Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[Harpo]

Smugs have never been a serious bookseller

Agreed. It’s no heavyweight, but often the only outlet in town beyond the supermarket range.

 

[jon81uk]

I think you over-estimate the strength of their position. Amazon is their main competitor, and then in this quite ordinary town stationery can be purchased in person from Rymans, The Range, Home Bargains, The Works, Boyes, B&M, and the supermarkets.

They're like Woolworths. They sell a lot of things not terribly well, and not in large quantities. Their stores aren't inviting, and they can't make enough money to justify tarting them up, meaning they're stuck in a decline loop. And it won't be long before the Post Office counters aren't getting the volumes of business to justify their existence as postage can be bought online (I'm already thinking "should I buy some labels to print postage with" rather than printing and cutting A4 sheets) and collected from the door or more convenient stores.

On my high street there is a Waterstones so books are covered but no Rymans or Boyes, there might be The Works but it wouldn't be a first choice for stationery, but is OK for books and crafting.
The Range, Home Bargains and B&M are all on retail parks not the high street, so would need to decide whether to drive there or go up to the high street.

I think TG Jones could have a place on the high street if they fix the presentation of the stores and go back to being primarily stationery, books and some toys, plus magazines. Remove a lot of the confectionery etc and get the core business right.

But the overall point from your post is more do people want the high street to survive at all? We could focus on driving to the retail park store and supermarkets, getting other stuff delivered. But people can't complain "there is nothing to buy on the high street" when driving to the retail parks to shop. Maybe people have decided they don't need a physical store for these products now, but that will just lead to more empty shops...

 

[35B]

On my high street there is a Waterstones so books are covered but no Rymans or Boyes, there might be The Works but it wouldn't be a first choice for stationery, but is OK for books and crafting.
The Range, Home Bargains and B&M are all on retail parks not the high street, so would need to decide whether to drive there or go up to the high street.

I think TG Jones could have a place on the high street if they fix the presentation of the stores and go back to being primarily stationery, books and some toys, plus magazines. Remove a lot of the confectionery etc and get the core business right.

But the overall point from your post is more do people want the high street to survive at all? We could focus on driving to the retail park store and supermarkets, getting other stuff delivered. But people can't complain "there is nothing to buy on the high street" when driving to the retail parks to shop. Maybe people have decided they don't need a physical store for these products now, but that will just lead to more empty shops...

That's a fair question about the high street, but I'm really not sure that TG Jones is a real bellwether for it. The reality is that the importance of their market has shrunk, with so much being possible to do online that the demand for what they sell is shrinking rapidly. Perhaps the surprise should be that they have survived when so many newsagents have gone under.

Specifically to them, I don't think presentation is their core issue - I just don't think their niche is large enough these days.

My mention of what there is here in Grantham is based on what is walking distance of the town centre - some that I mentioned are in retail parks, but parks that can be (and are) accessed by walking from town.

 

[sprunt]

On my high street there is a Waterstones so books are covered but no Rymans or Boyes, there might be The Works but it wouldn't be a first choice for stationery, but is OK for books and crafting.
The Range, Home Bargains and B&M are all on retail parks not the high street, so would need to decide whether to drive there or go up to the high street.

They do exist in some places away from retail parks - my town centre's got all three and as of a few months ago no longer a Smith's (it never transformed into Jones after all the others had, so my guess is that the new buyers didn't want it and so Smiths closed it after the sales had gone through).

I think TG Jones could have a place on the high street if they fix the presentation of the stores and go back to being primarily stationery, books and some toys, plus magazines. Remove a lot of the confectionery etc and get the core business right.

I think the trouble is that their main differentiator, the magazine range - and they've already drastically slashed that - just isn't something that there's much demand for any more. The core business is a dying one.

 

[Steddenm]

Have just been in the TG Jones store in Brighton (Churchill Square) as needed the post office for a stamp. Ironically they couldn't sell me one as they had sold out but told me to use the self scan and the machine can print one. And it did. Rectangular thing with the queens head on (still) and printed the type of stamp. No date of issue etc.

When I went to pay, contactless, the screen warns you that it may debit as a number of different companies including "TG Jones", "TG Jones Holding Company", "WHSmith", "WHSmith High Street", "WHSmith Retail" or "John Menzes Holding Co". It eventually debited as something completely different though - "SECAT P Off Counters".

 

[Andyh82]

On my high street there is a Waterstones so books are covered but no Rymans or Boyes, there might be The Works but it wouldn't be a first choice for stationery, but is OK for books and crafting.
The Range, Home Bargains and B&M are all on retail parks not the high street, so would need to decide whether to drive there or go up to the high street.

I think TG Jones could have a place on the high street if they fix the presentation of the stores and go back to being primarily stationery, books and some toys, plus magazines. Remove a lot of the confectionery etc and get the core business right.

They’ve refurbished the store in Leeds and it’s now bright and modern, they’ve opened out the windows so you can see in rather than them being full of posters and general clutter. Much brighter than it was in the later years under WHSmith. I don’t know if they’ve done any more.

In terms of the story being discussed, I notice in the serious business press it says ‘TG Jones plans restructure where up to 60 store closures is one of the options on the table’. In the tabloid press it is ‘TG Jones to close 60 stores’

I agree that in a lot of smaller towns, it’s one of only a small number of options to buy stationery, cards etc. For example in Huddersfield, WHS closed down (due to forthcoming development) and it won’t now be possible to buy many railway magazines in the town. Sainsbury’s stocks RAIL and a few others but not all of them.

 

[37025]

Not been a good week for Scottish beer industry.

Job losses and closures as Scottish craft brewer taken over by Tennent's owners

Administrators warn redundancies ‘need to be made’

www.scotsman.com

 

[DoubleLemon]

In my local TG Jones I have noticed zero changes over the last year. If you take over a failing business and make no changes then is it really surprising that they're still failing a year later?

It's amazing that WH Smith found anyone to buy the stores in the first place and I don't have much confidence for the future.

it will come out the venture capital owners will have loaded it with depth as loans to them and then let it go bust. that's why they bought it.

 

[Djgr]

it will come out the venture capital owners will have loaded it with depth as loans to them and then let it go bust. that's why they bought it.

Strange to remember that within living memory Smith's was seen as a national treasure retailer.

 

[Ken X]

Denby have appointed administrators.

British ceramics firm Denby to appoint administrators

The famous company said rising costs had "squeezed the business financially".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[gswindale]

Denby have appointed administrators.

British ceramics firm Denby to appoint administrators

The famous company said rising costs had "squeezed the business financially".

www.bbc.co.uk

Part of their problem is the quality of the products! We purchased 2 x 28 piece sets in Jan 2012 and we've managed to chip 1 plate ever so slightly in that time.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Part of their problem is the quality of the products! We purchased 2 x 28 piece sets in Jan 2012 and we've managed to chip 1 plate ever so slightly in that time.

Is that good or bad ?.

In my household there is one who is, shall we say clumsy.

 

[Bald Rick]

Is that good or bad ?.

In my household there is one who is, shall we say clumsy.

Good. My 8 place setting Denby set is well into its third decade, and none of the 60 or so items have a mark on them. Sturdy stuff. (although I’ve never used the egg cups!)

 

[styles]

Denby have appointed administrators.

British ceramics firm Denby to appoint administrators

The famous company said rising costs had "squeezed the business financially".

www.bbc.co.uk

Now that is a shame. I wonder if this is just a cost of living consequence. Too expensive for many at the moment, but not quite premium enough for those with more cash on the hip who may go for say Wedgwood.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Good. My 8 place setting Denby set is well into its third decade, and none of the 60 or so items have a mark on them. Sturdy stuff. (although I’ve never used the egg cups!)

My deceased Mother's Denby set I have saved. It was, from my adolescence, the main in use set thus keeping her very best (Wedgewood iirc) for very restricted use.

Now that is a shame. I wonder if this is just a cost of living consequence. Too expensive for many at the moment, but not quite premium enough for those with more cash on the hip who may go for say Wedgwood.

Maybe so. In my book Denby is fairly hard wearing and a not over the top style. Probably tougher than the up market alternatives.

I notice a lot of people buying the plates that seem to be made of white glass from IKEA and also seen in high street pound-ish shops. Perhaps that is the competition ?.

 

[Leyland Bus]

My deceased Mother's Denby set I have saved. It was, from my adolescence, the main in use set thus keeping her very best (Wedgewood iirc) for very restricted use.

Maybe so. In my book Denby is fairly hard wearing and a not over the top style. Probably tougher than the up market alternatives.

I notice a lot of people buying the plates that seem to be made of white glass from IKEA and also seen in high street pound-ish shops. Perhaps that is the competition ?.

Probably a sign of the times and also is having decent crockery (and certainly a seperate "for best" set) nowadays restricted to a small demographic? I'm 40, grew up in Salford, my parents never had expensive crockery (although my Mother did collect an expensive brand as mere decorative pieces, Royal Doulton? I'd have ask her) and now live in a small flat, with a missus and a 1 year old child and frankly don't have the space for a "for best" set even if we wanted one... I'm certainly not the whole but i'll bet there are a huge amount of folk similar though...

 

[35B]

Now that is a shame. I wonder if this is just a cost of living consequence. Too expensive for many at the moment, but not quite premium enough for those with more cash on the hip who may go for say Wedgwood.

Erm, have you seen how much the space given to crockery has shrunk?

Back in 1997, I remember going round and doing our wedding list, and the china and glassware occupied a large floor area. Visiting the same store recently, it had shrunk to less than half the area and there was very little fine china to be found.

Denby have done relatively well compared to others - including Wedgwood Waterford.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Probably a sign of the times and also is having decent crockery (and certainly a seperate "for best" set) nowadays restricted to a small demographic? I'm 40, grew up in Salford, my parents never had expensive crockery (although my Mother did collect an expensive brand as mere decorative pieces, Royal Doulton? I'd have ask her) and now live in a small flat, with a missus and a 1 year old child and frankly don't have the space for a "for best" set even if we wanted one... I'm certainly not the whole but i'll bet there are a huge amount of folk similar though...

I suppose some of it is down to age group. Young families won't have the space or spare money for a "best set". I think my Mothers best set came from her parents when they passed away - by then her children (me etc) had flown the nest and so there was more space. Now I have them its a bit of a space challenge, I would not buy them now but I will not throw them away. I did send my student era crockery to the Charity shop. So although I value Denby I probably am not in the market to buy any more.

So I think that is the problem for Denby.

 

[styles]

Erm, have you seen how much the space given to crockery has shrunk?

Back in 1997, I remember going round and doing our wedding list, and the china and glassware occupied a large floor area. Visiting the same store recently, it had shrunk to less than half the area and there was very little fine china to be found.

Denby have done relatively well compared to others - including Wedgwood Waterford.

To me that merely reinforces my theory.

In a smaller selling space, the 'average person' going to buy some crockery is in 2026 likely to go for something low end but with a quality feel. People with a lot of cash to spend looking for a set to last 30 years can afford something like Wedgwood. In this smaller selling area, Deby is neither affordable to tens of millions of people in the UK today, nor premium enough for those with lots of disposable cash to splash on an expensive dining set. Denby want around £350+ for a set, but you can get pretty nice looking sets from John Lewis for £80.

 

[duffield]

I suppose some of it is down to age group. Young families won't have the space or spare money for a "best set". I think my Mothers best set came from her parents when they passed away - by then her children (me etc) had flown the nest and so there was more space. Now I have them its a bit of a space challenge, I would not buy them now but I will not throw them away. I did send my student era crockery to the Charity shop. So although I value Denby I probably am not in the market to buy any more.

So I think that is the problem for Denby.

I think for many people "best china" is an obsolete concept. Even families of very modest means used to have them for when guests visited, but I really think that's gone the way of the dodo; I guess some middle class (whatever that means these days) people still have dinner party sets etc. but that's a much smaller market.

My mother had several good sets despite us being a family of pretty humble working class origins (transiting to middle class); she gave one set to me when I set up home, it sat in a cupboard for 30 years, and I finally gave it (unused) to charity a couple of years ago.

Edit: Just seen the post above, and that seems about right; no real market existing between the basic functional John Lewis level and the premium level.

 

[35B]

To me that merely reinforces my theory.

In a smaller selling space, the 'average person' going to buy some crockery is in 2026 likely to go for something low end but with a quality feel. People with a lot of cash to spend looking for a set to last 30 years can afford something like Wedgwood. In this smaller selling area, Deby is neither affordable to tens of millions of people in the UK today, nor premium enough for those with lots of disposable cash to splash on an expensive dining set. Denby want around £350+ for a set, but you can get pretty nice looking sets from John Lewis for £80.

Which is also why Wedgwood etc. are struggling.

The issue also applies to old china - the market is saturated and prices are low (I recently sold some Crown Derby from the 1930s at auction and it made a trivial amount).

 

[styles]

I think for many people "best china" is an obsolete concept. Even families of very modest means used to have them for when guests visited, but I really think that's gone the way of the dodo; I guess some middle class (whatever that means these days) people still have dinner party sets etc. but that's a much smaller market.

My mother had several good sets despite us being a family of pretty humble working class origins (transiting to middle class); she gave one set to me when I set up home, it sat in a cupboard for 30 years, and I finally gave it (unused) to charity a couple of years ago.

Similar for our cutlery canteen. It was only stainless steel, not silver, but pricey nonetheless. I think my mum still technically has it in a cupboard somewhere, but it was basically brought out for Christmas dinner and put back away again. I can't see the bother in buying one now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Mar 2026 ==

Which is also why Wedgwood etc. are struggling.

Wedgwood has been back to profitability for a few years now. I think Fiskars are quite happy they bought it!

Whether Denby can achieve the same, I'm not convinced.

 

[35B]

Wedgwood has been back to profitability for a few years now. I think Fiskars are quite happy they bought it!

Whether Denby can achieve the same, I'm not convinced.

Following significant cutbacks and offshoring of most production

 

[Peter Sarf]

Another thing of course is the fall in crockery use. Just eating the food out of the disposable containers it was delivered in.......

 

[styles]

Another thing of course is the fall in crockery use. Just eating the food out of the disposable containers it was delivered in.......

I mean I have just had pizza for 4 meals on the trot, so kinda relevant! There was a mix up with the order and we got too much pizza. Dishwasher hasn't been on in days!

 

[Russel]

The restructuring might not be anymore sophisticated than TJ Jones checking which leases are coming up for a break point and if the store isn't making a profit it gets chopped.

I'd be interested to know how many TJ Jones stores actually make a profit, with the exception of some self service tills, the stores haven't changed since the 90s, they usually occupy prime retail space but always seem void of customers...

Some branches now have a 'Toys R Us' concession, but even these charge more than other comparable places.

 

[Andyh82]

I’m not sure why people get so excited about the prospect of legacy retailers closing down

If we’ve learnt anything over the last few years, it’s that they won’t be replaced by anything better. So many Wilko & Debenhams stores up and down the country are still empty eyesores. You might get a vape shop or some community art installation at best.

 

[D6130]

I’m not sure why people get so excited about the prospect of legacy retailers closing down

If we’ve learnt anything over the last few years, it’s that they won’t be replaced by anything better. So many Wilko & Debenhams stores up and down the country are still empty eyesores. You might get a vape shop or some community art installation at best.

....and if you get a vape shop, watch out for fire breaking out!

 

[Backroom_boy]

I'd be interested to know how many TJ Jones stores actually make a profit, with the exception of some self service tills, the stores haven't changed since the 90s, they usually occupy prime retail space but always seem void of customers...

Some branches now have a 'Toys R Us' concession, but even these charge more than other comparable places.

Interestingly the stores that have yet to be rebranded were trading better

 

[Steddenm]

I went into TG Jones today in Newcastle around 11am just to cash in £22 in lotto scratchcards, and was told she was unable to do it as they didn't have the cash in the till. She checked the two tills that were open and she said she had "about a tenner" combined. Don't they have a float?