Is BHS about to go the same way as Woolworths?

[dbboy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35834473

[titch juicy]

Genuinely didn't know it still existed. Thought it had already gone the same way as C&A and Woolies.

[Sue]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> Genuinely didn't know it still existed. Thought it

> had already gone the same way as C&A and Woolies.

It has a big branch on Oxford Street, near Oxford Circus.

Once upon a time it was good for things like lighting, but not any more. And most of its clothes are horrendous. I'm amazed it's still going really.

But then I'm amazed WH Smith and Boots are still going ..... and M&S.

[Loz]

Boots and M&S, I can understand. But WH Smith does seem like a shop selling last decade's goods at an expensive price.

BHS doesn't seem to have a market. It ain't cheap, but the goods are.

[Pugwash]

Looked at stuff in BHS Lewisham last week - all reasonable price and good variety. Was looking for duvet cover but the one I liked had only single or King size in stock.

Went to M & S as hubby wanted some shirts for his birthday and although got 2 shirts, they seemed to have reduced the size of their men's wear section and were offering a smaller choice

[maxxi]

bhs used to do a lot of cheese - always found that weird.

[Louisa]

BHS has just failed to move with the times. First ever branch opened in Brixton 80 odd years ago. They're kind of similar to woolies in that, we just assume they will always be there. If they are to survive (they've been given another chance), they MUST follow a similar route to Primark.

Louisa.

[PohSuan]

I heard rumours several years ago that BHS has been losing money and was only kept going as a vanity project for Philip Green.Rest of Arcadia group has been financially supporting it,alledgedly.

[Jeremy]

Yeah I'm sure that was the case until recently, but if you look at the article in the OP... Philip Green sold BHS (for ?1) last year. It's now owned by a consortium of (misguided) investors.

[dbboy]

BHS are likely to shrink in size so fewer branches in an attempt to reduce rental payments they pay annually. Would have thought a company of that size would have owned the freeholds.

So fewer stores, needing fewer staff with potentially a reduced range of stock.

[Lowlander]

A zombie chain. Am amazed they made it past 2008.

W H Smith only keep going because they have franchises in major railway stations, airports ad other high-footfall places. And charge a small fortune for drinks, tobacco and full-price books.

Boots...similar model now to W H Smith only with expensive toiletries...

[Louisa]

When BHS had a branch in Peckham (where Primark is now), they used to have a successful rolling 'guest' brand which hired a small corner of the store. I seem to recall throughout the 80's many of their branches had the same thing. In those days they also had a huge lighting section at the back of the store too which was incredibly successful. People would actively go to one of their stores purely to purchase good quality lights. In recent years, it's just been squeezed between Primark and M&S, with a dated and stagnent approach to fashion. Perhaps they should go back to their core strengths, and setup smaller stores specialising in lighting and guest brands.

Louisa.

[adonirum]

Louisa, when you state "must follow a similar route to Primark", do you mean they must now get their customers to throw the clothes/merchandise onto the floor after looking at them/it ?

[Louisa]

adonirum Wrote:

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> Louisa, when you state "must follow a similar

> route to Primark", do you mean they must now get

> their customers to throw the clothes/merchandise

> onto the floor after looking at them/it ?

You see adonirum, I feel that many folk who aren't keen on Primark because of that tatty side, but equally can't afford the more expensive options are probably crying out for a good cheap alternative (something along the lines of C&A back in the day). Although cheap, they gave the appearance of quality and value for money and most importantly on trend for younger people.

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

My mum used to work in BHS Peckham during the War..

One day on her way to work when she was 15 ish... a German plane flew along Rye Lane strafing..bullets..

A man saved her life by throwing her under the tail gate of a parked lorry..

BHS was later bombed..

Foxy

[adonirum]

Louisa, I'm currently using an old C & A coat and, all these years later, it's still as warm as ever.

Having said that, it's only because mrs.adonirum, when informed yes you can throw out my old green coat, accidently threw away my slightly more expensive Brook Taverner one !!!!(well, I'm told it was an accident)

[dbboy]

Foxy, thanks for recounting the story about Peckham BHS during the war, do you have any other stories you can share with EDF.

[Louisa]

Foxy thanks for sharing that story. She was very lucky. A was told by my late uncle a bomb also dropped on Jones & Higgins during the summer of 1941, luckily didn't do too much damage though. BHS was rebuilt in the 50's and won an award at the time as it was designed by one of the top architects in the country at that time. Again, the loss of BHS in 1992 was another signifier of the decline of the neighborhood.

Louisa.

[dbboy]

BHS, Jones and Higgins, C&A twice, M&S, Woolworths, Dunn & Co, The bag shop, Times Furnishings, The tobaconist on the corner of Rye Lane and Blenhiem Grove, Sainsbury's (the original which is now a Clarks outlet store), the Deli underneath the station arch, the hot chicken shop at the front of the station, the bakes/doughnut shop on Rye Lane, Finefare, the original small Tesco at the Heaton Arms end of Rye Lane.

[Loz]

adonirum Wrote:

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> Louisa, when you state "must follow a similar route to Primark", do you mean they must now get

> their customers to throw the clothes/merchandise onto the floor after looking at them/it ?

I always thought Primarks motto was "pile it high and watch it fall over".

[LadyNorwood]

When I was a child growing up in Worthing, our BhS had a deli counter right in the middle of the clothing section - I remember clearly my mother buying a grey skirt for my school uniform, a tub of coleslaw and a lump of cheddar....

[Sue]

Louisa Wrote:

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I feel that many folk who aren't

> keen on Primark because of that tatty side, but

> equally can't afford the more expensive options

> are probably crying out for a good cheap

> alternative (something along the lines of C&A back

> in the day).

I agree.

C&A were cheap but their clothes didn't become like rags after a couple of washes (or one wash if you're unlucky).

I used to buy a lot of stuff there when I was a student.

I can't say I would miss BHS if it disappeared. It's got no USP any more.

[Sue]

adonirum Wrote:

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mrs.adonirum,

> when informed yes you can throw out my old green

> coat, accidently threw away my slightly more

> expensive Brook Taverner one !!!!(well, I'm told

> it was an accident)

These things are never accidents - she clearly didn't like that coat :))

[Louisa]

LadyNorwood Wrote:

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> When I was a child growing up in Worthing, our BhS

> had a deli counter right in the middle of the

> clothing section - I remember clearly my mother

> buying a grey skirt for my school uniform, a tub

> of coleslaw and a lump of cheddar....

I too remember the food counter. In those days, BHS and M&S were pretty much on a par in terms of demographic and merchandise. What happened? Marks kept the food and upped the game in that area, but failed in clothing. BHS lost the food, and failed in clothing. Food is keeping Marks afloat, make no bones about it.

However, look what I've just found.

http://m.bhs.co.uk/h5/features?pageUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhs.co.uk%2Fen%2Fbhuk%2Fcategory%2Fbhs-food-store-5400210%2Fhome&TS=1458142550684&cat2=3219002

It appears BHS is trying to get back into the convenience food market.

Edited to add, Lewisham is gaining a BHS Foodstore.

Louisa.

[Louisa]

Sue Wrote:

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> Louisa Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> I feel that many folk who aren't

> > keen on Primark because of that tatty side, but

> > equally can't afford the more expensive options

> > are probably crying out for a good cheap

> > alternative (something along the lines of C&A

> back

> > in the day).

>

>

> I agree.

>

> C&A were cheap but their clothes didn't become

> like rags after a couple of washes (or one wash if

> you're unlucky).

>

> I used to buy a lot of stuff there when I was a

> student.

>

> I can't say I would miss BHS if it disappeared.

> It's got no USP any more.

Absolutely Sue. I always found C&A to have the feel and comfort of a quality department store, and yet it was never ridiculously overpriced like many competitors of the time. I still miss it greatly. Primark just feels dirty and like a warehouse.

Louisa.