Disappearing shopsops

Disappointed.

I've been wondering what on earth a 'shopsop' was all weekend

Now I've discovered it's a typo

Apparently over 50% of the clothing that has been purchased online is returned - that doesn't take into account those, like me, that have several items stuck in a draw, unworn because you either couldn't be bothered or the return postage was nearly as much as the item!
I want to buy clothes that I can see the quality of the fabric, feel it, take a look at the actual style. Can't say that I always try things on when I buy them, but at least I have a better idea of how it will be if it is in front of me rather than from a photo taken on a size 10 model and I'm plus size!
Personally, I think it will go full circle as people realise how much wastage there is in buying online.

I’m looking forward to new, smaller, independent shops. I’ve hated the recent past where every high street looked the same with their chain stores. Surely we really don’t all want to look the same.
Shopping and bartering, buying and selling have constantly been subject to change and, undoubtedly, will continue to do so.

I don`t think it is completely our fault, the consumers,,, the exorbitant rents charged has contributed a lot to the closure , of especially the large stores.. they have complained about the rents for years.

We have lost several shops in our small town, but I have to applaud the ones who changed the way they do business. Many shops offered a ‘click and collect’ service after literally taking photo’s of new stock and advertising it on the local FB page. Pubs, shops and cafes opened up delivery services. Our local haberdashers (yes, we still have them) could be contacted and would go to the shop to collect specified items and deliver them. We have actually got a few new shops/businesses ready to open tomorrow, including the ubiquitous charity shops (I think our small town now has 14).

I'm not bothered about shopping in shops, as I rarely did it pre-Covid. I don't drive, and it is difficult to get to out of town 'centres', and in any case I think we should be cracking down on the number of cars in town centres to keep the air clean.

I would like to see specialist shops on high streets, with things like household items delivered with groceries. Clothes shopping as a leisure activity is showing signs of becoming unfashionable, which I think is a good thing. If we go back to buying good quality things less often, we wouldn't need convenient clothes shops - we could make occasional trips to the ones we like, as people used to do.

High streets could become community hubs, where people could go for entertainment, to socialise, learn, meet up, eat, play, whatever, with far less emphasis on consumerism. That would help to cut loneliness, cut emissions (if people aren't carrying lots of 'stuff' they could walk to town or take a bus) and stop high streets from decaying into grotty areas with nothing but charity shops, nail bars and boarded up windows.

With a positive attitude and a bit of imagination, we could change the demise of the high street from a problem to an opportunity .

I have given up on buying clothes on line. I am short, long legged and short waisted and nothing I have ordered has fitted. Jumpers down to my knees, trousers tight in the waist, baggy round the thighs. I shall e delighted when the remaining shops open their changing rooms. I just hope J Lewis in the town near us does not close. I heard today Argos is closing and the nearest Sainsbury store, where they are relocating is miles away, so our small market town now has half the High Street empty. Vey sad.

Oh my mistake then Casdon
I thought I had read they would be able to open when shops reopened a few weeks ago, but the point about enclosed spaces makes sense.

I will try again next week.

The changing rooms in all clothes shops have been closed JenniferEccles, not just M&S, because they are confined spaces. They are reopening from tomorrow.

Online shopping is convenient up to a point but nothing compares with going into a clothes shop and trying things on. The decision about whether or not to buy is taken there with none of the faff of returning things.

Having said that M and S changing rooms were closed a couple of weeks ago when I wanted to try something on, so they lost a potential sale.
I’m sure I read that shops were allowed to reopen them so I was surprised.

In our little market town, some old agricultural premises that housed tractors, workshops, showrooms etc has been re- vamped as a quirky furniture, pictures, clocks and such like retail outfit, with a vibrant cafe/coffee shop.

Brilliant.

Why do not people use the discount shopping outlets that are all over the Country, where (if you must) you can handle the clothes before you buy? Bicester; Cheshire Oaks are the big ones but consider Boundary Mill Outlets and we recently came across a good little outlet in Cornwall (near Looe). My husband likes clothes but needs to see to be inspired. Buying clothes is my "only vice" and I invest hours in online shopping and love it. The High Street; Crowds; Changing rooms - no thanks.

I have a wedding and a christening to attend this summer. A visit into my local large to shop for outfits proved just how desperate things have become. My local town was the epicentre of shopping for people as far away as Northern Ireland once, now, other than M&S and M&Co and 2 very very expensive ladies stores there is nowhere to buy any clothes. What a sad state of affairs.

There will still be actual shops. However the larger ones will be done up as places of entertainment where a cafe , luxurious rest room, and very comfortable and helpful changing room with skilled attendants are part of how the owner earns his living. Clothing shops will have mannequin parades, and comfortable seating areas scattered around. The clothing sales are almost incidental to the hospitality facilities.

There will of course be instore a skilled and creative specialist who can advise on styles for different needs and requirements.

Not only clothes shops but also furniture shops and even B and Q ,will flourish as places of hospitality and entertainment.

Plans for regeneration of town centres, or at least the councils that I am aware of, arent really putting much focus on retail in the traditional sense. As people have said this has been happening for years.

Our local town was pretty boring but now it is full of pavement cafes and restaurants and it is really buzzing all week and weekends,too. The clothes shops have more or less gone to the big indoor shopping malls and the supermarket has moved away up the road out of sight. It is actually an improvement and there is no graffiti now,either.

I’ve shopped online predominately online for at least three years, from a totally new kitchen, new carpets, furniture to clothing and shoes, in that time I’ve only returned one jacket. I use our village butcher, newsagent and local people for any house or garden projects. I’m hoping some empty retail units in town centres will be converted to housing, minimising the sprawl across green belt land.

We can’t have it both ways . Extolling the virtues of online shopping and at the same time moaning about and mourning the demise of the high street .

So many people saying they are never going out again blah blah ....Will only do click and collect etc ....Why are they surprised that the shops are shutting ? Probably the same people who complained about Woolies downfall but never shopped there.

Long before Covid there was an online revolution taking place which has simply escalated .

I like to see , feel , smell my purchases and enjoy the experience of going out and being part of the human race rather than be waited on by warehouse workers and delivery men and women.

The cost and difficulty of parking in our nearest town must affect business. The most convenient carpark is nearly £10 if you go over 2 hours and £6 for under 2. No, it's not central London. It's not particularly pleasant when you get there anyway. I wouldn't dream of going to a hairdresser in town for instance. The cost of lunch out rises dramatically too.

I am having a wing armchair re-covered. I could have ordered the fabric online, but preferred to wait until our local sewing and craft shop could re-open, as I really wanted to see and feel the fabric before buying. Couldn’t send that back if it wasn’t right after ordering online.

Also bought a pair of electronic salt and pepper mills from my local hardware shop. Same price as Lakeland, and no postage.

‘Shop Local’ if you can, although not always easy I know.

High Streets have always changed. Today's High Streets do not look like the they did in the 1950s, let alone any earlier.

I find buying clothes online, except in limited circumstances, far too much like hard work.

However for other items that are quite specific and I have, no idea where to find it locally, it is invaluable. I recently wanted a 23cm wide circle of clear acrylic, a 30m roll of garden hose that did not come on a reel and a wheelie bin storage shed (big and heavy and delivered to my door). I tried my local DIY stores and they didn't have them, so I ordered them online and I had them all within 2 days.

It’s actually pretty good where I am, a small market town which still has hardware, gardening, butchers, independent clothes shops etc. - and of course coffee shops, charity shops etc as well. I think those towns that never had a lot of chains (ours are mainly outdoor gear shops) are probably doing better than major towns and out of town shopping centres at the moment because through the lockdowns they were used more for click and collect and people are more confident to use them because they don’t have to travel to bigger towns. Maybe more high streets will go back to being run by small shopkeepers for locals, rather than be dominated by chains?

I do like your shopsops in the title mrsmopp ?

merylstreep there is no joy in shopping for clothes online if you think back to when you used to buy an item of clothing on the High Street you would probably try 20 items on and although they looked lovely on the rail, looked awful on you or just didn’t fit well.
By the time you chose an item online pay the postage, it arrives and you decide you don’t like it then you ve got to send it back, paying more postage, and start all over again

But everyone’s right the High streets have gone for now ours is dire but after we are long gone probably a few generations on someone will come up with the idea of having shops in the high street and everyone will laud this brilliant new and totally unique old fashioned idea

mrsmopp
Just stay away from the dodgy adds listed on the right hand side of GN pages.