Store closures for 2009? [Merged]

Jamfan

Was shopping in Liffey Valley today. In the main centre itself a shop just inside the middle entrance on the left-hand side beside Golden Discs is gone ... can't remember what was there. Also, Relay? Replay? is gone. Pity, because they had nice clothes. Now, there have always been shops that have come and gone, but I think this time the stores will stay empty for a while to come. I think that more and more of the shops will shut, unfortunately.

Over in the Retail Park Jim Langans is closed, with two guards (as in the Garda, not security guards) on point duty outside. Magnet Kitchens is also gone.

By the way, to go back to the OP's original post which included Woolworths: has anyone ever been in a Woolworths? They were a relic from the past and were not great, to be honest. I think they were always on the brink and are one of the weaker ones that The Armageddon killed off... as an aside did you know that the original US Woolworths is now Foot Locker?

phasers

Jamfan wrote: »

Was shopping in Liffey Valley today. In the main centre itself a shop just inside the middle entrance on the left-hand side beside Golden Discs is gone ... can't remember what was there.

It was the calendar shop, it only ever opens for about a month around Christmas. Been closed for a while now

Jamfan

Just heard Harvey Norman's new TV ad there...

It said something like 'come in and offer us a price'

So there are bargains to be had. But it sounds like closing down bargains... Bye bye, Harvey

G'Day, Sport!. Fair dinkum, mate, I've come a cropper but this clip's a bit blue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yavY3_IuzU

Jamfan

Sorry about that last post, but here's the story... I'd love to have some input from an Australian on this one...

First off... in the same way that Americans think that the Irish are leprechaun farmers, I think the exact same thing about Australians. Due to their representation in the media - Neighbours, Crocodile Dundee, etc - I regard them as a race of cartoon-like characters, always ready to be placated by 'throwig a few shrimps on the barbie'

I'm really sorry about that, but that's the way Australia markets itself.

The_Conductor

Jamfan wrote: »

Sorry about that last post, but here's the story... I'd love to have some input from an Australian on this one...

First off... in the same way that Americans think that the Irish are leprechaun farmers, I think the exact same thing about Australians. Due to their representation in the media - Neighbours, Crocodile Dundee, etc - I regard them as a race of cartoon-like characters, always ready to be placated by 'throwig a few shrimps on the barbie'

I'm really sorry about that, but that's the way Australia markets itself.

I can see where you're coming from.....
Myself and the wife have definitively decided we never ever want to visit Australia, based on the latest Nicole Kidman monstrosity of a film, entitled Australia. Auckland, here we come....

The problem is marketing to the lowest common denominator- I'm sure there are tonnes of things of high interest to intelligent travellers, aside from the Sydney Opera House- but they simply don't feature in the marketing campaigns.......

ongarite

Don't think Harvey Norman are going to pull out IMO.
Whoever can survive this downturn in retail will be in a stong position when things pick up again because there will be far less competition for furniture, electrical goods.

Kiera

Jamfan wrote: »

Just heard Harvey Norman's new TV ad there...

It said something like 'come in and offer us a price'

So there are bargains to be had. But it sounds like closing down bargains... Bye bye, Harvey

G'Day, Sport!. Fair dinkum, mate, I've come a cropper but this clip's a bit blue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yavY3_IuzU

I hate to burst your bubble, Bruce. BUT Harvey Norman wont be pulling out of Ireland. They've too much money invested so it would cost them a fortune to pull out. Plus with all these furniture and computer stores closing its a big plus for them.

Ginny

phasers wrote: »

It was the calendar shop, it only ever opens for about a month around Christmas. Been closed for a while now

Before that it was some Leather goods shop.

Jamfan

Sorry, I'm not gloating in Anti-Australian sentiment. That's really not what I meant, but Australia is over-hyped: it's billed as The New America.

Anyway, the new Harvey ads - and I have a soft spot for the Gerry Harvey screamer ads - sound like 'bloody hell, mate, streuth, stone the crows" - sorry - your country marketed itself as a kangaroo clichee - these ads sound like the ol' Harvaroo is gonna go all crook.

ibarelycare

Jamfan wrote: »

Just heard Harvey Norman's new TV ad there...

It said something like 'come in and offer us a price'

So there are bargains to be had. But it sounds like closing down bargains... Bye bye, Harvey

G'Day, Sport!. Fair dinkum, mate, I've come a cropper but this clip's a bit blue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yavY3_IuzU

I think Harvey Normans are alright. Was in there on Saturday and talking to one of the workers about the finance deal they were doing. It was ending on Sunday and he said it had done really well, but they were starting the "bargaining with cash" deal this week; think it's only going on for the week. He also said they would be looking for some new staff in their Blanchardstown branch soon.

Darragh29

Kiera wrote: »

I hate to burst your bubble, Bruce. BUT Harvey Norman wont be pulling out of Ireland. They've too much money invested so it would cost them a fortune to pull out. Plus with all these furniture and computer stores closing its a big plus for them.

I don't agree with this at all. Their business model is based on huge footfall through their stores and huge sales. Look at the size of their outlets, aircraft hangers in prime locations. They have HUGE overheads, if they are not getting huge sales to cover these, then they are losing money.

ongarite

Darragh29 wrote: »

I don't agree with this at all. Their business model is based on huge footfall through their stores and huge sales. Look at the size of their outlets, aircraft hangers in prime locations. They have HUGE overheads, if they are not getting huge sales to cover these, then they are losing money.

They are losing money and they have admitted as such, around €10 million last year but pulling out would be the worst thing to do. If they hang around while taking the losses then they and the other remaining retail stores will have more customers and less competition.

Kiera

Darragh29 wrote: »

I don't agree with this at all. Their business model is based on huge footfall through their stores and huge sales. Look at the size of their outlets, aircraft hangers in prime locations. They have HUGE overheads, if they are not getting huge sales to cover these, then they are losing money.

You dont have to agree with this. I'm just letting you know what i know first hand. They are going to ride the storm and will not be pulling out of Ireland.

zing

Jamfan wrote: »

Was shopping in Liffey Valley today. In the main centre itself a shop just inside the middle entrance on the left-hand side beside Golden Discs is gone ... can't remember what was there.

Golden Discs were there - but then they moved in next door for some unknown reason (the two stores seem very similar in size) around the same time that Best Menswear moved up beside them. At the time I assumed the old GD store was going to become part of Best Menswear.

As mentioned by others where Golden Discs is now used to be a Leather goods store of some sort (can't recall ever going in there) and iirc both current & old Golden Discs stores were used as Calendar shops around xmas time over the years. But that empty store you're referring to has been mostly empty for a while now - iirc it's at least a year since Golden Discs moved next door if not longer.

Darragh29

If what I'm reading over in the Motors forum is true and it seems to be, White Bishop Cars has closed down today...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055505529

K-9

Darragh29 wrote: »

If what I'm reading over in the Motors forum is true and it seems to be, White Bishop Cars has closed down today...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055505529

I'd say that is only the start of closures in the motor retail industry. I think there has been widespread hour and wages cuts to stave it off, but I'd say they can't stave it off anymore.

OPENROAD

Considering that people will have even less money to spend after the budget, I would say a lot more closeures are on the cards.

dollybird09

gurramok wrote: »

Those brands like Oasis/Warehouse/Karen Milen are very expensive and appeal to middle class and upwards type big spenders in a credit crunch.

My missus couldn't believe that a standard dress was costing 70quid in one of those shops! :eek:

Karen Millen may be run by Mosaic, but they're not exactly directly competing with the likes of Oasis/Warehouse... totally diff league!!

Oasis and Warehouse aren't flashy... they're run of the mill high street, with Warehouse tending to be pretty poor quality... Karen Millen (as a lady with numerous Karen Millen items) is good quality, it looks and feels good, and afterall you get what you pay for

... perhaps in these times of recession, rather than shop in the cheapo stores people should be more conscious of buying good quality staple pieces that will last the test of time and the current trends... hence Karen Millen is always a good buy...

Darragh29

Darragh29 wrote: »

If what I'm reading over in the Motors forum is true and it seems to be, White Bishop Cars has closed down today...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055505529

A local petrol station which stopped selling petrol a few years ago to concentrate on the more profitable (secondhand) car sales side of the business, has recently started selling petrol again.

gurramok

dollybird09 wrote: »

Karen Millen may be run by Mosaic, but they're not exactly directly competing with the likes of Oasis/Warehouse... totally diff league!!

Oasis and Warehouse aren't flashy... they're run of the mill high street, with Warehouse tending to be pretty poor quality... Karen Millen (as a lady with numerous Karen Millen items) is good quality, it looks and feels good, and afterall you get what you pay for

... perhaps in these times of recession, rather than shop in the cheapo stores people should be more conscious of buying good quality staple pieces that will last the test of time and the current trends... hence Karen Millen is always a good buy...

Whats in your wallet mostly comes first. All the stores in the Mosaic group are expensive. I've been told that they are only packed when the sales are on!