Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
Anyone know if Oatcakes and milkshakes is still trading? Last Facebook post was 1 August and page said it should be open today but we called over just after 1pm and all the blinds were closed and definitely shut.
Seen an advert on a job site saying they were looking for staff, so looks like a revival is on the cards.
 

Really?

Well-Known Forumite
Looks like Thorntons have finally thrown in the towel. Hardly surprising as their business model was all about undercutting their own shops. Not sure about Clintons, the Stafford shop now looks just like the Cannock shop before they closed it down - anything that is not a card has been removed. If they have gone we now have a row of empty shops right in the heart of the town - both sides.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Looks like Thorntons have finally thrown in the towel. Hardly surprising as their business model was all about undercutting their own shops. Not sure about Clintons, the Stafford shop now looks just like the Cannock shop before they closed it down - anything that is not a card has been removed. If they have gone we now have a row of empty shops right in the heart of the town - both sides.

With the rates in town I'd never consider a shop on the high street, although even with lower rates the chuggers would keep me away TBH!
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Covid could be the death of all high streets.

This is a worry especially for those of us that can’t abide on line clothes shopping.

My personal experience of lockdown was that I found out how little I needed, I wasn’t going anywhere except walking the dog so I certainly didn’t need any clothes.

I haven’t bought a stitch of clothing for 12 weeks.
I did however the other day, give in, and purchase several items.

Out of all the dresses, T shirts, and various other items, some too big, some too tight, some too long, some too baggy, (ALL the same size!)
I ended up keeping just one t shirt and a dressing gown.

Took the items back to M&S last night, shop empty so no worries.

BUT I need new underwear and you can’t try anything on, obviously.
I usually have to try on about 10 items to find the right fit, so if the high street is no more then it’s going to be a real struggle.
SHOES , who buys shoes without trying on?
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
This is a worry especially for those of us that can’t abide on line clothes shopping.

My personal experience of lockdown was that I found out how little I needed, I wasn’t going anywhere except walking the dog so I certainly didn’t need any clothes.

I haven’t bought a stitch of clothing for 12 weeks.
I did however the other day, give in, and purchase several items.

Out of all the dresses, T shirts, and various other items, some too big, some too tight, some too long, some too baggy, (ALL the same size!)
I ended up keeping just one t shirt and a dressing gown.

Took the items back to M&S last night, shop empty so no worries.

BUT I need new underwear and you can’t try anything on, obviously.
I usually have to try on about 10 items to find the right fit, so if the high street is no more then it’s going to be a real struggle.
SHOES , who buys shoes without trying on?
You can't return underwear at most places now either.

I buy shoes online. Last year I bought some great Regatta walking sandals in size 39/uk size 6 from Penkridge Market. Only one colour - pink and beige.

They were so comfortable that I decided to buy another pair in a different colour this spring.

Ordered online from Regatta - they came & look great, however they seem to be half a size too small, I've had to wear then in th e garden/house for nearly 2 months to get them to feel right, & look right!
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I normally only buy shoes online if I already have a
pair of same brand.

However lots of companies now use a comparison checker which asks you which brand you normally wear and the size. I bought some work shoes from Timberland that way and they are best shoes I've ever worn. 4 years later and they've been reve4aled a few times but they keep going.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I never used to do online shopping , but since the lockdown have become rather converted. Haven't bought any clothes though so far, apart from gardening gloves and just ordered some socks (and a washing up bowl...would never have thought of buying a washing up bowl online before) .
Might be a bit different when hubby goes back to working in the office again, and I have to wait in for deliveries (Which I've always hated doing when son has ordered stuff to come here) instead of going out for my walks.
Hubby insists he isn't going to buy any clothes or shoes unless he can try them on in a shop, so looks like he will have to make do with what he's got for a long while yet. :roll: At least I have lots of nice clothes , hardly or never worn , to get down into . ( Bought with best intentions to slim down into them for holidays and works do's , or they've fit in the changing rooms , then I've put weight on before they even get to be worn ) .
Luckily bought some shoes and trainers in Clarks just before lockdown , they fit so good that , with no more in stock, I ordered some more for store collection... at least I managed to pick them up a day before the store closed. Phew! I have a right job finding footwear which doesn't hurt my heels and have to try on milions of pairs before I find a comfy fit.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Looks like Thorntons have finally thrown in the towel. Hardly surprising as their business model was all about undercutting their own shops. Not sure about Clintons, the Stafford shop now looks just like the Cannock shop before they closed it down - anything that is not a card has been removed. If they have gone we now have a row of empty shops right in the heart of the town - both sides.

Clinton’s haven’t really missed much, they basically only make money during major holidays so they’ve missed... Mother’s Day and Father’s Day?

Though frankly why you’d buy a card there instead of the local supermarket (or not at all, we don’t bother with them as it’s just pissing away money on a bad joke) I do not know

I would say its kind of a double edge sword with shop rents.

I think council owned shop buildings need to offer lower rents to help encourage re growth and support the local borough economy. But shopping centre premises can't really afford to lower rents (as Intu have found as they have put administrators KPMG on stand by)

I believe the market in the Guildhall in town are currently offering 50% off rent for the first 6 months which will help. Times will be tough. The UK economy is facing the prospect of over 1 million redundancies, Andrew Bailey is currently prepared for the possibility of negative base interest rates (something I've not seen in my lifetime) and there is still a very real risk of a huge second wave in October which in my opinion is a massive worry not just for health but because I think that it could well put alot of people below the bread line in ways not seen since the early 20th century.

We will with time prosper again but the unknown quantity is time. Let's hope I'm completely wrong on the 2nd wave.

Rents and rates aren’t the same thing. Rents you can negotiate down, but business rates are like council tax for businesses and are generally extortionate (often 50% of the annual rent if not more). They’re universally hated by all, and are due to be reviewed in November anyway. They discourage business growth, as rather than growing any paying more tax through profit, PAYE, etc they just encourage businesses to stay small as suddenly you go from no rates to paying £8k or whatever just from an increase in rateable value of a mere £3k due to how small business rate relief works.
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
Clinton’s haven’t really missed much, they basically only make money during major holidays so they’ve missed... Mother’s Day and Father’s Day?

Though frankly why you’d buy a card there instead of the local supermarket (or not at all, we don’t bother with them as it’s just pissing away money on a bad joke) I do not know



Rents and rates aren’t the same thing. Rents you can negotiate down, but business rates are like council tax for businesses and are generally extortionate (often 50% of the annual rent if not more). They’re universally hated by all, and are due to be reviewed in November anyway. They discourage business growth, as rather than growing any paying more tax through profit, PAYE, etc they just encourage businesses to stay small as suddenly you go from no rates to paying £8k or whatever just from an increase in rateable value of a mere £3k due to how small business rate relief works.

Clinton's also missed Easter, having closed just before Easter weekend.

It was only a few months ago that BBC Breakfast did a segment on greetings cards, and whilst Clinton's was having a bit of a wobble then, the actual greetings card market was actually on the up. People still enjoy sending cards, hence the fact, premium cards have gone up.

Their problem was more to do with the fact they failed to adapt, there's online services like Moonpig , funky pigeon which has been acquired by Smith's, and thortful to name a few, which are probably thriving right now.

As for Thornton's, it's a shame it's gone the way it has, the new owners I believe we're only interested in the branding and the actual supply chain part of their business, they had no interest in really keeping their stores going.

I guess this was the final excuse and push they needed. It's a shame, as a good close team worked together in the Stafford branch, they would also personalise any chocolates bought from there, which was their unique selling point.

Their business plan was trashed by their owners though, why buy from their shops, when you can get it half price everywhere else ?

On principal, they wouldn't personalise their own chocolate even if you took it in to their stores. Maybe they should have did it anyway for a small fee, say £1 a go if you took chocolate in, may have helped them.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I have only bought shoes online for years, til Monday. Decided to get my gait analysed before buying more runners, tried on several pairs and left happy. Sure I payed a bit more than from amazon but I ended up with a pair I'd likely not have considered if just looking online.

Ran in them yesterday and got a PR for every strava distance measured up to 2 mile and my 3rd best 5k.
 

Perrier

Banned
I have only bought shoes online for years, til Monday. Decided to get my gait analysed before buying more runners, tried on several pairs and left happy. Sure I payed a bit more than from amazon but I ended up with a pair I'd likely not have considered if just looking online.

Ran in them yesterday and got a PR for every strava distance measured up to 2 mile and my 3rd best 5k.

its been the opposite for me this year.
usually buy from a high street store, but decided not to bother with all the social distancing etc and get from amazon instead.

It wasnt running shoes though , i'd need a wheelchair if i tried that at my age ;)
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
its been the opposite for me this year.
usually buy from a high street store, but decided not to bother with all the social distancing etc and get from amazon instead.

It wasnt running shoes though , i'd need a wheelchair if i tried that at my age ;)
I've given Amazon a hell of a lot of business this past month whilst I've got my free Prime Trial and not wanting to go out shopping at all with all the Covid fear. Boots , Asda and B&Q have also been bombarded with orders, as well as farm shop and butchers for home delivery. Would normally have visited the shops for all I've bought, or at least got a click & collect. Bought more than I would usually though, before if I was walking I was restricted to what I could struggle to walk home with. (Walked back home from the retail park with a hoover in the past as it was the last one on the shelf and might not have been there if I'd gone back down later with the car..) Getting a bit carried away tapping away at the keyboard :lol:
And just have to hope my Tesco Massive click & collect orders fit into my small car...back seats already down to make the boot bigger for tomorrows monster load.
 

Really?

Well-Known Forumite
looking at Thorntons, which is not a big shop by any means, the rateable value is £26,250 with rates payable of £1,074 a month. The building was sold a few years ago at which point they were paying £30k a year rent. So that is just over £3,500 a month just on rent and rates, thats an awful lot of chocolate, especially during the Summer months - and thats before any other costs.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I have only bought shoes online for years, til Monday. Decided to get my gait analysed before buying more runners, tried on several pairs and left happy. Sure I payed a bit more than from amazon but I ended up with a pair I'd likely not have considered if just looking online.

Ran in them yesterday and got a PR for every strava distance measured up to 2 mile and my 3rd best 5k.
Where did you go? I need to buy some decent ones and it's probably worth getting a gait analysis at the same time. Did they have a treadmill you could run in the shoes?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Where did you go? I need to buy some decent ones and it's probably worth getting a gait analysis at the same time. Did they have a treadmill you could run in the shoes?
We went to Shrewsbury (still new to driving so take what opportunities I have since lockdown!), a place called up and running I think? My oh found them as she thinks I run quite oddly, and they had a wider variety of brands to most places near here. Big treadmill taking up about a quarter of the shop, they video it then plot the lines to show you. You do that bit in a pair of their neutral ones, then they found several pairs that they thought may suit.

The stock was limited as first day back open but I tried asics, Brooks and mizuno pairs of and my oh also tried saucony. I didn't actually try the new ones on the treadmill, just on the floor, but the Brooks were so obviously a good fit I didn't need to.

Social distancing means 2 in the shop at a time, masks worn and treadmill cleaned as soon as you got off etc. They were taking it all seriously whilst also very helpful and professional. Very happy with mine, still getting used to them though so working up to another 10k.

https://upandrunning.co.uk/shops

Edit: should add I'm a severe pronater in my left once up to speed, less so in my right, which likely limited my available choices.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Oh brilliant, thanks. OH got some Hoka's from them in York, I didn't realise they were close by. I think I'm probably neautral given how my current ones have worn, but my knees knock in a bit so I want to try the,.
 
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