New look to shed 1000 jobs and close 60 stores

[Ontarian1981]

The 'reform' of business rates has not helped, shops are being forced out of business by extortionate rates and rents.

 

So true, there are lots of empty retail spaces Worldwide and greedy property developers and investors are now getting their just desserts for their massive lease increases, which is forcing retailers to downsize or simply "shut up shop".

[Calahonda]

So true, there are lots of empty retail spaces Worldwide and greedy property developers and investors are now getting their just desserts for their massive lease increases, which is forcing retailers to downsize or simply "shut up shop".

 

Some of the city centre’s empty office space is very good value for money, that until the rating dept treble the expected charge.

[alchresearch]

Perhaps the supporters of the now defunct Sevenstone proposal will now realise how misplaced their optimism was.

 

Or not. Liverpool One is still thriving.

[horribleblob]

I read an article last week (mightve been about toys r us) where shops have just grown too big, during the good times before the recession, the only way these shops could grow was to open new branches, sometimes 60 - 100 shops.

Theres only so much money to go round, at some point these extra shops become unviable? I dont think you can keep the same massive amount of spending that must go into these places going on forever and nor can they expand as they have hit the ceiling.

As for toys r us, they stopped becoming a magical place for kids (like our own redgates and hamleys did) and just became a massive warehouse for toys with boxes on shelves

 

I agree. The writing was on the wall when Uncle Arthur's, on Moorfoot, closed down.

[geared]

It's down about 6% at the moment to it's pre referendum rate.

 

There was a little spike just before the referendum when it touched $1.49 to £1, but for the 6 months leading upto the referendum it bumbled around between $1.39 and $1.46, so anywhere from 0.5-6% depending on how you look at it.

 

Mind you it had been in a slow decline since about the time the referendum was announced, so who knows where it would have been now if things were different???