Metropol

Toys R Us are going in to administration, unsurprisingly: https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -jobs-risk

Maplin used to have a nice niche for itself. If you were a hobbyist (or a professional stuck on a job) and wanted to just buy one component or one connector rather than buy them from a wholesaler who would only sell you 50 of them then Maplins were your best bet (particularly after the demise of Tandy). They always had a huge range in stock and they had people who knew what they were talking about to advise you.

Since then though, other businesses (both bricks & mortar and online) have started doing Maplin better than Maplin, whilst Maplin itself has become a confused mess of being a cross between Currys and Hawkins Bazarr, whilst also trying to fulfil it's original premise but doing a second rate job of it.

The last time I went to Maplin was 2014 (says it all when I can remember how long it was!) to buy a telephone extension lead for £11.99.

Last time i went to maplin was during the virgin media v6 box installation disaster where they forgot to send, then denied the existence of (despite it being in the instructions) a mythical connector to get the thing working.

It was a Type F satellite to normal coax female adapter. Went to maplin, bought for £3, had TV working that night.

EDIT - no actually that's a lie, that was the last successful trip to maplin. Also went looking for a dehumidifier but they only had shit ones for boats. Ended up going to Argos who had a better range.

Oddly, Dundee (4th largest city in Scotland) doesn't have an argos extra, but a 13 mile drive into bumpkin-land Fife and the Argos Extra of your dreams exists with *EVERYTHING* in stock.

It's official. Toys R Us have entered administration. It was only a matter of time really.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43225248

And Maplin has now entered administration too.

Mothercare, Debenhams and Carpetright all looking dodgy

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... is-spreads

I can see Debenhams being acquired by Sports Direct. Mothercare and Carpetright are looking particularly dodgy.

Martin Phillp wrote: Sat 03 Mar, 2018 13.02 I can see Debenhams being acquired by Sports Direct.

What, really?

all new Phil wrote: Sat 03 Mar, 2018 20.06

Martin Phillp wrote: Sat 03 Mar, 2018 13.02 I can see Debenhams being acquired by Sports Direct.

What, really?

A possibility as SD has increased its share holding in Debenhams to 29.7% ( at 30% they would have to put an offer in to buy the remaining shares ), however SD holds similar stakes in other companies and never crossed the 30% threshold, so a bid is far from a certainty

Missed this one.

Looks like New Look are struggling too:
New Look seeks 60% store rent reduction ... -12bn-debt