Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 3118
Loc: Essex
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25 of their simply food stores and two normal stores. Truly a sign of the times.
I thought that M&S was one the strongest areas of their business but obviously not.
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PLASMO
member
Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 12492
Loc: FLOUNCELAND
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Glitter Queen,
My OH is awaiting news today as he works part time in one of the Simply Food stores, it is indeed a worrying time.
If his store doesnt meet the criteria, he will be out of a job.
Plasmo x
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Splash123
member
Reged: 04/05/2008
Posts: 4096
Loc: South Glamorgan
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We have a fairly new Simply Food near us and another one that is due to open ....wonder if they are safe... i use it a lot... too much really as it is so handy and close to home!
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www.cardiff.hilton.com/womenandhomelunch.
http://www.bellinisitaliano.com/gallery.htm
http://www.visitcardiff.com/What-to-do-and-see.html
http://www.visitcardiff.com/What-to-do-and-see.html
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Loo
member
Reged: 09/01/2008
Posts: 2355
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Yes, but there simply food stores are in some weird places. There is one on the A13 near Stanford le Hope. You can't see it from the road or even from the petrol station, which is near. So who goes there?
And the turn over of food, must go past sell by date very quickly.
I think it was a gamble, which obviously didn't work for 27 outlets. Which is not very many in the grand scheme.
Loo
PS BOILER HAS BROKEN!
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...as in Looby Loo
This is me, with Andy Pandy and Teddy.
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chilla
member
Reged: 05/09/2008
Posts: 5916
Loc: runcorn
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Fingers crossed for you O/H Plasmo.
i think food stores have been suffering because it's easy for people to food shop more cheaply and M&S food has been expensive, though decidedly good quality.
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I have the talent of single-minded determination and foc....hey, look, dog!
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Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 3118
Loc: Essex
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Plasmo i'm so sorry to hear that I hope the news is good for your OH.
Loo - can't believe your boiler is broken. Is it a condenser type?
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amelica2
member
Reged: 21/07/2008
Posts: 5848
Loc: Never Never Land
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Plasmo
Hope your OH gets good news and not bad. What a sign of the times.
Loo - thanks for help on avatar... will attempt it later - watch this space!!
amelica2
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Practically perfect in every way
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Chipmunk
member
Reged: 02/02/2008
Posts: 2671
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Hi Plasmo, hope its good news for your OH! and the store he works in is one that is staying open.
My d works part time in our local sainsburys, has done for the past 4 years, she has always worked at least 20 hours a week, sometimes full time when she is back from uni. Her contracted hours are 14 and as of last week everyone in the store has been told no-one will be working anymore than their contracted hours. Have to say I am surprised but it is obviously a sign of the times. Now I will complain if I have to stand in a queue if there is not enough checkout operators.
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Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 3118
Loc: Essex
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Chippie, I so agree with you - I hate having to queue.
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RunGirl
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 1299
Loc: South East London
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My stepdaughter works in their head office and we're really worried that she might lose her job as she hasn't been there very long. She is getting married next month and it would be awful if she were to lose her job now. My OH hasn't heard from her today and she would definitely have rung him if she'd had bad news so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
These are the stores which may be closing -
Grafton Centre, Cambridge
Bracknell
Torquay
Imperial Wharf
Harbourside Bristol
Newtownards
Trowbridge
Letchworth
Huntingdon
Marlborough
Braintree
Caversham
Balham
Palmers Green
Colmore Row
Evesham
Tewkesbury
Whitley Bay
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Biggin Hill
Sudbury
Ripon
Melton Mowbray
Honiton
Market Harborough
Valley Park Croydon
Woking
I use the Biggin Hill one occasionally, and it never seems very busy compared to other Simply Food stores which I use....
Plasmo, I do hope your OH's store is not among them x
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Tigerfeet
member
Reged: 29/10/2008
Posts: 1707
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Plasmo - I hope your OH is OK. x
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Lillie
member
Reged: 04/06/2008
Posts: 4530
Loc: Sandhurst, Berkshire
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Does anyone know if the large branch in Camberley Berkshire will close ??
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Loo
member
Reged: 09/01/2008
Posts: 2355
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Lillie, its the Simply Food stores that are closing. Your Camberley branch of normal M&S is one of their great shops. I have heard about it, its famous. It's huge isn't it. Don't think that would go. At least not in this first phase of down sizing.
Loo
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...as in Looby Loo
This is me, with Andy Pandy and Teddy.
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Lillie
member
Reged: 04/06/2008
Posts: 4530
Loc: Sandhurst, Berkshire
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Oh yes thats right Loo its just the smaller stores, silly me lol !
I must admit the Camberley branch is very big and my favourite store of anywhere lol
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PLASMO
member
Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 12492
Loc: FLOUNCELAND
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RunGirl,
Thank you so much for that, OH has just gone into work for his afternoon shift, and havent heard anything, and as his branch isnt on your list that could be good news. I do hope the news is good for your stepdaughter, and of course how sad it will be for all the people in the stores that are closing and who will be without a job. My heart goes out to them all.
Hope you are okay.
Plasmo x
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feathers
member
Reged: 20/05/2007
Posts: 563
Loc: Tyneside
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Whitley Bay???? I understood it had the highest footfall per sq ft outside Oxford Street. It is tiny, however, and they have opened a food hall in their new shop at a retail park (Silverlink) about five miles away. Still, not the same as being able to walk.
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Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 3118
Loc: Essex
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There was a rumour in our town last year that we were getting an M&S foodstore. Doesn't seem likely now.
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Mollymandy
member
Reged: 01/08/2008
Posts: 1511
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Whilst I have complete sympathy with anyone who will be made redundant as a result of these closures, feel that M&S seem to have lost the plot as far as there stores are concerned these days and I am not surprised that there has been a downturn in their profits.
The clothes have been dire for the last year and the food is overpriced and, on the whole, a bit bland (except their sticky toffee pudding!). Even the underwear seems to have lost the plot - it is all so samey and nothing pretty and original - I found it truly difficult to spend a £50 gift voucher and ended up using it for tights and candles and a supply of birthday cards. Why do retailers assume that if you are a 38" bra size that you have a double EE or larger cup size!
I tried on four pairs of trousers - all the same size and all fitted (or didnt fit) differently : cheap fabric and all missed the style side... A load of tut as Snowy said a while ago.
I appreciate that M&S Telford is hardly M&S at Bluewater, but there was absolutely nothing which either my OH or I found particularly tempting (even before Christmas).
After the M&S downturn a few years ago, Rose seemed to have turned it round, but it has sunken back into a torpor. Bring back George Davis to do some designing - Per Una doesnt seem to have moved forward at all since he fell out with Stuart Rose.
Heard on the grapevine that Laura Ashley were having difficulties, so maybe them next. Also the dreadful Land of Leather will be the next furniture (loosely speaking) business to call in the receivers.
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Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 3118
Loc: Essex
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Mollymandy I can't say that i'm surprised about Laura Ashley I think they havent moved with the times and their clothes are way overpriced.
Probably the last time I spent any money in there was in the 1980's when their wallpaper was de regueur.
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cupcake
member
Reged: 15/02/2008
Posts: 5982
Loc: On top of the world!!
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I used to be a big fan of Laura Ashley. Now it is so frumpy I wouldn't buy anything.
M and S is also very frumpy...actually I have never been a fan They never have anything I would wear except for their undies and they have been a bit odd lately. I have a £20 gift card...I'll probably buy food just to use it.
Very sad to see so many shops closing though.
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