High Street 2020 ? any ideas

[Chevvyf1]

We have "Out of Town" Retail Parks ... and "Business Parks" ... and Residential Parks too just as America (but 20+ years later)

We even have Trailer Parks ... for Mobile Home twin Residential Units - a vast growing trends (due to the number of people who cannot afford a traditional bricks & mortar home - or who have lost their home due to repossession )

But what will be in our High Street in 2020 ?

[Zuiko]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

Easy; there won't be one!

[Swordfish]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

On current trends I would say Charity Shops, Coffee Outlets, Mobile Phone shops, Pound Shops and 'Cash Converter' pawn shops.

Can't say I see anything reversing this trend.

Martin

[Chevvyf1]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

I am thinking a "Preview Store" huge like Debenhams or Argos etc., where product suppliers pay to be on view displayed and slightly less to be in stock to be viewed

Its the logic to reducing all the on line returns costs and its reasonable "Marketing" sales costs

Then Sales shops/Distributors like Currys Comet etc., are not needed

[Grumpy Hec]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

Interesting notion which I've also mused on in the past. Whether or not it could be made cost effective is questionable but the principle is very sound when you consider that we are increasingly asked to buy sight unseen.

Hec

[Chevvyf1]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

Hec, I really do like, nay LURVE Winchester

It has all the History and ruins one could wish for and a reasonable range of shops/items

Our Discovery Centre (was re furbished from the old Library) offers rooms for "Clubs meetings" eg local photographic groups as offers Classes on all sorts

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/library/wdc/whatson-wdc.htm

One of the Projects here in Hampshire, that bamboozles me is Whiteley Village - it was an out of town retail park - UNSUCCESSFUL - they have demolished it and are re building it

http://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/6165

http://whiteleyforum.net/cms/index.php/whiteley-developments/2-whiteley-village-construction-phase

Apparently, now with double height full glass front units - it shall be a success

http://www.whiteleyshopping.co.uk/flythrough

I guess we shall now soon, in Spring 2013 its a massive M & S ... who are well down on clothing/non food sales this year

[DerekC]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

On current trends I would say Charity Shops, Coffee Outlets, Mobile Phone shops, Pound Shops and 'Cash Converter' pawn shops.

Can't say I see anything reversing this trend.

Martin

About right there.

I find it hard to believe goverment spend a fortune paying so called experts to find out why town centre are dying.
Doesn't take an expert to work out that an out of town retail park, with free parking, shops, entertainment, food & drink under one roof is going to attract people.
They are also open all week including Sunday. I hate Sunday shopping got better things to do.
Talk to town centre shop owners they blame high rents and rates and parking charges.
Personally I don't like the big retail parks. Meadowhall is close to use I've been in once in 15 years.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

Personally, I HATE shopping

I have never understood friends who at the weekend, go off to this or that retail park ... and Blue Water - well the mere thought sends me down into a cave

One Outward Bound weekend at Langdale (Absailing; Rockclimbing; Ghyll scrambling etc.,) some of the ladies wanted an afternoon at "The METRO" centre ... well I thought I should "try it" SCARY I was much happier back in the Lake District in fell boots or wellies

I had ponies at age 5 and horses from 11 and they took up much of my weekends and school holidays and work weekends to

The best things for shopping are 1) on-line and 2) Sales of Goods Act (Distance selling )


BUT I do love to take the bus into Winchester, amble about - take a frothy Coffee or Hot Chocolate, amble about some more - Ruins, Galleries and Museums aplenty and lunch the bus (if its still running) home or a taxi rounds off a great day out ... sometimes I have even bought some things - is that shopping

[LMGruchy]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

I love charity shops. I love the books and the bric-a-brac. I used to buy a brooch every time I had a story accepted but have stopped doing that now.

I'm too mean to have coffee unless desperate. I like my coffee strong, anyway and I'm frequently disappointed. I don't much care for clothes shopping as I've never founs stuff to fit. Clothes sizes are bigger nowadays, but alas, so am I. Most of my every day wear comes from Regatta. But it's good to go walking in and I don't build u0 static like I do with polyester.

Locally we have quite a good high street, but it is a seaside (ish) town.

Sadly, the local independent bookshops where I was hoping to tout my wares have gone... probably due to people like me buying books in charity shops.

[Chevvyf1]

Re: High Street 2020 ? any ideas

[QUOTE=LMGruchy;197760] ... Most of my every day wear comes from Regatta. But it's good to go walking in and I don't build u0 static like I do with polyester.

... QUOTE]

I have kitted out in Jack Wolfskin furry fleeces amd waterproof/vented jacket (coerced shopping in Betws-y-Coed) and then online trousers and shirts from Craghoppers (half price in sale ) ... love these fabrics - breathing/vented easy wash and hang up drip dry no ironing and great for dogs leaping up or me slipping on muddy pathways