Metropol

Zavvi has been on the cards since before its rebrand. Branson funded the management buyout and rebrand so that a Virgin company wouldnt be seen to go under.

I would tip the following companies facing serious trouble over the next few months:

JJB
Jessops
Foot Locker (ironically owned by the original FW Woolworth, now Foot Locker Inc.)
ITV Plc
The Works
Waterstones
TK Maxx
Comet
Focus
Game
The Entertainer

Sput wrote:How about Littlewoods? I've never been there and could never understand why anyone would ever go in.

They've all been shut for sometime now, the one in Warrington Town centre has been a ghost town for about a couple of years now, prior to that it used to be Index, which was doomed anyway.

I think TK Maxx stand to do well, what with tight people loving it. It's always rammed in manchester, along with primark.

The Works and TKMaxx shouldn't be on your list. Most of these budgetty places are going to do well as people shun the more expensive stores.

I do wonder what'll happen with Apple stores. Depends if they do something cheap in January, I guess, but they could get pretty shafted if people really tighten up.

Apple do OK, their stores are always nice and busy, and not just with people 'browsing' (having a play with the macs), but people seem to buy a lot too. Laura Ashley might fold soon, because they don't even offer incentives for people to go in, unlike the shiny tech stores.

Multinationals won't fail, some stores might close or shrink but no closures. Apple won't be going nowhere, they do very well through bricks and mortar stores.

Whataday wrote:I would tip the following companies facing serious trouble over the next few months:

JJB
Jessops
Foot Locker (ironically owned by the original FW Woolworth, now Foot Locker Inc.)
ITV Plc
The Works
Waterstones
TK Maxx
Comet
Focus
Game
The Entertainer

Most I can see going down the tubes or being brought out, not so much for Foot Locker or TK Maxx for reasons mentioned. Is ITV listed there? They've been in the shitter for years now, only way is down I reckon. Oh, add Esporta to that list, health clubs will find it hard to stay afloat.

Sput wrote:I think TK Maxx stand to do well, what with tight people loving it. It's always rammed in manchester, along with primark.

Agreed, plus TK Maxx is an American organisation which does very well, albeit it's called TJ Maxx, in the UK it's TK so it doesn't confused with TJ Hughes.

For some reason I can't see WH Smith doing too great next year, they've cut back dramatically in the last few years.

Lorns wrote:

Malpass93 wrote:

Lorns wrote:Well whaddaya know. This place is first for all the news.
I woz reading your predictions about Zavvi going under the guillotine here last night and lo and behold today its happening. This place has magic powers or is cursed.

* scary woo noise*

JJB will be next.

[/hoping Lorns is right]

I do hope not. Nobody wants to see thousands more people unemployed at christmas. Or any time of the year.

There is a wee bit of hope for our high street. According to SE news the other night more French and Belgians have been channel hopping to spend their Euros over here.

Fair point. I wouldn't want people to lose their jobs, I just HATE JJB.

Whilst we talk about the credit crunch, and companies going bust, look who's back!

http://www.travelcitydirect.com/

I think JJB Sports will almost definally go into administration by Easter. JD Sports has the teenage market now, Soccer Sports/Sports Direct has the cheap chav market, there isn't really much left for JJBs

Dixons group will survive, I think people's views that everyone shops online now are slightly skewed due to this being an internet forum, many people will still shop for electricals in stores

Littlewoods are now the market leader in mail order and seem to be doing really well