Crashing Companies

[prussianblue 1,026]

4 hours ago, TQR said:

The News Agents, because only Emily Maitlis, Lewis Goodall and Jon Sopel can make sense of what's going on.

 

I quite like The News Agents, although at times they can come across as a bit smug. I do however fucking hate the theme tune, accompanied by Alexander Armstrong's pompous voice. Just one of those irrational things that gets under the skin.

[TQR 14,385]

13 minutes ago, prussianblue said:

 

I quite like The News Agents, although at times they can come across as a bit smug.

I’d say, in the defence of Emily Maitlis, if I’d wound up Marjorie Taylor Greene to the point where she told me to “fuck off” in twelve seconds flat, I’d bloody well be smug too 

[Phantom 2,533]

Toy manufacturer Basic Fun which owns Tonka, Care Bears and My Little Pony, have filed for bankruptcy 

[Dead Wait 1,129]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckkgl3zz1v6o.amp
 

Carpetright to appoint administrators - 272 stores and 1800 jobs at risk……

[Father Brown 209]

Carpetright's been on the brink of collapse for years, not surprised here.

 

I think the following will be gone from the High Street by 2034, not including Carpetright:

1. The Works - no idea how they're still open. Mostly children's toys and tat.
2. WHSmith - airports and train station locations will be safe. They've already stopped opening new HS locations.
3. Peacocks or Bonmarche - no idea how they're still open either. Both have been struggling for ages and are now owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, who went into admin themselves not too long ago.
4. Game - whatever's left is mostly hidden away in Sports Directs, physical game offerings have nosedived with the rise of digital sales, and it's pretty much just funko pops and plushes.
5. Currys - could well survive online. Outlived rival Comet but nobody's too big to fail.
6. HMV - same as Game. Losing out to the likes of Amazon and streaming services, and physical stock is increasingly becoming Japanese sweets, funko pops, and plushes.
7. Clintons Cards - if they still exist at this point.
8. Superdry - again, who is shopping here? Could well survive as a brand sold in other shops.
9. One of Trespass/Go Outdoors/Millets/Mountain Warehouse - a lot of competition for overpriced outdoor equipment. Go Outdoors most likely to go given that JD (who also owns Millets) put it into admin and bought it back.
10. Monsoon/Accessorize - went into admin not long after Covid restrictions started and was bought out in 2022. Been posting losses for years and could well go again.

[Toast 16,130]

WH Smith has saved a lot of branches by doubling up as Post Offices.

 

The Works - I'd dispute it being "mostly children's toys and tat". 

They do a lot of stationery and craft items , art supplies, and sell a lot of books and jigsaw puzzles aimed at the adult market (no, I don't mean porn)

[Father Brown 209]

That's true. A WHS near me has started selling Toys R Us stock as well. Certainly the larger premises with room for a PO will do better.

[Comped 525]

1 hour ago, Father Brown said:

Carpetright's been on the brink of collapse for years, not surprised here.

 

I think the following will be gone from the High Street by 2034, not including Carpetright:

1. The Works - no idea how they're still open. Mostly children's toys and tat.
2. WHSmith - airports and train station locations will be safe. They've already stopped opening new HS locations.
3. Peacocks or Bonmarche - no idea how they're still open either. Both have been struggling for ages and are now owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, who went into admin themselves not too long ago.
4. Game - whatever's left is mostly hidden away in Sports Directs, physical game offerings have nosedived with the rise of digital sales, and it's pretty much just funko pops and plushes.
5. Currys - could well survive online. Outlived rival Comet but nobody's too big to fail.
6. HMV - same as Game. Losing out to the likes of Amazon and streaming services, and physical stock is increasingly becoming Japanese sweets, funko pops, and plushes.
7. Clintons Cards - if they still exist at this point.
8. Superdry - again, who is shopping here? Could well survive as a brand sold in other shops.
9. One of Trespass/Go Outdoors/Millets/Mountain Warehouse - a lot of competition for overpriced outdoor equipment. Go Outdoors most likely to go given that JD (who also owns Millets) put it into admin and bought it back.
10. Monsoon/Accessorize - went into admin not long after Covid restrictions started and was bought out in 2022. Been posting losses for years and could well go again.

HMV would likely get fully sold from JD Sports to the Canadian guy who currently operates the shops on license, if JD Sports goes under. He seems to really love the brand,, and has put a ton of effort into saving it, which is frankly astonishing. I pass the Superdry store at Disney Springs when I visit, and it seems pretty busy.

[Sod's Law 445]

1 hour ago, Toast said:

WH Smith has saved a lot of branches by doubling up as Post Offices.

 

The Works - I'd dispute it being "mostly children's toys and tat". 

They do a lot of stationery and craft items , art supplies, and sell a lot of books and jigsaw puzzles aimed at the adult market (no, I don't mean porn)

I used to love the Works for the books you'd often find there that you couldn't find elsewhere, but they're clearly in the middle of deserting that market now and it makes me sad. It's depressing seeing the adult book section shrink every time you visit one and be replaced with even more kid's colouring books and glitter sets. 

[jimbean1121 238]

didn't know a good place to post this but:

the founder of the movie ticketing app Fandango, J Micheal Cline, dead by suicide

[Sod's Law 445]

Tupperware files for bankruptcy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdprv2ddxo

 

I honestly didn't even know it was the name of a company rather than just a type of kitchen product. 

[Phantom 2,533]

2 hours ago, Sod's Law said:

Tupperware files for bankruptcy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdprv2ddxo

 

I honestly didn't even know it was the name of a company rather than just a type of kitchen product. 

There are so many other options for food storage these days. Tupperware was great at the time. I remember my mum hosting Tupperware parties back in the 70s and 80s. 

[YoungWillz 21,026]

TGI Fridays (UK) into administration: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13864315/tgi-fridays-administration-87-restaurants-risk-closure.html

[Comped 525]

5 hours ago, YoungWillz said:

TGI Fridays (UK) into administration: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13864315/tgi-fridays-administration-87-restaurants-risk-closure.html

The US part of the chain might not be far behind...

[Father Brown 209]

The thing about Tupperware is that 1) they last ages and 2) there's cut-price Chinese knock offs readily available. They haven't really got a USP in this day and age.

[livingbygrace 315]

I think I have been hearing rumors as well that MLM MONAT is on a slippery slope going down hill fast this last year as well. I do not think they have filed bankruptcy yet, but they have a lot of legal and court troubles as well as people that are selling the products have been leaving the company like rats from a sinking ship.

[Comped 525]

1 hour ago, Father Brown said:

The thing about Tupperware is that 1) they last ages and 2) there's cut-price Chinese knock offs readily available. They haven't really got a USP in this day and age.

Went downhill since they moved out of MA (HQ and production) anyway.

[Whitehouse 872]

The last full size Kmart in the US closed last Sunday.

[livingbygrace 315]

5 minutes ago, Whitehouse said:

The last full size Kmart in the US closed last Sunday.

RIP Blue Light Specials

[The Red Death 87]

15 hours ago, Whitehouse said:

The last full size Kmart in the US closed last Sunday.

Kmart est Kmort.

[Comped 525]

7 hours ago, The Red Death said:

Kmart est Kmort.

They still have stores in PR and the US Virgin Islands!

[arghton 6,696]

Finlayson, 204-year-old Finnish textile manufacturer founded by Scottish Quaker engineer James Finlayson, heading towards bankruptcy. Very sad, must be one of the oldest companies in the country. A Finlayson building had the first light bulb in the Nordic countries and in the Russian Empire.

[Sly Ronnie 878]

13 minutes ago, arghton said:

Finlayson, 204-year-old Finnish textile manufacturer founded by Scottish Quaker engineer James Finlayson, heading towards bankruptcy. Very sad, must be one of the oldest companies in the country. A Finlayson building had the first light bulb in the Nordic countries and in the Russian Empire.

 

[ThereWillBeDeaths7 720]

47 minutes ago, arghton said:

Finlayson, 204-year-old Finnish textile manufacturer founded by Scottish Quaker engineer James Finlayson, heading towards bankruptcy. Very sad, must be one of the oldest companies in the country. A Finlayson building had the first light bulb in the Nordic countries and in the Russian Empire.

Would be a shame indeed, really popular in my wife's family and we've got some Finlayson products in our home as well. One of the most iconic Finnish companies in my opinion.

[Phantom 2,533]

Harrington's Pie and Mash which has been owned by the same family for 116 years is to close. Located in Tooting, SW London. It was always a favourite of mine. I would stop in there on my way to my part time job after school.