GAME OVER?

[Iron]

And the fact that you need to pay your local council through the nose to use their town centre car parks doesn't help matters!

What I don't understand about council car parks is this: the people ultimately own the car parks, so why should the people need to pay to use something they already own?!? It seems to me that it's a backdoor tax - a way of paying for more equalities officers and health and safety inspectors...

Jeff

Go to asda/super/extra mart, 24hrs a day park easily buy it all go home... that is what I believe the high street is up against.

[Boing]

Coffee shops, fast food, clothing

[Euler]

Shares suspended this morning.

[Euler]

Cllintons has been forced into administrator this morning. Yeilds on retail property appear to be really under threat.

[Euler]

Reading the detail here it looks like a sneaky move by American Greetings to get a presense in the UK market on their terms. They buy the loan book from RBS, force Clinton's into administration and walk away with the company on their terms!

[LeTiss]

628 stores. That would be a devastating blow to the High Street if Clintons actually disappear

In saying that though, they are probably victims of the internet and technological changes. My mum is quite arty and makes some amazing cards herself. It appears there's quite a number of people that do this. The likes of myself, i.e lazy and a bloke, don't bother buying cards to send anymore. I just send texts or emails (unless it's my mum)

The world has changed and they are victims of it

[andyfuller]

I have noticed in the few highstreets I go to that these 'more expensive' card shops are being replaced with you pound store type card store where you can buy 5 cards for £1 etc.

I also agree it is an industry on the decline though, as the older generations die and the tech savy ones replace them there will be a lot less old dears sending cards.

Add in the recent price increase in stamps and all in all it doesn't paint a good picture.

[superfrank]

Reading the detail here it looks like a sneaky move by American Greetings to get a presense in the UK market on their terms. They buy the loan book from RBS, force Clinton's into administration and walk away with the company on their terms!

no surprise that RBS are their bankers!

it's no great loss. they are yet another boring chain selling dull cards and teddy bears to the tasteless mainstream.

the internet is a wonderful thing.

i don't think the sending of cards will die out, it's just that people will get them from different places. sending e-cards and txt messages is for the thoughtless!

[PeterLe]

I was watching a program last night on C4 about the sex toy industry..the guys who started it up are making a killing selling via the web (low overheads, high margin, 3000 orders a day plus)...compare and contrast that against Clintons