Jump to content

Recommended Posts

It was a very stupid and confusing name for a shop not actually selling "white stuff", and the clothes appealed to a very small subsection of people who buy clothes. Plus they weren't cheap.

In my probably wrong opinion.

I think they had been in trouble for a time. They had massive reductions on some of their clothes, which still didn't seem to sell, if memory serves (which it probably doesn't).

Are all their shops closing, or just this one?

I don't think they are closing store en-masse - but they have slowly been closing individual stores in recent years . the one in Eddie Road in Sheffield closed last year and in their heyday that would have been their prime target area

The one in Lewes seems to be pretty quiet mostly - wouldn't be surprised to see that go soon. They have always been weirdly divisive and I don't know why. Like any clothes shop, they have a target and if you don't like it, move on to next one

They did have a niche when they were smaller but think they just expanded and stretched themselves too much 

took me down memory lane

 

 

Their menswear is very conservative / dull. Agree with CycyleMonkey - weekend clothes for finance bros (that's not a bad tagline for them). Never good to see a business fail, but I am a little surprised they've kept going as long as they have. Hopefully it will be replaced by another shop quickly... it's a fairly big unit for the Lane.

Edited by Earl Aelfheah
  • Like 1

It seems to be a well-worn cycle now for many of the adventure-sports linked clothes brands: start in a niche and get a strong committed following (in White Stuff's case it was skiing). Overtime dilute the relationship to the original sport to attract larger market. Open stores in London and other urban areas, often unrelated to the original sport. Become a relatively middle-of-the-road brand. Lose popularity and get forced into consolidation.

 

See also Finisterre which shifted from a Cornish surf brand, to a finance-manager's anorak of choice. Or at a global scale, Quiksilver an Australian surf brand that went bankrupt in the mid 2010s.

31 minutes ago, Jenijenjen said:

So much excitement at one time it was going to be an M&S, now look at us. Maybe a Waitrose?

Surely too small to be a Waitrose? 

They seem to be having a rethink about their way forward:

https://www.retail-week.com/fashion/white-stuff-opens-more-stores-in-marks-and-spencer/7046348.article

 

https://www.retail-week.com/fashion/white-stuff-ramps-up-international-expansion-with-us-wholesale-launch/7046391.article

 

Edited by Sue
35 minutes ago, Jenijenjen said:

So much excitement at one time it was going to be an M&S, now look at us. Maybe a Waitrose?

I continually hope for a Lidl - but feels like replacing the Coop with that would be a better fit.  Will be interesting to see what can take on this unit though as its fairly large.  Perhaps a pizza place doing gel nails on the side...

  • Haha 4
35 minutes ago, DuncanW said:

Did Quiksilver go bust? I thought it was still going strong as the flagship brand of Boardriders Inc who now also own Billabong, RVCA and others.

Invested heavily in expansion in the late 2000s, Not particularly successfully. Filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Emerged from that a year or so later with a private equity backer who rolled up a few brands into Boardriders. That got bought up Authentic Brands Group recently, a very large fashion group and now Quiksilver seem to be (from what I've seen) a pretty generic brand with a beach/surf theme. I guess that might be seen as going strong but it's a far cry from the late 1990s and early 2000s when they actually were an authentic surf brand and had long partnerships with pros like Kelly Slater and were big backer of the pro tour. 

  • teddyboy23 changed the title to White stuff on LL closing down plus Oliver Jonas
52 minutes ago, Zak said:

Way back, I seem to remember  that Walsh Double Glazing occupied both these shops.

Walsh Glazing Contractors is busy as ever and running a tidy little business out of their shopfront on Half Moon Lane. 👍 

  • Agree 1

Oliver Bonas mainly seems to be at big main line stations these days.  Perhaps that is where they want to focus in future.

They started off selling interesting household nick nacks, affordable jewellery, and cards but increasingly they are a clothing retailer.  The ED store is too small for that really. 

Obvioisly their main claim to fame is the owners wife left him for Matt Hancock.  Poor chap.

  • Haha 2
  • 2 weeks later...

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

    • Why would so many people who were at school with him be saying the same  things? Do you think they have all made it up, independently of each other? Why would they?
    • @CPR Dave - It is clear that Trump tried to unlawfully overturn the outcome of the election. He made false claims of widespread election fraud, repeatedly.  His campaign were behind the scheme to enlist fake electors in battleground states won by Biden (Trump went on to later pardon 77 people associated with the scheme). He very publicly fell out with Mike Pence for refusing his demands that he not certify the election outcome. Trump directed an angry mob (who were chanting 'fight for Trump'), to the United States Capitol to obstruct the congressional certification of the presidential election. He later pardoned or commuted the sentences of many of those who stormed the Capitol, including members of the 'Proud boys' a neo-fascist militant organisation, who had attacked and injured police and caused huge amounts of damage to the Capitol. It is absolutely clear that Trump (a man with 34 felony convictions and who’s been found guilty by a jury of rape) was trying to overturn the election, that he directed people to obstruct the certification process, and that he later condoned the violence that took place further by commuting the sentences of far right thugs. The fact that he is now suing the UK's publicly owned broadcaster (aka the UK taxpayer) is disgraceful. Anyone with any sort of national pride, should be telling Trump exactly where he can put his lawsuit. 
    • That is a fair point. However my understanding is at some point in the 19th century the Estate got the terms of the Edward Alleyn will changed to enable it to help support the private schools. The current Dulwich College itself was built on the proceeds of the land the Estate sold to the railway companies. Clearly I can't second guess what Edward Alleyn would want 400 years on, but I do think it is an open question as to whether things are the right way round - overwhelmingly the proceeds of his wealth supporting privileged education, and some bits round the edges going towards state provision/ private scholarships. 
    • The issue is computer games - all lovely ideas of yours but if you have a 14 year old that has 1 lesson of games per week at school and an excess of energy, short lunch breaks post covid and no inclination to do anything other that stare at a screen when at home then you are doing them and you a massive favour by finding a sociable active outlet for that energy.  There were climbing clubs at vauxwall & Brixton a few years ago when my son was 14. Wayne’s badminton club above is great.  My son got really into athletics at the Ladywell Kent athletics club (which I forced him to do for reasons above & he now competes nationally and loves it despite an initial reluctance through being unfit due to reasons above).   Btw, there was no pressure from me to make him train hard enough to compete nationally - am not a tiger mum - back fired a bit as I thought a bit of exercise would be a good idea but turned into having to spend most weekends taking him to athletics competitions in wet fields, so be careful what you wish for.. 
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

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