B&M Kingsmead to open 26th August

[Entropy]

the two locations were on the corner in the Sheridan center, where Brighthouse is now (@Mikinton well remembered) and then moved to where Cash Convertors is now. The purple was Roy's choice, a move for more corporate colours. The Newcastle branch (Also worked there as well providing relief for their staff) was also purple.

Happily say that was one of the best companies and bosses I've ever worked for, especially doing the installations for customers when the home cinema systems were first coming out great fun.

 

[staffordjas]

We bought quite a lot from the Stafford Townsends. Any problems with setting anything up and they got us fixed straight away (including sending an engineer out to fix the "telly not working properly" . Engineer arrived all the way from Cannock soon after, 'un-pressed' a button that I'd pressed accidentally, and job done )

Shame to see the Stafford store close down. I was actually in there a couple of days before and went back down to order a washing machine they had given me details on, only to find the shop closed up. (I'd only been joking with them saying I hoped they weren't going to close down as well, as I was loaded with bargains from Farmfoods around the corner that was in it's last days!)

 

[Entropy]

Townsend's never did washing machines? or at least they didn't when I worked there...I worked there 2001 to 2005...Chances are it was either Matt (tall, glasses, slightly balding, or Alan, Short, dark hair, bit of a wide boy, but both highly knowledgeable)

Could have even been myself as I did a few installations too

 

[staffordjas]

They had a couple of washing machines in the store when I went in that last time, selling them on special offer. Still not cheap but I wanted a good one (it was Panasonic) but I had to ask hubby first The lad (said he caught a train to work from Penkridge, so that's why he was sometimes a bit late opening up...) in there printed the details off, I went back twice but it was closed up

Still got my Panasonic TV and DVD (and glass unit that came with them ) from there now , and still working great

 

[Entropy]

Trying to remember who that would have been?

Jason (the manager) lived up in Trentham....the washing machine being a Pana-cronic sounds about right...they were a main distributor for their stuff and got on with the local rep (Scott I think his names was?) really well.

Glas to hear the TV and DVD are still working...I see some of the cube speaker stands we sold appearing in Cash Convertors every now and then....made me chuckle that they returned to the site they were first sole on. Also wonder how they made use of the 3 huge rooms upstairs....the main stock room was more of a living room....battered couch, old TV set up from "disposing" of a customers old set (too good to give away so we kept it). Used to be good fun steping out onto the balcony and walking around the top of the shop

 

[Gareth]

Stafford used to be thriving as did all towns and cities. Times change, supermarkets, huge retail parks, online shopping, people not having the time or even giving a crap have all impacted. That's all before we get into rates and rents.

In (I think) 2008 Stafford had a 98% and to say stores like the co-op never had anyone in them is farcical. They were very popular but times caught up with them as it has many.

Shops close down, it is a shame but it is fact of life. You will be hard pressed to find that much in any town and city centres that have businesses that we there 50-75-100 years ago. All the shops, businesses that once were either closed, sold, moved on, got knocked down, or moved onto bigger things/ expanded.

Unfortunately many towns have gone to far in this country with over 30% vacancy rates. That will never be clawed back, the only way it will be is re-development and that means losing old buildings.

Stafford has alway held its own, certainly longer than most and is showing good recovery. Once northwalls opens that will only improve.

But even then businesses will still shut and others will replace them, the latter is always the hope in todays economy.

 

[Entropy]

Reduction in ground rent in the town will massively help...just far too expensive for stores to stay open and survive. One of the reason why Townsends shut was due to the rents being extortionate. £10,000 a year I think before rates.

 

[John Marwood]

What is there that you can't buy on the internet apart from the hideous experience of going into shops

 

[Noah]

Was Townsend/Cash Convertors once a bookshop, I seem to remember going in there, it had a good map section?

 

[Lucy]

Yes, Bookland.