Marks and Spencer

[Wormella]

I went Food Shopping to Marks Friday morning, all very easy, parked in the Underground Car Park, only £1.00. Was shocked how quiet the Store was, only walked through Ladies Wear into the Food Hall, saw about 30 other customers in total! The old much missed Store by me used to be heaving on a Friday morning. Not looking good for M&S Stafford. A lot of people have said it is too far out and how the Buses don't stop down there.

I suppose to counter that I've spent more in MandS since it's been more or less on my way home from the train station...

 

[zebidee]

Old one *was* in a good spot for the senior bus traveller. I too have been in the new one more in a month than I'd been in a year at the old site. Much nicer. Especially the kids section (but what were they thinking, no changing room for kids?)

 

[proactive]

Old one *was* in a good spot for the senior bus traveller.

Very true. However I'd hazard a totally unresearched guess that senior bus travellers don't spend as much in there as senior car drivers or indeed younger car drivers.

 

[Lucy]

My mother, who relies on the bus and is very old, mentioned it was a destination store today. I saw her after she'd been and she thought the issue was that there's nothing else for that age group in the centre, so they don't just wander through, but go if they need something on the way to the bus.

 

[Jonah]

I went Food Shopping to Marks Friday morning, all very easy, parked in the Underground Car Park, only £1.00. Was shocked how quiet the Store was, only walked through Ladies Wear into the Food Hall, saw about 30 other customers in total! The old much missed Store by me used to be heaving on a Friday morning. Not looking good for M&S Stafford. A lot of people have said it is too far out and how the Buses don't stop down there. Also heard that PC World is moving up to Madford Retail Park, in bed with Curry's. Anyone know where the name Madford descends from?

It's a third of a mile away from where it was before, 5-6 minutes walk. It's not too far out.

Buses have to go past the new store to get to the location of the old one. There is a bus stop about 100 yards away.

 

[Jonah]

People don't like change, especially old people who have done the same thing on the same day for years and years.

 

[bunique]

I think camsnan believes the population of Stafford lost the use of its legs the day Riverside opened

 

[Wormella]

I've actually amended my usual route in and out of town now, off Lichfield Rd, through the oval and then there's a path that skirts around the new Green Hall development and under the queensville bridge into the new development- it's my dawdling / way home leisure route or into town (because it also gives young Mr. Wearn the chance to point at ducks - which is an important past time in the Wearn household)

I noticed a lot of people walking through Staffordshire place which was nice too.

What I didn't really notice was the North end of town being much quieter, and I walked to the Range and back on our shopping trip.

 

[Noah]

It's a third of a mile away from where it was before, 5-6 minutes walk. It's not too far out.

Significantly longer if you walk with sticks or crutches, would take bh at least 20 mins. It is a matter of making the alternative travel arrangements obvious to people.

 

[camsnan]

I think camsnan believes the population of Stafford lost the use of its legs the day Riverside opened

I don't think that at all. If you read my post I quoted what other people have said to me. But if you think about it, some people whilst in and around the Town Shops, or Market Place aren't going to shoot off to the Riverside Shops carrying anything they have already bought in the Town are they!

 

[camsnan]

I've actually amended my usual route in and out of town now, off Lichfield Rd, through the oval and then there's a path that skirts around the new Green Hall development and under the queensville bridge into the new development- it's my dawdling / way home leisure route or into town (because it also gives young Mr. Wearn the chance to point at ducks - which is an important past time in the Wearn household)

I noticed a lot of people walking through Staffordshire place which was nice too.

What I didn't really notice was the North end of town being much quieter, and I walked to the Range and back on our shopping trip.

Yes that does sound a nice walk Wormella Green Hall under the Bridge and through Riverside. My old route was Park at Sainsbury's, walk through the Guildhall, shop in Savers, Boots etc. Lunch in Marks, back to Sainsbury's for Food and Drink, then home. Whilst in Marks I enjoyed looking round the Clothes and buying special items of Food. As someone else said old habits and all that, nothing stays the same does it!

 

[PeterD]

Visited the new development for the first time yesterday, was particularly impressed with Marks and Spencers,

 

[pinky]

When I moved to Stafford I was impressed they had a marks. . . Until I went in there. I love the new one and have been in there several times and purchased items. It has a nice feel to it and the shopping Hall is nicely laid out. If people want to go and it seems far they will make the effort. I do feel for the elderly that have got into a routine with the old one, I hope they can see that change is sometimes good and embrace it, get off the bus early and take a nice walk into town after.

 

[camsnan]

When I moved to Stafford I was impressed they had a marks. . . Until I went in there. I love the new one and have been in there several times and purchased items. It has a nice feel to it and the shopping Hall is nicely laid out. If people want to go and it seems far they will make the effort. I do feel for the elderly that have got into a routine with the old one, I hope they can see that change is sometimes good and embrace it, get off the bus early and take a nice walk into town after.

 

[camsnan]

Yes the New Store is very smart, just miss the convenience of the old one. Will definitely go Shopping in the New Store. I haven't been in Gaolgate Street since nearly all the Shops shut. Although my Granddaughter works in Sports Direct, she says that is still busy.

 

[Floss]

I love the new M & S but have noticed the date on some of the food items are to be used by that day or the day after, first I thought they may be using up stock from the other place but I'm now wondering being a bigger store if they are not getting enough people in shopping for food.

 

[littleme]

I love the new M & S but have noticed the date on some of the food items are to be used by that day or the day after, first I thought they may be using up stock from the other place but I'm now wondering being a bigger store if they are not getting enough people in shopping for food.

I noticed the same, there is much more food in the food hall, but there seem to be a lot less customers (just in the food hall part) - which seems to mean that over 1/3 of the food has reduced stickers on - all good for me as I'm a skinflint !

 

[andy w]

Thanks whoever it was for the heads up for the information about the car park beneath the new shopping centre. I didn't know about it and thought the multi storey was the parking for the centre.
That said there is hardly any signage to advertise the fact it's there. Maybe it's a Fight Club car park!

 

[Feed The Goat]

M & S always seemed to have shorter dates on a lot of its produce. However the increase of yellow stickers shows the new food hall is not hitting projected sales.

 

[1JKz]

There's shopping beneath the new development?

How'd i miss that one?