Cinnamon Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Announced today that La Senza & Past Times are both to go into administration Shame - both shops I like & use fairly regularly....La Senza is the only place where the daughter can get a cup sized bikini to fit her properly. I mentioned on another thread that I suspect The Body Shop may be struggling too,as they seem to constantly have offers on & keep bombarding me with discounts & free gifts It is always a pity when well known high street retails go under,but this time of year makes it all more poignant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Aww! I love Past Times! Maybe they'll be bailed out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Rent usually falls due on the quarter days (21 December) and it's when they can't meet rent liabilities that they have to declare insolvency, that's why you see a lot around now, and there'll be another batch no doubt in March. I thought Past Times had gone under once before - or perhaps it was bought up. Times are hard. I feel sorry for the staff, not a great time to hear you'll be losing your job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 I've never shopped at La Senza and what a shame about Past Times I love their Victorian jewelry. I had seen a chicken cushion on their website and asked OH to pop in the store in Inverness last week to buy one. The store was no longer there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 OH!!!!!! I was in Past Times yesterday, I love that shop!! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Shame I also thought Past Times had gone under once before. The shop in Birmingham was closed for a good while but has been open again for ages. Lovely shop, I'll miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 24, 2011 Author Share Posted December 24, 2011 .............Apologies for starting such a gloomy thread during the festive period Blacks,Barretts & Thomas Cook are all on the brink too, apparently. Tough times ahead for 2012,I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 A mate works in Next and said all the staff are disgruntled with coming in for opening at 6am on Boxing Day (at regular pay too, not even time and a half!). Even Xmas day has been scheduled as a regular rota'd day off! But... management have said, they have to satisfy the shareholders and with the current high-street doom and gloom, if staff want their jobs - well they either like it or lump it - what an awful situation to find yourself in Made me feel quite sad about wanting to grab a bargain light fitting or pair of shoes. I feel for all shop staff - how to ruin Xmas in one fell swoop. Seems such a shame but stores are so desperate to get the money from our wallets that they don't care about/ignore the morale of their staff and can't afford to stay closed on Boxing Day and lose out to internet sales. So if you go to Next on Monday and are greeted with a cheery smile, be sure to give them one back - I don't know how they do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 I am really not at all surprised about Pasttimes, shame though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 I have to say I'm not surprised at all really. Blacks share prices were down to 0.75p each on Friday, the weather really hasn't gone their way this year either, meaning they've been left with loads of stock they couldn't shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 & now Hawkins Bazaar...full of tat & the oddd gem for stockings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I once tried to order a ring from a Past Times catalog. A very unhappy-sounding guy took my order which I never received. They didn't charge me for it either so no big deal. It was just the only time I can think of where a retailer acted like they didn't really want to sell me anything.They must have tried to expand into the States in the mid-90s, but it didn't work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 ISTR that Blacks nearly went under a while back and somehow pulled through. My experience with them is they never quite have what I need. It is a shame, but they have lost their way. They used to be a good camping store but now it is cheap tents and designer label clothes. Not what you need when heading outdoors. Lots of other places do much better and I think they have suffered now that real outdoor specialists in Wales and the Lake District can sell online. I have never heard of Past Times but since I am not a fan of old fashioned styling I guess I would never have looked at it or gone in there. La Senza - I have a dressing gown that my husband bought me and I never wear because it is skimpy and not warm or practical. Last time I looked in there they really didn't have anything I liked and nothing in my size. Seemed to be quantity rather than quality. I think a lot of retailers will have to rethink what they do and offer a service that distinguishes them from the online only retailers, and therefore for which shoppers will be willing to pay extra. Staff will be expected to deliver more for less, as they are in every other industry and the public sector too. A sad sign of the times, and it is likely to get much worse. Retail is going to have to contract and be replaced with other industries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Like Docsquid, I don't use either store but I have noticed that the local branches are closing down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 The Blacks in Leicester is EXCELLENT with really good staff. I like how I can buy boots and wear them around the house for (up to) 28 days to see if they're OK - if not, I can take them back. The Millets (which is part of the same organisation) in Leicester had a huge sale recently (http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=83922&sid=08fe441efdaba42c04ed91f74fa1fe66) which led me to believe they might be in trouble. Such a shame - for the staff - and for customers. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 JD Sports has confirmed it has acquired the assets of outdoor clothing retailer Blacks Leisure for £20m, also La Senza was bought by an Arabian retail group, saving 1,100 jobs. More here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Sea France have now gone too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 It's a shame but it'll sort out the ailing business; sort of wheat/chaff scenario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Kodak have just filed for bankruptcy. Very sad - they were a British institution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Sad news about Kodak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 My daughter works for Peacocks, so we're still hoping a buyer will be found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
