Mrs Chunk going in for a redundancy consultation next week. I wonder how many people are going to be in the same boat in the next couple of weeks, with things as they stand regarding furlough requirements.

Maybe use this to list firms that we know are having these consultations?

BP have just announce 10000 job losses

Yep us....Paradigm precision (aerospace) 55 to go out if 220 ish.

The way people have to queue up at shops and the sheer time it takes I can see many shops closing before the year is out. The days of just nipping into town or to the supermarkets have long gone, the shops and town centres were struggling before the pandemic, they have virtually no chance of survival now

The days of just nipping into town or to the supermarket are NOT long gone. It’s gone until this current virus is contained and defeated by a vaccine.

There is no need for this sort of overly dramatic rhetoric.

As yet, changes to our daily lives must be considered temporary.

bobinho wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:42 pm

The days of just nipping into town or to the supermarket are NOT long gone. It’s gone until this current virus is contained and defeated by a vaccine.

There is no need for this sort of overly dramatic rhetoric.

As yet, changes to our daily lives must be considered temporary.

Do you really think the independent shops will be open by the time a vaccine is found? Online shopping is going to completely squash the need for a town centre.

Town centres were on their arse long before this. All the systems and infrastructure behind online shopping will create new jobs, got to move with the times. What are we losing there, bookies, pound shops and eCig places?

I have no doubt that online shopping will continue to rise. But it is waaaaaay too early to start proclaiming town centres or retail parks are finished.

I agree the pandemic hasn’t helped but there will always be a requirement for people to go and see something and lay there hands on it before parting with their hard earned.

When we are on the safe side of this virus, shops will open again more or less like they used to do. No social distancing, no queueing outside for hours, you will go and shop like you used to. If for no other reason than the economy demands it - and as we all know, money is the driving factor in EVERY political decision.

Jelly belly wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:20 pm

Yep us....Paradigm precision (aerospace) 55 to go out if 220 ish.

Ah that’s not good news another good company supplying into the aerospace industry! I know quite a few that work there and they have been a customer of mine in the past.

You only need to look at the queues at Ikea to know that many are longing to return to actual physical shopping, even though Ikea has an online store.

martin_p wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:32 pm

You only need to look at the queues at Ikea to know that many are longing to return to actual physical shopping, even though Ikea has an online store.

Exactly, it’s a hobby to some people, a boring hobby but each to their own and I suppose I can’t say much being a test match Cricket fan

martin_p wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:32 pm

You only need to look at the queues at Ikea to know that many are longing to return to actual physical shopping, even though Ikea has an online store.

Probably because it's 40 quid for delivery for the bigger items

martin_p wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:32 pm

You only need to look at the queues at Ikea to know that many are longing to return to actual physical shopping, even though Ikea has an online store.

It will be a novelty in the first couple of weeks to go into different shops other than the big supermarkets, After that the queuing will become a hindrance.

Pubs and eateries face a virtual impossible challenge to stay open if they can only operate at a fraction of capacity due to the social distancing rules

fanzone wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:51 pm

It will be a novelty in the first couple of weeks to go into different shops other than the big supermarkets, After that the queuing will become a hindrance.

Pubs and eateries face a virtual impossible challenge to stay open if they can only operate at a fraction of capacity due to the social distancing rules

How much fun will a pub be if we have to socially distance?

Jel wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:23 pm

How much fun will a pub be if we have to socially distance?

I agree.

Once this all dies down people will be itching to go in shops. The novelty of online will have worn off. While the balance will have shifted to favouring online there will always be a demand for face to face physical interaction

For smaller independent shops the queuing due to only having the space for 2 or 3 people in at once could well be a problem (especially when the weather is bad ! )

If the type of goods sold is suitable, it's an idea for customers to pre-order and pay for things in advance and have a collection system. Obviously only works if they know what they want

Accurate Cutting Services in Altham (Aerospace).
My lad had a letter today telling him they have entered into consultation with him and others. The prediction is a 70% loss of business due to Covid19. He hasn't even got the luxury of being furloughed as he has been off since August after a serious shoulder break on holiday. Already had surgery which hasn't fixed it and is waiting to be called in anytime for another 3hr+ procedure. It isn't looking good for him at the moment

JohnMac wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:22 pm

Accurate Cutting Services in Altham (Aerospace).
My lad had a letter today telling him they have entered into consultation with him and others. The prediction is a 70% loss of business due to Covid19. He hasn't even got the luxury of being furloughed as he has been off since August after a serious shoulder break on holiday. Already had surgery which hasn't fixed it and is waiting to be called in anytime for another 3hr+ procedure. It isn't looking good for him at the moment

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a very unfortunate set of circumstances. Hopefully both his health and the economy recovers quickly.

The High Street is outdated and needed to shift towards online.
This should hasten the change.

Pretty much everything can be done online with less hassle than faffing about in a shop.
If they tightened up the sizing of clothes/footwear so they were all made to specific sizes then even clothes shopping would be easier.

When you shop online you tend to only buy what you actually need. When you go to the supermarket you tend to throw in a few items you hadn't planned on buying. The supermarkets want you in their store.

Safran 254 in Burnley & Rolls Royce 235 in Barnoldswick commercial aerospace in the area is really taking the hit. considering these companies actual produce a major component like an engine or a nacelle they tend to buy in 50-80% of the components so every job at companies like these is 5-8 jobs in the supply chain. The knock-on effect to local businesses will be affected as these companies pay well for the area and they spend in shops pubs restaurants gyms etc.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:52 pm

The High Street is outdated and needed to shift towards online.
This should hasten the change.

Pretty much everything can be done online with less hassle than faffing about in a shop.
If they tightened up the sizing of clothes/footwear so they were all made to specific sizes then even clothes shopping would be easier.

High streets have to adapt but I don’t think it’s outdated, it’s just another option for people.

I may be wrong but I think that in the longer term, this period of lockdown and queues etc. may actually make people realise just how much they do like to have shops in towns and cities.

Online will have to evolve dramatically to ever replace being able to touch and try the items that you’re buying. Not to mention that shopping, for many, is actually a social activity.

The biggest challenge shops have of course is the much higher overheads.

DCWat wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:00 pm

High streets have to adapt but I don’t think it’s outdated, it’s just another option for people.

I may be wrong but I think that in the longer term, this period of lockdown and queues etc. may actually make people realise just how much they do like to have shops in towns and cities.

Online will have to evolve dramatically to ever replace being able to touch and try the items that you’re buying. Not to mention that shopping, for many, is actually a social activity.

The biggest challenge shops have of course is the much higher overheads.

Agree with all that.

JohnMac wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:22 pm

Accurate Cutting Services in Altham (Aerospace).
My lad had a letter today telling him they have entered into consultation with him and others. The prediction is a 70% loss of business due to Covid19. He hasn't even got the luxury of being furloughed as he has been off since August after a serious shoulder break on holiday. Already had surgery which hasn't fixed it and is waiting to be called in anytime for another 3hr+ procedure. It isn't looking good for him at the moment

I assume this is “M” John? Give him my best regards, fingers crossed for a favourable outcome pal.

bobinho wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:23 pm

I assume this is “M” John? Give him my best regards, fingers crossed for a favourable outcome pal.

Yes Rob, he's having a tough time because of his shoulder. I'll pass it on mate, cheers.

fanzone wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:37 pm

The way people have to queue up at shops and the sheer time it takes I can see many shops closing before the year is out. The days of just nipping into town or to the supermarkets have long gone, the shops and town centres were struggling before the pandemic, they have virtually no chance of survival now

You make a very good point, town centres are on their uppers. A good friend of mine once had a cycle shop in Haslingden he sold lower end bikes and his main income was the sale of kids bikes mainly through his Christmas club where little Billy's mum and dad would pay weekly as they walked past during their shopping trip but then Tesco opened a mile away and that was the death knell for the shop. Tesco didn't sell bikes but the footfall fell to virtually nothing the end of looking in the window, superstores and the online outlets have finished it sadly.

Could the country cope with just online shopping?

Delivery drivers seem to get a lot of stick for not being very good. Every single day someone posts on social media asking for the local Hermes guy phone number as they have messed up their delivery.

The supermarket slots that only brought you half of what you ordered?

The 'Your parcel has been delivered' not my problem attitude.

how many people are getting fed up with them neighbours that order 50 items a day but don't answer the bloody door? I've stopped answering to delivery guys unless they bring Chinese food.

My partner works for in a small fashion brand which has three locations as well as an online presence.

Listening to the proposals; limited numbers, one way systems, no changing rooms, no touching the goods etc.
That could well see them retreat entirely from physical stores and see a lot of jobs go along with them. It removes the entire fun/social aspect of shopping which is essentially their store's business model. People will come in look around, see something, pick that up, go back on themselves, pick something else out, put the other back. Try on six items, ask their friends who are with them which they like best and eventually buy two.

Anyone who isn't Primark, Sportsdirect ie: nationwide clothing warehouses are going to struggle hugely. I can see a lot of small clothing, fashion, cosmetic & healthcare stores going out of business before long.

A lot of us on the forum are probably not making regular visit to these kind of stores but the amount of jobs they represent must be huge. Even high street stores I'm dragged to I've now got the upmost sympathy for. We spend 30 minutes in Lush just picking things up, holding them to our faces and inhaling, how are they meant to sell premium soap now? May not give a sh1t about fancy soap, I don't much but that's 109 stores in the UK and everyone employed in them.

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 5:20 pm

Once this all dies down people will be itching to go in shops. The novelty of online will have worn off. While the balance will have shifted to favouring online there will always be a demand for face to face physical interaction

You dont shop where I shop......

CombatClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 10:31 am

A lot of us on the forum are probably not making regular visit to these kind of stores but the amount of jobs they represent must be huge. Even high street stores I'm dragged to I've now got the upmost sympathy for. We spend 30 minutes in Lush just picking things up, holding them to our faces and inhaling, how are they meant to sell premium soap now? May not give a sh1t about fancy soap, I don't much but that's 109 stores in the UK and everyone employed in them.

Thats the point IMO there will ALWAYS be a demand for this. Less than before? Maybe but will always be there!

tim_noone wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 10:45 am

You dont shop where I shop......

Right I dont. Cant stand the pompous clientelle in Harrods im afraid!

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 10, 2020 4:05 pm

Thats the point IMO there will ALWAYS be a demand for this. Less than before? Maybe but will always be there!

Surely for these kinds of product stores drive demand, it's a premium product heavily that relies on people walking in, picking some up and saying 'ooo that smells nice'.
And that experience is probably not available to them until the end of all this.

I've driven into places and out again here because of the queue's. Needed lightbulbs and stuff, but wasn't going to queue for an hour to get them. Just came home and ordered them online.

DCWat wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:00 pm

High streets have to adapt but I don’t think it’s outdated, it’s just another option for people.

I may be wrong but I think that in the longer term, this period of lockdown and queues etc. may actually make people realise just how much they do like to have shops in towns and cities.

Online will have to evolve dramatically to ever replace being able to touch and try the items that you’re buying. Not to mention that shopping, for many, is actually a social activity.

The biggest challenge shops have of course is the much higher overheads.

Shops will start to disappear at an alarming rate. I own a shop and I am currently making plans to completely change the way we work.

Supermarkets will thrive, petrol stations with a shop will thrive, food outlets will be ok but the majority of small shops will go.

Its a combination of online shopping, Ebay shopping ( which a large proportion are fraudulent - do not pay VAT ) shoplifting ( which is huge ), customers just expecting to buy bits and pieces from a shop which has no profit ( ie newspapers ) and the worst part is a customer asking for information / details of a product then searching on their phone for the same product elsewhere at a cheaper price.

The overheads are exactly the same for any company.

Unfortunately, shopowners with just one or a few outlets cannot hire the legal advisors the online companies can to avoid paying taxes.