Disappearing shopsops

I have a friend who works for our council.
She said that all COVID has done is bring the demise of our high street forward.
I’m looking forward to the changes.

Mrsmopp
Start using some online companies then you will get to know who you can trust for quality.

Unfortunately we have now got the high streets we created ourselves. As soon as we let supermarkets start selling absolutely everything, with their buying power, they could undercut any small retailer. And at first we thought it was wonderful. All goods so cheap, and under one roof.

Now, we are reaping the "rewards" of our previous shopping habits, and the last year has only served to exacerbate the situation. So many have reaped the benefits of online shopping and ease of returns if it's not quite what they want.

I am saddened to see the demise of so many small retailers, as well as the bigger chains that have fallen, but accept that the high street that we knew and loved has gone forever.

It seem we now want the high street to be there for us when we want it, maybe for browsing or researching products, but not to buy from.

Hetty58

That's about all we've got here - not forgetting the tanning shop and tattooist!

We could all look gorgeous but not have any new clothes to wear!

I hope that as Covid recedes local councils will try to see beyond getting retailers into town centres.

This way of doing things has been on the way out for a decade or more, and it is pointless trying to turn back time. Far better to be ahead of the game now and think about different ways to use High Streets to give residents social centres and places to meet.

That's about all we've got here - not forgetting the tanning shop and tattooist!

We won’t recognise them in a few years.
It's already happened here.

Don't forget estate agents!

The high street will be full of what you can’t get on line. Hair salons, nail bars, charity shops, coffee shops and bars. Places to eat. Gyms. We won’t recognise them in a few years.

The high street was dying well before Coronavirus. In the future, it seems, there will be coffee shops, local small traders - and a scattering of remaining chains. They just can't compete with online retailers.