House of Fraser to close !

Oh dear, ours is closing. Not that I ever buy much there.

The world won't come to an end. The is not the first time House of Fraser has decided on store closures. Our store on Aberdeen was closed like many others in 2001 and 2002. These big chain stores want to be all things to all people and it doesn't work now. Our shopping habits have changed over many years and House of Fraser like M&S have not moved with the times, and like dinosaurs they will become extinct.

For anyone who deplores buying clothes which are made in other countries or are patronising about Primark, let me just say that the new KIN John Lewis brand is manufactured in China and their Bruce Oldfield range is made in Portugal...to name but two.

sweetcakes
It's all a matter of choice. I've never had any problems (and have had compliments) with clothes bought in Primark I've had lightweight trousers for 3 years which look as good as new and non-iron tops and blouses which friends (who definitely never shop at Primark) have admired.
I like to buy new clothes often and not feel I have to get my wear out of an item because of the cost.
I do like the KIN brand in John Lewis but again, it's not British made.
I like modern fashion, not stuffy Jaeger and the like.

It looks like the Metro Centre, Gateshead, store will stay open (for now) . I think it is very popular with those seeking their designer label clothes and handbags, fancy makeup and perfumes. Too expensive for me, but I am sad to see so many closures and job losses, wherever they are.

Our local HoF is on the list and, whilst it is very sad for the staff involved, I shan't mourn its passing. Despite a recent revamp, it still seems desperately old fashioned & stuck in a time warp harking back to its heyday in the 50s and 60s when it was locally owned & everyone shopped there. These days I rarely cross the threshold as we have quite a few of the concessions already in the town and, if I have ever wanted to buy something, it's been difficult to find a member of staff. I wonder what will come in its place or will it be empty for ever and a day?

quizqueen
Almost ALL goods in M&S and John Lewis, indeed, MOST shops, are made in Bangladesh, Poland, Turkey, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, China etc and that's a fact.
Even some ceramic plant pots I fancied in Homebase, were made in Germany.
Next time you go to a 'posh shop', look at the labels.

It's sad. I used to enjoy browsing in House of Fraser when I visited Carlisle. When my children were little, we visited Santa Claus there. It's a big store, and takes up a large chunk of English Street, I wonder what will replace it.

We are not to lose ours, then. It is part of a large well known shopping mall here, but there never seems to be many customers in there.

Here is a list of closings

The high street will look nothing like we know it in 50 years even less time. The contingent plans are already in place. I habe been told about this aboit a friend who works in planning of the future line.

The high street will consist of services you can't get online. It will be coffee shops, bar restaurants, hair and beauty salons, spas, supermarkets possibly and the like.

The high street will be parks and accommodation. You can see the start of it happening now. We live in a tourist town which is busy yet you can still see the shifting in that way

quizqueen I totally agree with you, primarks quality is appalling. I have bought a couple of jumpers ended up chucking them out after a few wears. If you don't use it you lose it.

Same where I am Greyduster, I've often wondered how long it can last, but I do hope it does.

I think the day of the department store is over. I don’t think it is entirely. We have every major department store represented in our city, as you would expect, but the one that is always busy and has continued to thrive for over a hundred years, is an independent family owned store. It caters for young (my daughter in law was most impressed with some of their designer stuff) and not so young, sells quality goods - everything from furniture to sewing needles - and I have shopped there almost all my life. It has stood the test of time when other independents and chains have collapsed around it. I hope it will as long as I last!

I think some people,me being one of them, might regret the demise of the department store, unless they have a car and can go to an under cover out of town shopping centre.

The beauty of the department store is, I think, that you can find many shops within a shop, which saves trudging around in the rain to each fashion store, crossing busy roads, etc.

I agree that House of Fraser and Debenhams appear not to have been managed very well. Debenhams, for instance, a couple of years ago spent millions on re-designing their stores and, in my view, it was not an improvement.

I don't think House of Fraser is any more expensive than John Lewis, and certainly nowhere near as expensive as Selfridges, Fenwicks or Liberty.

I can't understand why adults shop in Primark. It's just full of cheap foreign made crap. At least the department stores have some quality stuff that's classic and lasts a long time and you could often get a bargain in the sales. I much prefer the atmosphere of the department store rather than the pushing and shoving and chaos in the cheap shops. It's no good complaining about job losses if you don't support their business.

it is sort of sad but on the other hand the department stores have failed to keep up, move on or even provide basic service.
Example I went to John Lewis as I had vouchers and wanted a lap top. A horrible hot area, absolutely no staff, when I did find someone he couldn't be bothered looking at me.

Second example , the till in Debenhams I ask the assistant to check I have selected 2 sandals in the same size ( forgot glasses). Yes, she assures me they are size 5. At home I discover I have 3 and a 7!!!

GrandmaMoira
I buy quite a lot of clothes for myself from Primark and I'm 73. Shirts, tops, trousers, skinny jeans, dresses, sportswear, scarves etc and some homeware. I do, however, have to splash out on Bravissimo lingerie to get the best fit.

I've found the couple of Army and Navy stores I've visited marginally better than Debenhams. I can only agree with others regarding that store, I've always found them pretty dismal and they certainly don't display their wares and make the most of their spaces the way John Lewis do, who are also feeling the bite. I'm sorry A&N are closing and for the job losses that will go with that. I don't look forward to a high street dominated by the Primark, who I know are highly competitive in our throw away society. In fact I'll be really sorry if the high street disappears altogether and all we are left with are the online and highly questionable Amazon and the like who treat their staff appallingly

I'm a huge fan of Zara, Mango and Primark but do shop around quite a bit in John Lewis, M&S, Urban Outfitters, Joules and independents. I like looking online, making a few notes about things I've seen then either ordering,or going to the shop itself. Superdrug and Space NK are my go-tos too.
Debenhams and HoF seem old fashioned.

The House of Fraser near us is always fairly empty of customers. It's ridiculously overpriced.

Jenners was sooo beautiful, the staff addressed you as Modom and it had quaint, other era charm. Then HoF vandalised it into a homogenised, charmless edifice and called it modernising, BAH!
Mine, and all the private school uniforms came from Jenners. Sad times.

Only been in it once or twice, not my cup of tea. M&S is going downhill too. Looked at their £19.50 chinos not keen on them either.

I shop in Debenhams as it's one of the few shops that has clothes that suit me (and it has toilets!) but find it rather run down and old fashioned looking. It is also uncomfortably hot. I find House of Fraser looks smart but it's clothes are mostly very expensive.
I buy Primark clothes for my DGDs but don't think much of their stuff is suitable for the older generation, except for leggings.

House of Fraser have also shelved plans for a flagship store in Chester which was due to be part of a new renovation programme.
We will loose our local HOF at Birkenhead Wirral,in the same shopping area M&S closed two months ago the area is now full of £ shops and the like,so sorry for the workforce some who have worked there for many years.