Lakeland considering selling up

Oh dear, yesterday I ordered a soup maker from them. It has a three year warranty, which now probably won't be any good.

They are a very good Company and I do not find the expensive; you get what you pay for. I shall be sorry to see them change.

Our nearest Lakeland is moving out of a town centre shopping centre and opening a concession outlet in one of our local garden centres which I think is a good move. It does not do really well in the centre but the garden centre is privately owned and very expensive (I very rarely vist!!) and it is always extremely busy in all departments - restaurant, garden plants, garden furniture, clothes, etc.

Boz

They are a very good Company and I do not find the expensive; you get what you pay for. I shall be sorry to see them change.

I agree, Boz

I’ve just seen Smiths has sold up too.
Seventeen stores will close this year, presumably others will follow next year. However, their outlets at stations and airports will remain as they are the most profitable. That doesn’t surprise me since anyone who has been unable to take a bottle of water through security at an airport will know that they charge a premium price for drinks at airports. Not surprisingly, these branches are profitable.

I was talking to a training manager from Lakeland this morning (friend of a friend). She travels all over Britain setting up new stores/training staff & systems. Told me the one in the Trafford Centre closed because of high rent. Said thats why garden centre outlets work better, profit wise. Apparently one in Inverness is relocating into a garden centre in March. She’ll be up there next week doing what she does!

Lots of stores were closing before they were sold.

In fact, according to Sky, they are still in negotiations to be bought.

maddyone

I’ve just seen Smiths has sold up too.
Seventeen stores will close this year, presumably others will follow next year. However, their outlets at stations and airports will remain as they are the most profitable. That doesn’t surprise me since anyone who has been unable to take a bottle of water through security at an airport will know that they charge a premium price for drinks at airports. Not surprisingly, these branches are profitable.

W H Smith haven’t sold up yet.

They are in talks to sell off the High Street branch of its business. They have approximately 500 on our High Streets with approximately 5,000 employees.

A further nail in the coffin of our towns and cities.

WH Smith went off the boil years ago. Their High Street shops always seem grubby and down at heel, and they don't seem to know what they want to be.

The upselling at the till annoys everyone - who goes in to buy printer paper and wants a Chocolate Orange? - and they don't do things like sandwiches or toys very well. I suppose they won't get the turnover on newspapers and magazines that they used to, as people read more online. They will be a miss in towns that don't have a lot of shops though, as some items are better than none, even if the range is limited and the prices high. If you can pop into a local store to get something it could well be more convenient than having to go further afield, but I think they tried to spread themselves too thinly.

We don't have a local Lakeland, but I do go to the city centre one when I'm there, and often order online. I love getting vouchers for Lakeland as presents, as they give me an excuse to buy things I don't really need but enjoy - the essence of a good present, IMO.

Yes GG, they are in talks, but seventeen of their shops will close this year. I’ll be sorry to see them go because I do shop in Smiths sometimes. I like Lakeland too, but rarely shop there as there isn’t a local one. We do have a local Smiths though.

Once the new scanners are installed and working at all our airports, and people are allowed to take liquids through and therefore not buying as many drinks in the airport, I wonder how long Smiths will last at airports too.

Oh I do hope they survive, it’s my favourite store.

My nearest one closed a few years ago.
I took it then, that that was not a good sign.

I also personally think, they used to come up with new ideas.
I did wonder how long they could manage to keep that up.

I think they are a wonderful company, good customer service and their three year guarantee is really handy. Yes they can be expensive but most of the items are good quality.

Don’t close Lakeland!

We don't have a Lakeland in my town or the neighbouring towns so not somewhere I shop. We do have a W H Smiths which I avoid as the staff are so hostile. I used to like Smiths when I lived in a city but the local one has put me off. Maybe a bit of staff training would help.

I think it is hard for all sorts of shops to compete with Amazon, their books are usually cheaper than Smiths.

It is hard for Lakeland to compete with Amazon, but they like M&S have such a solid reputation.

Maybe companies like this should just accept they have to squeeze their profit margins a bit as soon as their marketshare starts dropping, rather than to diversify?

Lakeland is available through Amazon.

We lost our local Lakeland last autumn and we miss it. Recently placed an online order to replenish our stocks.

WH Smith are selling all their High Street stores as we shop there less and less. they will concentrate on their airport and railways station shops, which are highly profitable.

To be honest I have wondered fir years how WHSmith survives on the high street.

We've not made a journey to Lakeland for years, Amazon is convenient.

Lakeland is online
Lakeland sells through Amazon too.

Allira

Lakeland is online
Lakeland sells through Amazon too.

We don't purchase many items now, we've what we need to see us out - Amazon have a big variety from which to choose (apart from Lakeland).

I use Lakeland online for bigger items, but enjoy browsing through the local stores.

I don’t think I have ever come out without buying something.

we've what we need to see us out

Oh, I know what you mean.
But I want some new things!!