Jump to content

Recommended Posts

A British friend who has lived in the US for 20+ years is visiting London with her children. She is a bit nostalgic and very fond of sweets and chocolate. I googled Hope & Greenwood, in the hope of sending her in the direction of their Covent Garden Shop.


The results of my Google search are a bit odd. When I click on the official H&G page, it seems that their shop in Covent Garden is no longer there, but Google hopes my friend might find what she needs in these other nearby locations (all illustrated with helpful pictures)


1. the Aldwych Theatre

2. The Real Greek

3. Toni and Guy


Well I doubt it, given that she wants to buy small bags of sweets and isn't in need of seeing a show, a mediocre Greek meal or a haircut.


So can anyone techy explain what kind of nonsense is going on here? I find it about as useful as my Samsung phone chosing to autocorrect x to xerox or X to Xmas every. single. time.

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/160811-hope-greenwood/
Share on other sites

Although the page you were both looking at has the title "Hope and Greenwood | Covent Garden London" it's actually on someone else's site, www.coventgarden.london/hope-and-greenwood . The actual H&G website is http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk (from which it ppears as if they're currently selling only via Sainsburys).
I used to find Google really useful, but I've been getting lots of rubbish search results over the last few months. Odd. I hope you find what you're looking for -- come back and let us Forumites know how it turned out. :) I'm intrigued by Sugar Mountain... maybe a trip to Forest Hill is needed! xx

edhistory Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Now renamed to "The Monty Bojangles Company Ltd".

>

> ??



What, Hope and Greenwood or Sugar Mountain?


M&S currently fulfils my tooth rotting requirements, though admittedly you don't get the thrill of choosing extremely expensive chocs one by one and having them put in a pretty little box and tied up with a red ribbon.


ETA: But hey! If Hope and Greenwood hadn't gone, we would never have had Maison Dog.


Every cloud, etc ...

>> Now renamed to "The Monty Bojangles Company Ltd".

>> ??

>

> What, Hope and Greenwood or Sugar Mountain?


It looks more like a takeover of H&G by Monty B.

The owners of Monty B. acquired all the H&G shares in 2015 and became sole directors.

It remains to be seen whether they'll keep it on as a distinct brand.


That said, H&G Ltd was actually being run as a dormant company from at least 2008, and still was one in February 2016, so it's not itself been the trading entity.

Seabag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> H&G took on a management person who steered the

> company into a brick wall essentially

>

> They never recovered from the impact

>

> Over diversification and egos ran amok




??? How did they over diversify?


??? Why did they keep this person on if things were going so badly wrong?

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

>

> ??? How did they over diversify?


I suspect they moved away from the core business that had been a success. It's amazing how often something in this industry seems like a good idea, only to reveal itself as their own personal Stalingrad.


>

> ??? Why did they keep this person on if things

> were going so badly wrong?


I'd be willing to bet that the person concerned kept it covered up until too late. That's the risk in paying someone else to run your business.

The reality is you need grown ups at the expansion point. When you get biggger you need scale thinkers, and H&G ran a very thin operation initially.

However, when books and TV come along the ego can get a bit out of hand, with the old business of getting yor hands dirty seems to be below the creators. And the peril of forgetting where the original business core dollar is mined from is dangerous. Books and TV are basically PR exercises, not careers mostly.


Then add a layer of someone else doing your negotiations while youre off 'busy' then all hell breaks loose. Sadly they realised all this at the end, not when it was happening and redeemable.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Per Cllr McAsh, as quoted above: “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution. " Is anyone au fait with the Clean Air Act 1993, and  particularly with the state of 'Smoke Control' law and practice generally?  I've just been looking  through some of it for the first time and, afaics, the civil penalties mentioned  were introduced into the Clean Air Act, at Schedule 1A, in May 2022.  So it seems that, in this particular,  it's a matter of the enforcement policy trailing well behind the legislation.  I'm not criticising that at all, but am curious.  
    • Here's the part of march46's linked-to Southwark News article pertaining to Southwark Council. "Southwark Council were also contacted for a response. "Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste said: “One of Southwark’s key priorities is to create a healthy environment for our residents. “To achieve this we closely monitor legislation and measures that influence air pollution – our entire borough apart from inland waterways is designated as a Smoke Control Area, and we also offer substantial provision for electric vehicles to promote alternative fuel travel options and our Streets for People strategy. “We as a council support the work of Mums for Lungs and recognise the health and environmental impacts of domestic solid fuel burning, particularly from wood-burning appliances. “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution.  “This work is being undertaken in collaboration with other London boroughs as part of the pan-London Wood Burning Project, which aims to harmonise enforcement approaches and share best practice across the capital.” ETA: And here's a post I made a few years ago, with tangential relevance.  https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/278140-early-morning-drone-flying/?do=findComment&comment=1493274  
    • The solicitor is also the Executor. Big mistake, but my Aunt was very old, and this was the Covid years and shortly after so impossible to intervene and get a couple of close relatives to do this.  She had no children so this is the nephews and nieces. He is a single practitioner, and most at his age would have long since retired - there is a question over his competence Two letters have already gone essentially complaining - batted off and 'amusingly' one put the blame on us. There are five on our side, all speaking to each other, and ideally would work as a single point of contact.  But he has said that this is not allowed - we've all given approval to act on each others behalf. There are five on her late husband's side, who have not engaged with us despite the suggestion to work as a team, There is one other, who get's the lion's share, the typicical 'friend', but we are long since challenging the will. I would like to put another complaint together that he has not used modern collective communication (I expect that he is incapable) which had seriously delayed the execution of the will.   I know many in their 80s very adept with smart phones so that is not an ageist comment. The house has deteriorated very badly, with cold, damp and a serious leak.  PM me if you want to see the dreadful condition that it is now in. I would also question why if the five of us are happy to work together why all of us need to confirm in writing.             The house was lived in until Feb 23, and has been allowed to get like this.
    • Isn’t a five yearly electricity safety certificate one of the things the landlord must give for a legal tenancy?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...