car parks are extortionate!
Town centre parking is £1.40 an hour where I am, no incentive to linger!
We can get a free coach to Hull's City Centre so we avoid all bus fares and enjoy a relaxing ride in a comfy coach, a nice lunch and a look round the shops about once a year.
Unfortunately, expect more well known retail brands to go the same way in this economic "drowning" trend.It is very much the retail survival of the fittest out there.
I've never shopped in Peacocks and never even seen a Bonmarche, but it's heartbreaking to see more high street shops in trouble!
Your point is actually very poignant Fruitcake as ( and knowing that you are an avid supporter of supporting local shops ) that's exactly the problem here, people simply don't go into these shops for a variety of reasons .. they don't like the displays, there is no appeal, they have preconceived ideas about what is for sale or they simply feel they are poor quality or are just not suitable.
I know there is a Bonmarche in Hastings that is always devoid of customers as are the Peacocks stores in Eastbourne and Uckfield, East Sussex. I think a lot of it is 'public perception' that perhaps they are just not good enough or suitable to shop in. Perhaps these stores only have themselves to blame through poor marketing.
Another reason I suspect for this demise is online sales gathering speed and I have met many people who fill their wardrobes from the likes of George at Asda who can have massive displays of great clothing at very reasonable prices.
My mum talked of working in a busy BonMarche store in Gloucester as a young woman, probably in the 1930/40s, but I have no idea if was the same outfit, seems unlikely.
As I have said before I do firmly believe that the high streets are undergoing a metamorphosis and their vibrancy will never return. So sad.
We have a Peacocks in our town, Snoops, I don't shop in it simply because I don't like what it sells. As you say, there are indeed a variety of reasons why people don't shop in a particular store, but that has always been the case from time immemorial.
What I find so disheartening is that so many people bemoan the fact that the local high street shops are disappearing at an alarming rate, but they still won't use them. It really is a case of 'use it or lose it'.
I can't ever see myself buying clothing online, it's hard enough trying to find clothes that fit properly when you can try them on in-store, women's sizing varies enormously between different stores.
But my main concern is that local high streets are so much more than just places to shop, they are the beating heart of a community, particularly in small towns.
My girls love Peacocks, quite trendy clothes at a reasonable price. It's had quite a turnaround in recent years, I always thought it was for the older members of the community, but now it's almost a modern day Chelsea Girl. Not as cheap as Primark but a lot closer for us. Won't miss Bonmarche personally, but its another nail in the coffin for town centre shopping
Peacocks are having an incredible sell off now. £18 items down to £3. Suddenly the styles are not so bad at that price. I know its a bit mercenary taking advantage like this but if you don't others will.
As for parking charges, my current town has a disc system which lets you park free for 2 hours at any designated parking area using a disc/time system. Also they have allowed parking almost everywhere there is no blocking traffic i.e. where the shops are. There are no meters except in the long stay car parks and I have never seen a traffic warden. The system does not seem to be abused.
Wow that's good, my council is obviously more mercenary than yours, and there's a number of private clamping companies about too
What a brilliant idea regarding parking Sealate. A City which has some sense. The cost of parking in our City is so expensive that's why people use the outlets without any costs.
People will be getting some good bargains at Peacocks but at least all the old stock will go. What a shame when another high street shop hits the dust.
70% discounts seem to bring shoppers in! Do you think that people are able to "self-price" articles, setting a maximum they are prepared to pay? That may be why people spend when sale prices bring articles down to the real price and refuse to buy at inflated prices.
I was interested to hear this morning that Primark - another budget retailer - has reported increased profits. I wonder what the difference in their business models is,
I've got to travel over an hour to get to a Primark, but its worth it - its a huge clean light place, whereas Peacocks always feels grubby and overpacked
I think that sums it up, Jazzj.
I like Primark too - some very unusual items where you don't see anywhere else.
On the subject of Primark, where I used to live it was pronounced Preemark, but here its Pr-eye-mark, if that makes sense. I get corrected every time I mention the place!
I pronounce it the same as you do, Jazzj, and so does everybody I know.
Glad to know I'm not alone feline!! I wondered if it was a regional thing?
Nice to see you, Jazzj - trust you're feeling a little better.....
Thanks feline, still a bit dizzy thanks but on the mend I hope :)
Feline - I think the difference between Peacocks and Primark is that Peacocks had a management buyout a few years ago and cannot make enough money to service their debts which are huge. The Peacocks stores were doing quite well but the figures do not stack up. Primark however is doing very well at the moment.
You're right, Sidesalad, Peacocks' problem is debt, it was reported on the news earlier today.
Thanks, girls.
Another two are suffering the pinch, Pumpkin Patch which is another favourite of my daughter's in law and Past Times which I quite like and have often idled my time away browsing amongst the bygone's and goodies from years ago. So sad.
In fairness to peacocks, I have had cotton vest tops for summer wear very reasonably priced, and also got similar items for my daughter when she needed to go abroad, and the price was right. also the size range extended up a bit more than some other ranges. I have also bought really lovely baby clothes from them for gifts which were afordable in their sales. I did not like all their stuff but if selective usually found something.
Their kids and teens clothes are quite good, instinct, even their men's stuff looks ok, it's the women's stuff I never like.
I believe the quality of their childrens clothes was upped a notch recently too, I noticed the quality seemed to me to be as good as that we used to find in Ladybird brand in old Woolies.Initially i didn't really rate their quality/value for kids clothes, but that definitely changed for the better more recently and what you got was fairly good quality for the price.
Past Times used to be a great favourite of mine many year's ago until their prices started to increase and then I looked elsewhere.
Past times is one of those shops I like to wander around in, but I can't remember the last time I bought something there
Yes, I used to like Past Times, but it was overpriced. I once bought a lovely Celtic silver bangle from the one in Bath, and it broke within months! Just wasn't well made.
I was sorry to hear about Past Times, too. It was a great place to get unusual gifts for people who were difficult to buy for.
But, as others have said, it was quite expensive. Maybe that's why it went to the wall.
I'm sure it is feline, lots of people do what I did and look without buying.
Well, out of interest I went in there today, and even with the huge discounts I still couldn't find anything I wanted to buy.........says it all really
Yip just heard its being bought by a Pakistani...
I am saying nothing......
We have a nice shopping area about six miles away and that has now got so many Pkistani shops it's "spot the white". I am saying nothing ...........too.
Posts within the money.co.uk community represent the views, experiences and opinions of members only. They should not be taken as financial advice and should not be followed without further research.
More Discussions for Other Shopping
Get fast answers to your money questions, Expert insight, top tips & much more...
