Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[GatwickDepress]

Clinton Cards may disappear by what I am lead to believe, https://www.theguardian.com/busines...o-close-a-fifth-of-stores-to-avoid-going-bust Clintons has gone into receivership a number of times, and the fact that other shops sell cards such as Card Warehouse etc for a fraction of the price its no surprise either, my guess is one day the finance houses will have had enough and the company will totally fold.

The likes of Etsy and Moonpig has no doubt had an impact too, allowing for far more personalisation for not much more money than Clintons' 'premium' cards.

The only reason I ever went into Clintons was to pick up a traditional Mothering Sunday card for my traditional granny, but they stopped doing them (at least in my local store) so I now buy it from Etsy.

 

[richw]

Asda are in the midst of extricating themselves from Walmart’s systems. They’re implementing SAP. It’s going about as well as the typical SAP implementation *








* consultants are making fortunes and burnishing their glowing CVs despite the realities on the ground

What is SAP?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What is SAP?

SAP, pronounced as individual letters, is (so they claim) one of the world’s leading producers of software for the management of business processes. Founded in 1972, the German company was initially called System Analysis Program Development (Systemanalyse Programmentwicklung), later abbreviated to SAP.

 

[birchesgreen]

What is SAP?

One of the biggest software companies in the world, they specialise in business operations systems (requisition systems, stock control et cetera). Complicated stuff which, lets just say, isn't always the easiest to implement and get right. At my previous company they were just beginning a changeover to SAP which was already becoming a bit of an... experience.

 

[gg1]

SAP, pronounced as individual letters

I worked for a company which used SAP around 20 years ago and where everyone pronounced it as a word. It was only years after I left I discovered everyone (including the IT people) had been pronouncing it wrong.

 

[Kite159]

I will always go for a look in HMV (I collect media) but outside of clearance sales the prices of DVDs and Blu-Rays is always terrible value for money. We're talking triple what CEX want in some cases. With the rise in streaming, and the new merch being the same as most other stores, I'm wondering how HMV are sustainable and if they have a long-term future.

Probably make most of their money from hardware (including teeshirts) & vinyl sales than from movies.

Certainly the last time I went into a HMV the physical media area (CDs, DVDs/Blu-Rays) was pushed right to the back of the store.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yes, ironically perhaps, the future of HMV and any independent music retailers that might possibly be left clinging on by the fingernails after the pandemic and the last decade or so will only survive by selling vinyl, this just isn't going away and whilst I'm not about to invest in it myself it's definitely got its own now very well established place in the market and he's not going anywhere anytime

HMV began life selling it and will survive or end whenever that may be by still selling it, with a hiatus in the middle, I'm old enough to remember a time when a branch of HMV was wall to wall CDs with no other format particularly represented although possible to order in some cases

 

[SuspectUsual]

I spent five years working on a SAP implementation and most of us pronounced it “sap” rather than S-A-P

The core elements of it are I think very good if it’s configured well and left to run with as little intervention as possible. You get problems when people in functions like supply chain start dibbling with it.

It’s also hugely, hugely master data hungry, but equally massively intolerant of bad data. We had instances where one incorrect piece of master data for a single product cause an an entire store order to be deleted. Scary

 

[GatwickDepress]

It's worth pointing out that HMV is very popular with teenage girls for their K-Pop selection, and often beat Amazon on price. They are quite good at picking up on trends and adapting their stores to fit.

 

[gg1]

Yes, ironically perhaps, the future of HMV and any independent music retailers that might possibly be left clinging on by the fingernails after the pandemic and the last decade or so will only survive by selling vinyl, this just isn't going away and whilst I'm not about to invest in it myself it's definitely got its own now very well established place in the market and he's not going anywhere anytime

That assumes the resurgence of popularity in vinyl the past 5-10 years continues in the medium to long term. It's equally likely IMO that it could turn out to be a fad with sales dropping considerably by say 2030, probably not as low as 00s levels but still well below current sales volumes.

 

[trebor79]

I worked for a company which used SAP around 20 years ago and where everyone pronounced it as a word. It was only years after I left I discovered everyone (including the IT people) had been pronouncing it wrong.

I spent five years working on a SAP implementation and most of us pronounced it “sap” rather than S-A-P

I know somebody who works for SAP and she pronounces it "sap" too.

 

[Crossover]

One of the biggest software companies in the world, they specialise in business operations systems (requisition systems, stock control et cetera). Complicated stuff which, lets just say, isn't always the easiest to implement and get right. At my previous company they were just beginning a changeover to SAP which was already becoming a bit of an... experience.

It is often said that nobody finishes a SAP implementation (and I will also one who calls it "sap")

 

[Scousemouse]

SAP = System Almost Perfect

SAP Consultant - 30 years and counting

 

[SuspectUsual]

It is often said that nobody finishes a SAP implementation (and I will also one who calls it "sap")

Well there’s a thing. Ours was similar - stuff parked because of cost and time overruns. I don’t work there any more but I gather there’s no appetite to go back and finish the nice to have bits

SAP are also a bit disingenuous. The system - as it has to be given its development cost - is designed to be all things to all people, and will need a degree of tailoring (enhancements as they call it) to do exactly what customers need. Lots of these are very similar if not identical if for example there are companies operating in the same industry. But each time the enhancements are costed from scratch as if no relevant development had ever been done previously.

 

[Scousemouse]

Well there’s a thing. Ours was similar - stuff parked because of cost and time overruns. I don’t work there any more but I gather there’s no appetite to go back and finish the nice to have bits

SAP are also a bit disingenuous. The system - as it has to be given its development cost - is designed to be all things to all people, and will need a degree of tailoring (enhancements as they call it) to do exactly what customers need. Lots of these are very similar if not identical if for example there are companies operating in the same industry. But each time the enhancements are costed from scratch as if no relevant development had ever been done previously.

Without taking it off piste...... thats because every customer believes they are unique and no previous solution could possibly work for them. Despite efforts to tell them the opposite.

 

[birchesgreen]

I only used SAP Workforce Performance Builder for a bit, it wasn't bad but i'm glad i didn't have to use it more. I heard from ex-colleagues that the SAP migration wasn't going that well. That was abour 9 years ago though so hopefully it is all sorted out now and everyone has gone home happily for tea.

Though i suspect SAP is not a company people expect to disappear soon.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Though i suspect SAP is not a company people expect to disappear soon.

Whereas Asda might possibly do so.

 

[Busaholic]

One of the biggest software companies in the world, they specialise in business operations systems (requisition systems, stock control et cetera). Complicated stuff which, lets just say, isn't always the easiest to implement and get right. At my previous company they were just beginning a changeover to SAP which was already becoming a bit of an... experience.

Could it be said to sap the energy out of those attempting to work with it?

 

[ChrisC]

Whereas Asda might possibly do so.

I went in my nearest Asda store this morning (about 5 miles from home) for the first time in at least 5 years. Certainly 10+ years ago I used to quite like it and shopped there fairly regularly. I hated it, I just did a quick walk round and didn’t buy anything. It all seemed so cluttered, gloomy, everything piled high, and not the relatively attractive place to shop that I remembered. Has it changed for the worst during the last few years or is it just a stark comparison to the more upmarket places that I tend to shop in these day? I now do most of my main shopping at Waitrose and M&S and top up locally at Sainsbury’s Local or the Co op.

 

[Tracked]

The deli counter at my local Morrisons has gone notably downhill the past couple of years. The most common item I used to buy from there were olives which used to be very good, nowadays they're really no better than pre-packed olives and their range of deli counter cheeses is somewhat more limited too.

The other major irritation is they don't have a scan as you go option (not sure if it's Morrisons generally or just my local store) leaving you with a choice between a usually lengthy queue at a manned checkout or one of their horribly unreliable self scan checkouts.

Went into my local one the other week, first time for a few months and they've had a big move around and replaced a lot of the staffed tills with the automatic ones in a couple of areas with a member of staff supervising each. Hope it's more successful than it previously was when they just had one section, more often than not you'd have some issue and see the person looking after the area walking away ...

The local Aldi to me got several automatic tills in recently, had a couple of months where they were quiet but the last few times the queue has been getting as bad as the staffed tills. It's really too small a site for how popular it's become, only needs maybe 3 people queueing and it's going back into the shop.

Tried the local Lidl a few times recently, they're roughly the same distance away from me as the local Aldi and Morrisons, found that while they'd maybe be a few pence cheaper than Aldi there was quite a difference in the quality of the items compared to Aldi.

 

[gswindale]

Without taking it off piste...... thats because every customer believes they are unique and no previous solution could possibly work for them. Despite efforts to tell them the opposite.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that viewpoint.

Whilst not SAP, our software supplier (a global real estate software company) does indeed cost things based on it being done from scratch even though they & we know that certain customisations will have been done for other customers previously and would in fact be 30 minutes work to change a couple of colours and update a few logos.

Bug fixes are a nightmare as some things are fixed in version 10.5.7 but as we're stuck on 10.3.2 until they've worked out what needs to be done to upgrade us to 11.1.6 they have to backport some of the code which then means that we're on 10.3.2b which is quite probably completely different to somebody else's 10.3.2b as they've had a fix for functionality we don't use!

 

[Scousemouse]

Now. you see - thats where you make the mistake going woth a global company - get a bunch of contractors in and it will be done more quickly and cheaper its just you don't have the corporate underwriting to give those in governance the warm fuzzies.

Warm fuzzies = very expensive and bloat ware

Contractots who JFDI - cheaper but no fuzzies

 

[jon0844]

It's always risky when a company outsources something important to an organisation so huge that you'll never be able to take action if things go wrong. They're bigger than you. That contract you have might be enforceable, but good luck with that.

 

[Snow1964]

UK Windows and doors has gone bust

A window and door manufacturer has been placed into administration, resulting in more than 500 job losses.
Administrators for UK Windows and Doors said 496 jobs would go at sites in Treorchy, Llwynypia, Williamstown and Taff's Well, all in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
A further 67 jobs will go at sites in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.
The firm's chief executive said a decline in sales meant the business had become financially unsustainable.

UK Windows and Doors: 500 jobs lost as firm goes bust

UK Windows and Doors enters administration, with hundreds of jobs to go at four sites in Wales.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[GCH100]

UK Windows and doors has gone bust

UK Windows and Doors: 500 jobs lost as firm goes bust

UK Windows and Doors enters administration, with hundreds of jobs to go at four sites in Wales.

www.bbc.co.uk

Those types of business selling goods that improve houses but aren't a must have normally suffer in times like we live in now, a cost of living crisis.

 

[Dai Corner]

The company which owned the Kingsway Shopping Centre in Newport, south Wales went into administration recently. The biggest store there was Wilko and several retailers have moved to nearby more modern premises. The centre was sold for £400k, about the same as a large house.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if other commercial property owners suffer a similar fate, given the oversupply of town centre shops.

 

[Trackman]

They don't issue new ones sadly.

(Bite cards)
Oddly enough I got one through the door today.
Not sure why, it’s exactly the same as my old one.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I went into Central Manchester earlier today and the main WHSmiths store on Market St (part of the Arndale) is already preparing to close it’s doors with signs up saying the nearest branch will be at the Trafford Centre.

Whether this is indirectly referring to the Piccadilly WHS is also at risk of closing too? It seems WHS are still streamlining their locations, but to close a key flagship branch in one of the UK’s largest cities is a little surprising.

CJ

 

[Peter Sarf]

Our Croydon branch of WHSmith has closed its upstairs half. Several signs of roof leaks in the ceiling and buckets upstairs gave away the innevitable (this is the Whitgift Shopping Centre with its planning blight). I was no longer going upstairs much as the doors into the shopping centre on that floor where permanently locked - I wonder if that meant there was no fire exit from the first floor.

Meanwhile Sainsburys in the Whitgift Centre also closes next weekend. I am beginning to notice how many Lidl and Aldi stores there are dotted around Croydon etc. So is Sainsburys feeling the pinch ?. Our Morrisons has definitely gone down hill - looks un-cared for building and stock wise.

 

[Ridercross]

I went into Central Manchester earlier today and the main WHSmiths store on Market St (part of the Arndale) is already preparing to close it’s doors with signs up saying the nearest branch will be at the Trafford Centre.

Whether this is indirectly referring to the Piccadilly WHS is also at risk of closing too? It seems WHS are still streamlining their locations, but to close a key flagship branch in one of the UK’s largest cities is a little surprising.

CJ

Yes, certainly surprising, but seems to be the way that Smiths are going. They closed the massive store in Birmingham City Centre a few years ago. In it's peak it had three floors and entrances onto the High Street, Union Street and Union Passage.

As a small consolation they did however open a new one in Union Street in the same block, but it's absolutely tiny for a City Centre branch and smaller than many town branches!

The large two storey branch in Wolverhampton's Mander Centre closed down about 10 years ago too with no City Centre replacement.