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Another store bites the dust ?

(14 Posts)
MawB2 Mon 24-Aug-20 10:16:19

As if it wasn’t bad enough that the practically new flagship John Lewis in Birmingham (Grand Central) has been axed, now my local Hotter shop is to close.
Yes you can buy shoes on line and I have done so during lockdown, but are they perhaps assuming that the customer demographic -“mature”- is unlikely to be out shopping for the foreseeable future? ???
A bleak prospect.

Charleygirl5 Mon 24-Aug-20 10:18:47

MawB I wonder how many they are closing because mine is as well. It has not long opened so I have not managed to get there for obvious reasons.

MawB2 Mon 24-Aug-20 10:23:36

It just says to me that “we”- their customer base- are not expected to be out shopping.
It’s not a nice feeling (and I speak as a keen internet shopper when needs must)

FarNorth Mon 24-Aug-20 10:57:57

Don't you think they'd be right about that MawB2?

MawB2 Mon 24-Aug-20 10:59:37

Writing us off though?

SueDonim Mon 24-Aug-20 11:27:30

My local Hotter shut down several years ago but a branch opened up within a local garden centre. A small department store also now stocks them - I wonder if that’s how they’re going to proceed, rather than have standalone shops?

Tabbycat Mon 24-Aug-20 11:36:21

Our local Hotter store hasn't re-opened after the lockdown eased. When you go on the website it says, "Your local store has now closed, shop online and enjoy £10 off your next order!"
The store in York is still open though, so I guess they are closing some of their smaller stores.

TwiceAsNice Mon 24-Aug-20 12:39:21

Don’t like Hotter shoes so not affected. It’s annoying when your favourites are not available though. I’m song mostly online shopping and went to buy some M&S boots I’ve bought for the last few years and of course I can’t get them this year. ( tried for weeks to get them in the sale but my size stayed out of stock) M&S never seem to get it right for their customer base unfortunately

TwiceAsNice Mon 24-Aug-20 12:39:43

Sorry still not song

NotTooOld Mon 24-Aug-20 13:46:26

I recently ordered some Hotter pixie boots on line. They offer several colours but in a size 6 they had only black and only one pair. Fortunately it was black that I wanted but surely at this time of year they would be fully stocked in all colours and sizes, wouldn't you think?

I'm another shocked about John Lewis at Grand Central closing down. It's only been open five minutes or so it seems. All those poor people losing their jobs too.

Millie22 Mon 24-Aug-20 14:04:07

It's just so hard for high street shops as the sales aren't there and the costs involved in running a store stay the same. One of my favourite shops Oasis is online only now. It's all a bit sad really.

kittylester Mon 24-Aug-20 14:12:34

There was an article about the new JL CEO, (I think is her title) in the Sunday Times Magazine yesterday and what she said about their shops made a lot of sense to me.

I think Hotter may have shot themselves in the foot (boom boom) because their target market is less likely to be on line. Though they will be in Garden Centres. One of our local garden centres has an Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop and a Cotton Traders. It also used to have a fireplace shop.

Grammaretto Mon 24-Aug-20 14:13:02

I only discovered Hotter a couple of years ago (when I came of age?)
I hope the Edinburgh store is still open but I wouldn't be surprised if it bit the dust. I haven't bought shoes online but there's always a first time.

I am cross that the locally run deli within a big garden centre is making way for a Sainsbury's Local. The big boys swallowing the little ones as usual.
There's a John Lewis mid reconstruction in Edinburgh. I wonder what will happen there?

kittylester Mon 24-Aug-20 14:15:46

We want a new unit for our 'playroom' so went to IKEA this morning. We got there at 10.30 and there was already a huge queue so we came home.