"Never knowingly undersold" - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week my wife had a little time to kill in Cambridge, so she went into a famous shop. Certainly in the past they used the phrase "never knowingly undersold" meaning if you could find it cheaper they would refund you. I think they have dropped this now with internet competition. 

They run as a worker's co-operative with staff sharing in profits. They seem to charge huge amounts for goods and they must be struggling in the fierce retail market. 

It would not surprise me if they do not survive in their current form. It is a nice shop, but they charge silly prices.

Shopping Habits - NOT amateur radio

More of us are shopping online. 

Gradually, over the last 20 years, the way many of us shop has changed. On the whole we are more confident that goods delivered to our door will be fine and, if they are not, they can be easily returned. No longer do we need to find car parking spaces (and pay for these) and we no longer struggle with heavy packages.

This means more retail businesses will go out of business and those that remain are working harder to retain customers.  In my view (as it has been for many years) is that those who will survive will have a strong online business and shops that remain will be mainly for browsing. Many of our well loved brands in shops may disappear. This is a trend that will continue. In a few years' time we may not recognise our high streets.

One retailer in Cambridge was selling Easter Eggs on New Years Eve!! This Valentines display reeks of survival.

In my view, High Street shops will only survive if they offer something unique. I expect the future will be more places where people can meet (cafes) and more flats for single people to live.

Shopping Again - NOT amateur radio

Today we went into Cambridge shopping again. 

This was the first time since last summer that we have been into the city with the shops fully opened.  All the non-essential shops are now open again.  

It was nice to see buskers and collectors with their tins again! I never thought I'd say that!

Several places have gone for ever. Most are still there.

Slowly things are returning after dark days...

Shopping - NOT amateur radio

Every Tuesday morning my wife drives to a nearby supermarket in their "geriatric hour" (between 7-8am). It is always very safe and very quiet when she goes.

She now has to wear a face covering by law.

Shops shut - NOT amateur radio

Quite a few of the businesses in our village are now closed. See the photo.

High Street shops - NOT amateur radio

This is probably the same in most countries.

Our High Street "physical" shops are losing customers as more and more of us shop "on-line". It is often cheaper and more convenient. My trips to banks are very infrequent apart from "holes in the wall" (cash machines) to draw out cash. We even use less cash these days!

In 20 years time the high streets will be very different. I guess they have always evolved, but few retailers will survive unless they radically alter their business models. We could see more big names disappearing. Independents are trying to plug gaps, but I cannot see many of the coffee shops remaining for more than 5-10 years.

It is hard to look into the future. All we can definitely say is that things will be very different in years to come. If you ask me, I would say we may go to some places to look, then ordering on-line for home delivery. What is certain is the retail trade is changing.

We are all guilty of making this happen. Whilst I like to support local, independent shops, it is hard to resist on-line when the local shops don't have stocks, don't intend to stock and are more expensive than online retailers who deliver to your door the next day for less than you pay in "physical" shops. Oh, to place the order from the comfort of your armchair takes 30 seconds!

High Street shops - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that shopping is changing. Many High Street stores have closed and they are replaced by charity shops, coffee shops or empty shops. More and more people prefer the convenience of shopping online. One finds what one wants and it is delivered next day to your home.

Yes, rents may be too high and the online retailers usually have a price advantage.

It is anyone's guess how the High Street will look in 20 years. It seems that retailers who adapt may survive. Those that don't adapt face a bleak future. It is not just shops: many other things will change in the coming years.

Shopping - NOT amateur radio

Every other week, we tend to shop at Tesco in Newmarket. We try to buy UK goods, where possible, to save on airmiles.  For in-between shopping, we use our local co-op which is owned by us, its shareholders. Every purchase of co-op goods earns us cash back. Prices are not at all bad and we can walk there and back.

Like nearby Waitrose, we are appalled that the big supermarkets use so much plastics and are vague about recycling. Surely supermarkets the world over should insist on using recyclable materials always. They have only to say to their suppliers and they would jump.

Local shops - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky in that most things you need every day are still available in our village.

We have several supermarkets, a post office, bakers and butchers, hairdressers, paper shop, chemist, dentist and doctor. Otherwise (if you are old!) it is a free bus ride to Cambridge or Newmarket.

Gradually the smaller shops are going and they are struggling these days. I still prefer our local soft rolls, sausages and bacon.

UK retail - NOT amateur radio

For some reason, my wife likes shopping at Waitrose, a  major UK food retailer, part of the John Lewis Partnership.

In recent years, like most high street retailers, they have found the going tough. John Lewis tends to have loyal customers, but I feel even these are going elsewhere for some of their shopping. Take our Newmarket Waitrose. I feel sure that when a local Aldi opens up they will suffer as some people will buy some of the same brands there at lower cost.

It was even reported in the newspapers that Amazon approached Waitrose last year, informally, as they want to buy a major UK food retailer.

No, the retail market is a very tough business. The companies that will survive will be those that have an attractive high street shop and an online business. Those that do not are likely to fail. Sadly, many of us now buy online. This is the reality of the 21st century. Adapt or die.

Retail - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that the retail trade is changing. Recently we heard that Toys R Us and Maplin were in administration and today even John Lewis reported greatly reduced profits. People nowadays shop far more online and less in traditional shops. I have no idea where this will end.