ParcelHero research shows Brits miss Woolworths the most, along with Athena and Debenhams
Brits miss Woolworths more than any other store, new research from ParcelHero has revealed, even though the budget retailer disappeared from High Streets 14 years ago.
Despite the devastation Covid19 has caused across the UK retail sector since 2020, the home delivery expert’s survey discovered it’s Woolies – the market leading retailer of Christmas cards in the 90s – that is still close to people’s hearts.
ParcelHero asked shoppers which stores they wish were still on British High Streets and, while some they listed only vanished during the pandemic, others closed their doors for the last time decades ago.
David Jinks, ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, says: “Consumers are showing decreasing brand loyalty in the era of internet shopping, but still remain loyal to the memory of many former favourites.”
David revealed that the survey showed the top five most-missed High Street stores are:
1 Woolworths: Despite vanishing in 2008, it’s still the store Brits miss most. It seems we all miss the wonder of Woolies’ eclectic mix of competitively-priced products, from baby clothes to saucepans to that great Pick ’n’ Mix. As the leading Christmas card retailer in the 1990s, its great greeting card rival then was WHSmith, which topped out on everyday sales.
Debenhams: A close second, Debenhams closed its High Street stores in 2021, although it survives online as part of Boohoo. The department store could trace its history back to 1778. ParcelHero respondents said they particularly valued Debenhams’ beauty products, cafes and handy loos!
3 Mothercare: Shoppers say they really miss the fact they could buy large items such as prams, alongside smaller items including children’s clothing, in one shop. Mothercare opened in 1961 and closed its UK stores in 2019, though it is still represented on High Streets inside Boots chemists.
4 Laura Ashley: Founded in 1963 and a staple of every 1980s High Street, Laura Ashley went into administration in 2020 as a result of changing consumer fashions. However, the name can now be seen in many Next stores.
5 Topshop: By the time it closed in 2021, Topshop wasn’t the fashion leader of its launch in 1964, but its 300 UK stores were still a major part of the High Street. ASOS took over the brand, which continues as an online-only retailer. Ironically, in 1999 the UK’s first online fashion site, Zoom, was born out of Topshop’s High Street success and had its launch event at Topshop’s Oxford Street store.
“Our respondents also listed many other familiar names that they wish were still on the High Street,” David added. “Honourable mentions should go to BHS (the former British Home Stores) which closed as long ago as 2016, and the toy superstore Toys ’R’ Us, which disappeared from the UK in 2018.
“It’s interesting that most of the top five stores still have an online presence. Indeed, there was huge excitement over the fake launch of a new Woolworths site last year. However, ParcelHero has been warning about the dangers of a shift to online-only stores for some time. We believe a balanced brick-and-click approach will be best for retailers and shoppers alike.”
He also gave a special shout-out to three other long-lost British retailers:
Athena: The card and poster chain disappeared as a multiple chain back in 1995 with its infamous demise of the chain post-Christmas, when it was ring-fenced by then-owner Pentos; a bitter pill for many of the supplying publishers.
However, Athena is fondly remembered by the public for its range of iconic posters produced by its publishing sibling. Who could forget that famous tennis girl poster and the cute man with baby?
Many greeting card industry folk were involved with Athena’s publishing side, including ArtPress Publishing’s Janie Markham; Martin Nevin, formerly of Is It Art?, Emotional Rescue and now Pyramid International; and Danilo’s former licensing director Trevor Jones, who is still chairman of The Light Fund.
Blockbuster: the video rental store chain was once a vital part of people’s Friday and Saturday night plans. The famous blue and yellow stores closed in 2013, after the rise of streaming channels made hiring videos obsolete.
Tandy: Men respondents mentioned this electronics favourite, which closed in 2001. Back in the 80s it was a favourite place for buying graphic equalisers and 5-pin DIN plugs.
ParcelHero’s influential report 2030: Death Of The High Street has been discussed in Parliament. It states that, unless retailers develop an omnichannel approach embracing both online and physical store sales, the High Street as Brits know it will reach a dead-end by 2030.
Read the full report at: https://www.parcelhero.com/content/downloads/pdfs/high-street/deathofthehighstreetreport.pdf
Top: Brits still remember the wonder of Woolies finds ParcelHero (image courtesy ParcelHero, copyright iStock)
