Topic ID 506
I heard a rumour that W.H.Smith's were going to close down. Does anyone have any concrete info?
Reply ID 4690
That would be a massive negative to the appeal of Hertford.
Reply ID 4692
What, people would stop coming to Hertford if WH Smiths left? I doubt it.
Reply ID 4695
That would be a huge blow to the town[:0], unless some other similar chain took it over. I don't think that there are really any other companies providing quite the same service though.
Reply ID 4696
W H Smug have been cutting staff and hours for some time now. Not just Hertford in trouble but accross the company. Never quite the same store since they bought out John Menzies.
Reply ID 4697
What services would we lose if WHS goes? Books from Methvens, papers, mags and sweets from various independent newsagents, stationery and office supplies from that place on Millbridge, CDs and DVDs from Tracks and Woolies, cards from Clintons and various newsagents...and all of the above available online. Sloop's right, it's not been the same since they bought out John Menzies. The shame is that it will leave another empty shopfront if they go.
Reply ID 4698
Exactly. I thought everyone on this forum was pro independants?
Reply ID 4700
I have heard that WH Smiths in Hertford is "under review" with a break clause in their lease due sometime in Autumn 2005. WHS are reviewing all underperforming stores at present. If it went then I do not think it would be a great loss.
Reply ID 4703
Victor, Pro independents does not mean we want to exclude anyone that has more than one shop! We need a good mix of outlets and to talk up those establishments that don't have the resources of the chains. Given the size of the unit currently occupied by Smith's, it's unlikely that an independent could afford the rent. Paul, are you suggesting that we should walk round the town visiting all of these establishments individually instead of going somewhere where we can get all of these in one place? It's good to have a choice.
Reply ID 4704
can anyone really see an independent taking its place? im not a retail expert but I cant think what would take a unit that size? I dont think we d end up with anything better than a WHSmith thats for sure.
Reply ID 4706
I think the Hertford Chamber of Commerce should really be looking at the essential amenities a County Town needs. Banks, Chemists, Clothing Shops, Newsagents/stationers, Food outlets etc. I would be very unhappy if WH Smith goes, I cannot find writing paper anywhere and end up going to WGC and John Lewis!!! How daft is that!? WH Smith is not doing well, but if another newsagent/stationers was able to fill that space, independant or not, the needs of the town could continue to be met.. Its such a shame though....
Reply ID 4708
I think the problem lies in the whole Bircheley Green site. When I moved to Hertford it was my biggest dissapointment, when really it should be one of the biggest assets. I know a little off topic but are there any plans to redevelop it ?
Reply ID 4712
quote:Not really my point. Just that Hertford would not lose any essential services if WHS went. If you want to save your legs, you can buy your books, dvds and cds online from amazon whilst sitting where you are right now! You can arrange for a newsagent to deliver a paper and magazines to your door. And Tescos will deliver groveries for a small charge. I'm pretty sure you can find online office suppliers too! think Matthew has hit the nail by spotting that Bircherley Green was a terrible development in the first place. (See my entry on Hertford changes topic).
Originally posted by Steve
Paul, are you suggesting that we should walk round the town visiting all of these establishments individually instead of going somewhere where we can get all of these in one place? It's good to have a choice.
Reply ID 4713
I can and do buy online for a lot of stuff, but something none of us ever thinks about, because I assume we are not retailers ourselves, is the loss of jobs and people need employment, even if they man a till in a shop! Having lost three jobs myself, this, whatever your age or profession can be devastating. Buy online, yes I do, but I also like to look at shops, buy and see the merchandise and keep people in employment. Something we should all have a concern for.
Reply ID 4715
Maybe a Next or a Gap or some sort of clothes shop that does charge £90 for a shirt might be a good replacement. Failing that it would make a great venue for a nightclub!!!!
Reply ID 4720
The history of W H Smug is of a company entering a niche market and doing it well ie. selling books and magazines on railway platforms and organising the logistics to make sure they were there on time (unlike the trains - more time to buy books and mags). Now they have diversified into records, Cd's, cards, gifts etc etc. It has always amazed me that having established a retail chain they then advertise their on-line store which runs in direct competition to it, thus dragging down sales. And they haven't the necessary clout to rival Tesco etc on price. Smiths is not part of Bircherley Green either so the managing agents will give no help to securing a tenant. It is a huge store - unlike Your Move does not have office space above to offset costs - for Hertford that is, but still too small for the likes of M&S. Whereas Savilles managed to split the old sports shop into two units (which I think it was before) it might be beyond the owner who I believe is WHSmiths to do something similar. So who would want to buy it. I think it might become a huge black hole if WHS decide to pull the plug. And everything you can get at the moment in WHS you can get elsewhere in Hertford, usually cheaper. So, if you want to keep WHS in town then spend all your hard earned in there - just like the Buy British campaign in the 1960's.
Reply ID 4723
quote:If WH Smiths are the owners of the building, that's at least something if they really are looking to pull out of the town - there wouldn't be much point in closing the store only to have to continue to pay for the upkeep of the empty building. They'd presumably want to have sold it on first.
Originally posted by sloopjohnb
Whereas Savilles managed to split the old sports shop into two units (which I think it was before) it might be beyond the owner who I believe is WHSmiths to do something similar. So who would want to buy it.
Reply ID 4725
Last year I had a convoluted tour around WHS estates departments and their various managing agents when I tried to put the Town Watch aerial at the back of their store. So many people, so many offices. I got the impression they did own the freehold - if not, then they most probably have a sort of get out clause. All the same it would be one big hole in Hertford if they were to close. I asked a member of staff very jokingly about this rumour this afternoon and was met by a very wide smile. They weren't at work at the time.
Reply ID 5030
i think it'd be a shame to lose W H Smith... just for the sheer selection of magazines they stock... it's not often that i buy mags but for example local band Helgrind have a track on the free cd given away with this months Terrorizer magaziner... i don't think anywhere else in Hertford would have such a mag just sitting on the shelf!! what this town needs is another pub... ;-D
Reply ID 5262
My guess would be a music/DVD chain would take the space, consequences of that would result in other closures of out muscled stores around the town currently enjoying the lack of major brand competition in this area.
Reply ID 5266
Cant see that the town would support a HMV/Virgin type place of that size. Not enough business for them.
Reply ID 5277
WHS were hopeless on Saturday quite a few of the chart albums were out of stock .... poor stock control. Good old Woollies had what I wanted. I'd like to see a kids shoe shop in town - John Lewis and Clarks at WGC are both a painful experience.
Reply ID 5279
The Mercury quoted a WH Smith person saying it wasn't closing so maybe the rumours were just a bit of mischief. Either that, or the spokesman was lying!
Reply ID 5290
Yeah like there are weapons of mass destruction! Or Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere proclaiming their love in The Times.. only to file for divorce 5 months later! Whatever, we need diversification in our little town, or else what shops that are around won't get used..
Reply ID 5304
By the looks of today's Mercury there could be an indoor market in Hertford based on the Camden one. That would be great if it gets the go ahead I think. Would certainly provide the diversification factor.
Reply ID 5306
Old Hat! We bulldozed our Indoor Market down in late 1970's, it was where Barclays bank and other little shops are underneath what was the Corn Exchange Theatre! Blimey.. what a waste. The indoor market wasn't a success then it won't be now. We always seem to run before we can walk in this town. Our problem is extortionate cost of parking and lack of all types of shops in a County Town. Lets sort that before we do "bohemian"!
Reply ID 5307
If its true, I think it would be a great idea, especially if open on a Sunday such as Camden and Spittlefields. Parking is Free on a Sunday (at the moment!) Surely this would bring people in to our town to spend money, which in turn would promote more shops to open Sundays causeing a knock on effect for people to take over the empty premises. Just because it did work in the 70's does not mean it will not work again.
Reply ID 5308
quote:Agreed, especially if, like Camden, it has a few stalls selling pipes, bongs, rolling papers and endless varieties of giant ganja leaf print tshirts - should bring the punters flocking in [8D]
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
If its true, I think it would be a great idea, especially if open on a Sunday such as Camden and Spittlefields. Parking is Free on a Sunday (at the moment!) Surely this would bring people in to our town to spend money, which in turn would promote more shops to open Sundays causeing a knock on effect for people to take over the empty premises. Just because it did work in the 70's does not mean it will not work again.
Reply ID 5309
My experience of local weekend markets in small towns (not the periodic organised ones such as farmers and French ones), is that they mostly contain cheap and nasty tack. Hopefully this is the sort of thing we would avoid. Maybe have a certaim theme or speciality to it ?
Reply ID 5316
I for one am getting very concerned that our regular Saturday market is beginning to get all the trappings of a Boy Scout boot sale with goods displayed on cardboard boxes and plastic crates, containing cardboard boxes and plastic crates. If Kev Saunders wants to put his money where hs mouth is and have a go at bringing some sort of diversification to Saturdays in Hertford then he should be congratulated. At least he is doing something - as well as taking on the Music Festival! Brave chap.