M&S under threat

[megilleland]

Article in the Daily Wail today suggesting that M&S could be on a hit list of closures. To quote the paper: 

 

(extracts)

 

Stores which are vulnerable because the town centre is already in serious decline include Blackpool, Bolton, Boston, Hereford, Mansfield, Stoke and Sunderland.

 

M&S has not yet named the stores set for closure, which means thousands of workers are waiting to know if their store will go.

 

However, experts at the Local Data Company have compiled a list of areas that it thinks are vulnerable.

 

This list is not from M&S and it does not mean the stores involved form part of the official closure programme.

 

M&S said: ‘We are very disappointed that anyone would choose to speculate in this way. This list is not based on any M&S data and we have not published any locations. What we have done is outlined plans to improve our store estate over the next five years which include opening 200 new Food stores and selling Clothing and Home from 60 fewer stores.’ 

 

 

Doesn't give much confidence. I suppose when the Council and Balfour Beatty start digging up High Town in front of the store and close more roads into the city - it will be the final nail in their coffin.

[Colin James]

I heard that Hereford's store was very profitable and safe but maybe not...

[twowheelsgood]

Not sure what the Local Data Company stand to make from this report, save to heap worry on those concerned with the sites they identify (remember, this is speculation by a third party), but they're on the money with this comment;

 

Stores which are vulnerable because the town centre is already in serious decline include Blackpool, Bolton, Boston, Hereford, Mansfield, Stoke and Sunderland.

[Colin James]

According to the Daily Mirror in this article

 

This is the list of stores that are vulnerable to close based on the local data company report

 

Aberdeen

 

Ayr

 

Banbury

 

Barrow-in-Furness

 

Basildon

 

Birmingham

 

Blackburn

 

Blackpool

 

Bolton

 

Boston

 

Bournemouth

 

Brentwood

 

Bridlington

 

Brierley Hill

 

Bristol

 

Buxton

 

Carlisle

 

Chichester

 

Coventry

 

Darlington

 

Dundee

 

Durham

 

Fareham

 

Hereford

 

Hull

 

Kettering

 

King’s Lynn

 

Leamington Spa

 

Leeds

 

Leicester

 

Liverpool

 

Macclesfield

 

Maidstone

 

Manchester

 

Mansfield

 

Milton Keynes

 

Newcastle Upon Tyne

 

Northwich

 

Nottingham

 

Peterborough

 

Preston

 

Rochdale

 

Sheffield

 

Southampton

 

St Albans

 

Stockton-on-Tees

 

Stoke

 

Swansea

 

Swindon

 

Sunderland

 

Tunbridge Wells

 

Warrington

 

But I agree with two twowheelsgood all this report will do is cause unnecessary worry and anxiety to those people who work there and their families. 

[greenknight]

It is my understanding that the store is profitable and one of the best performers in the Midlands area however it is down to the people of Herefordshire to demonstrate its support for this iconic brand. The store has a family within it and there are certain customers who engage with it as part of their daily life routine.....

[adamski]

Whilst I agree with greenknight's sentiment I cannot help but feel that in many ways our high streets across the nation are facing a period of upheaval. Little things we do are not going to effect the groundswell change that is gathering pace. I don't claim to have the answers, I'm not happy about it, and I'm certainly not knocking M&S, just feel that we're all helpless passengers.