Woolworths, MFI, who's next?

[Mon Ami Mate]

We've had the human death list, time to set up a book on which High Street names will follow Woolworths and MFI into oblivion in the next 12 months.

With no inside knowledge, what am I bid for:

Halfords
Boots
Homebase
BHS
WH Smith
PC World
Dixons
Comet

Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Monday 22 December 11:14

[5harp3y]

BHS me thinks, apart from their Christmas Shop i can't see a reason to go in.

[snotrag]

Who knows?

Perhaps, this lot know...

http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp... ...


HTH

[DangerousMike]

BHS every time

[miniman]

Mon Ami Mate said:

Halfords
Boots
Homebase
BHS
WH Smith

Not sure I would shed a tear if any of those went to the wall, with the possible exception of Boots as it does at least serve a purpose.

Halfords - puts proper motor factors out of business and then focuses on selling cheap bikes and chav tat

Homebase - poor bd cousin of B&Q

BHS - ginger foster child abandoned by Debenhams and John Lewis and a truly hateful place

WH Smith - charges too much for books and then tries to flog you chocolate you don't want, survives only by selling fags at grossly inflated prices at railway stations

[schnell]

DangerousMike said:

BHS every time

I'm inclined to agree with you. I cannot remember the last time I set foot in one of their stores and more to the point, I cannot think why I would want to.

[miniman]

schnell said:

and more to the point, I cannot think why I would want to.

Indeed, and arguably the cause of the demise of Woolworths, too. Why would you go in there? For pick-n-mix, that's why, for anything else you would go somewhere better.

[JagLover]

I would look at retailers who were already under pressure in the boom times due to changing patterns of consumer spending.

Of that list W H Smiths would be top of my list to go under.

[Scott328i]

Jessops

[im]

miniman said:

Homebase - poor bd cousin of B&Q

Homebase is Marks & Spencer when compared to the Lidl that is B&Q.

[DrTre]

Wimpy. Surely they've been clinging onto life for years now?

And was Little Thief resurrected in the end? If so, it won't be for long.

[schnell]

miniman said:

schnell said:

and more to the point, I cannot think why I would want to.

Indeed, and arguably the cause of the demise of Woolworths, too. Why would you go in there? For pick-n-mix, that's why, for anything else you would go somewhere better.

...and even then you'd have likely caught AIDS

[wideload]

I think it will be the PC world/Currys group. Very specialised and sell at inflated prices compared to what can be had online

[G'kar]

JJB aren't supposed to be in good shape, I believe.

[Vee]

schnell said:

DangerousMike said:

BHS every time

I'm inclined to agree with you. I cannot remember the last time I set foot in one of their stores and more to the point, I cannot think why I would want to.

Isn't this owned by Phillip Green ?
Some way to go before it goes bust imo.

My money would be on DSG.
Rents due this week.
They must have some huge commitments to suppliers of Christmas stock payable in the new year.
SAP implementation has been put on hold indefinately.
I'd expect them to be looking at how many stores they operate, and if they can't liquidate the stock . . . . who knows how far it could go ?

[schnell]

G'kar said:

JJB aren't supposed to be in good shape, I believe.

Why? Are the chavs dying of typhoid?

[Fittster]

Doesn't Debenhams have a stupidly large amount of debt?

[Dakkon]

But Woolworths and MFI going under has very little to do with the current economic mess, they were both in serious trouble and would have folded regardless.

[Neil_H]

HMV/ Zavvi. I think it's possible we'll lose one of them by this time next year.

[CatherineJ]

I thought Boots are as solid as they come.