Topic: Carillion scrambles to stay afloat

[PaulF]

With the way everyone has had to switch, click and collect really came into its own this past 12 months and suddenly people realised they didn't need to have a shop. Mate of ours had a clothes/shoe shop. She had to close due to covid and moved it all online, she'll never re-open the shop. My main employer closed 200 locations and made over 300 staff redundant, the website and app, plus staff WFH is doing almost the exact same job as the branches did.

It's created more jobs for people who can drive, but for those who only want to work in a shop or whatever, it's bleak.

I wonder if the net mileage is higher or lower (and better or worse for the environment).
I love getting some stuff delivered, but I also miss browsing around stores.

[killer-heels]

Those John Lewis 'Home' stores were pretty shite and outdated a long time ago. No surprise they are up for the chop.

There will be more store closures within the next 18 months - 2 years. JL need to halve the tat that's in their stores, keep a selection of their high ticket items and provide more customer experiences, through putting in technology that makes the experience more personable for those people who visit it.

[Red-Soldier]

I wonder if the net mileage is higher or lower (and better or worse for the environment).
I love getting some stuff delivered, but I also miss browsing around stores.

The numerous home deliveries are generally worse for the environment than your past visit to the high street/retail park.

[CraigDS]

The numerous home deliveries are generally worse for the environment than your past visit to the high street/retail park.

Would be interesting to see the working out around this.

On the face of it I'd prob agree it's worse, but then if you take into account less truck deliveries to each individual store and just to a couple of hubs for distribution, is it worse?

Obviously more delivery trucks out on the roads but are these better than more big trucks? Esp if they shift to electric like they are meant to.

It would almost certainly also remove more cars from inner city/town roads, which is where pollution is at it's highest concentration which is no bad thing.

[Red-Soldier]

Would be interesting to see the working out around this.

On the face of it I'd prob agree it's worse, but then if you take into account less truck deliveries to each individual store and just to a couple of hubs for distribution, is it worse?

Obviously more delivery trucks out on the roads but are these better than more big trucks? Esp if they shift to electric like they are meant to.

It would almost certainly also remove more cars from inner city/town roads, which is where pollution is at it's highest concentration which is no bad thing.

Climate change: How green is your parcel?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47654950

Delivery disaster: the hidden environmental cost of your online shopping

https://www.theguardian.com/news/shortcuts/2020/feb/17/hidden-costs-of-online-delivery-environment

[PaulF]

Amazon let me choose a day when they'd deliver my stuff unless I expressly asked for it to be faster.  I'm not sure I'm doing it right as stuff still seems to mostly come next day, when most stuff I order, I'm quite happy to wait for the next day.
I'm pretty sure the cost of delivery (financial) , will encourage online retailers to consolidate packages once the high street and out of town malls are dead and buried.
The amazon collection boxes are good for a start, especially if most are within walking distance...

[CraigDS]

Climate change: How green is your parcel?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47654950

Delivery disaster: the hidden environmental cost of your online shopping

https://www.theguardian.com/news/shortcuts/2020/feb/17/hidden-costs-of-online-delivery-environment

That doesn't really compare the complete loss of stores (and therefore deliveries) to the highstreet and the replacement of that with more home deliveries.

It's that I'd be interested to see. Whilst those stores still exist and get deliveries anyway, then obv the additional home deliveries does nothing but add to the pollution.

[Red-Soldier]

That doesn't really compare the complete loss of stores (and therefore deliveries) to the highstreet and the replacement of that with more home deliveries.

It's that I'd be interested to see. Whilst those stores still exist and get deliveries anyway, then obv the additional home deliveries does nothing but add to the pollution.

If you're not happy and that interested, how about you look for it yourself 


If you use active/sustainable travel, shopping locally is the better option.

[CraigDS]

If you're not happy and that interested, how about you look for it yourself 

Why you getting shirty?

I was agreeing with you but just wondered how things would look if more and more highstreet stores closed and things started coming from a central hub (so less delivery travel to stores).

It was hypothetical as it hasn't happened yet (but is heading that way), I wasn't asking you to go and look for anything.

[Red-Soldier]

Why you getting shirty?

I was agreeing with you but just wondered how things would look if more and more highstreet stores closed and things started coming from a central hub (so less delivery travel to stores).

It was hypothetical as it hasn't happened yet (but is heading that way), I wasn't asking you to go and look for anything.

OK. Sorry.

I agree it's an important question.

[CraigDS]

Santander closing down 111 branches with 840 staff affected. "Try to find them another role" but that rarely occurs when closing local branches.

[Red Beret]

Wonder what the practical implications of stores reopening will be? Most had to close before they could effectively run their winter sales. They'll have all this old stock when they need to make room for the spring stuff. Somebody will take a financial hit from it.

[Red-Soldier]

B&Q owner’s profits soar as Covid creates ‘generation of DIYers’

Pandemic supercharges Kingfisher’s digital business, attracting 10m new online customers over past year

Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q and Screwfix, has reported a surge in sales and profits for 2020 as a locked-down nation turned to home improvements.

Thierry Garnier, the chief executive of Kingfisher, said the company had seen “extraordinary demand” in the past year as people adapted and updated their homes and gardens to cope with new demands prompted by restrictions on travel, socialising, schools and leisure.

The group, which operates about 1,380 B&Q and Screwfix stores in the UK and Ireland as well as outlets in France, Poland, Spain and Portugal, said sales climbed 7.2% to £12.3bn in the year to 31 January. Sales at stores open for more than a year in the UK & Ireland rose nearly 11% as many 18- to 35-year-olds had a go at DIY for the first time using social media for tips and ideas.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/22/b-and-q-owner-profits-soar-as-covid-creates-generation-of-diyers-kingfisher

[CraigDS]

Wonder what the practical implications of stores reopening will be? Most had to close before they could effectively run their winter sales. They'll have all this old stock when they need to make room for the spring stuff. Somebody will take a financial hit from it.

Likely they didn't buy in anywhere near as much winter stock.

[Red Beret]

Likely they didn't buy in anywhere near as much winter stock.

You would think, but a lot would depend on how forthcoming the government would be with the high street about imposing the January lockdown.  Plus, you can't risk being understocked over Christmas when restrictions were relaxed and people were desperate to be out and about.

If retailers bought less, or returned unsold stock, then it's the manufacturers who have to absorb the hit.

[killer-heels]

Wonder what the practical implications of stores reopening will be? Most had to close before they could effectively run their winter sales. They'll have all this old stock when they need to make room for the spring stuff. Somebody will take a financial hit from it.

A lot of the retailers and designers can just roll over the stock. New collections are actually not always that new, many stuff is just a rehash of previous collections.

High end designers actually always keep a lot of the same ready to wear, mainly because they don’t give a shit about that area.

[PaulF]

A lot of the retailers and designers can just roll over the stock. New collections are actually not always that new, many stuff is just a rehash of previous collections.

High end designers actually always keep a lot of the same ready to wear, mainly because they don’t give a shit about that area.

But will they hold winter stuff that they didn't sell in 2020 in storage for next winter?

[killer-heels]

But will they hold winter stuff that they didn't sell in 2020 in storage for next winter?

They can do for some stock. Again it depends on the retailers and what area of the market they appeal to. The high street stores have more of an issue but their cost bases are low and have been managing to flog their stuff on different platforms. The more higher end designers have limited quantities and many of those are the same every year, so it’s not a problem.

The main issue isn’t the sales it’s the logistics and storing of stock.

[CraigDS]

Jessops appoints administrators - 3rd time in about 7 years.

Seems CVAs are being abused these days for owners to keep control but write off loads of debt.

[gazzalfc]

Jessops appoints administrators - 3rd time in about 7 years.

Seems CVAs are being abused these days for owners to keep control but write off loads of debt.

Peter Jones of Dragons den fame saved them last time.

High end cameras and lenses was always a niche product

[CraigDS]

Peter Jones of Dragons den fame saved them last time.

High end cameras and lenses was always a niche product

Pretty sure he’s put them into administration since he saved them.

[thejbs]

Peter Jones of Dragons den fame saved them last time.

High end cameras and lenses was always a niche product

Few people going for high end gear will visit jessops. Their problems were more down to entry level sales disappearing because of cameraphones.

[CraigDS]

Few people going for high end gear will visit jessops. Their problems were more down to entry level sales disappearing because of cameraphones.

I do think they missed a trick in their marketing (this goes for camera makers too) as they should be aiming at all those new potential customers who love taking pics with their phones and targeting to get them into (proper) photography.

[Red Beret]

Peter Jones of Dragons den fame saved them last time.

High end cameras and lenses was always a niche product

I know an extremely good and keen photographer/photo editor who is adept at haggling online for cameras, lenses and other kit. This sort of stuff is an absolute bugger buying brand new, so anyone with a bit of nouse always goes second hand.

[thejbs]

I know an extremely good and keen photographer/photo editor who is adept at haggling online for cameras, lenses and other kit. This sort of stuff is an absolute bugger buying brand new, so anyone with a bit of nouse always goes second hand.

Or shops grey market. I tend to go with Wex as they give me money off on pro sales. They’ve given me >£1000 discounts on my biggest orders. Once I got a quote from Jessops for 5 pro camera bodies and they tried to ‘sweeten the deal’ by offering to throw in a 16gb memory card... I’d have been less offended if they offered me nothing. 

[rob1966]

I do think they missed a trick in their marketing (this goes for camera makers too) as they should be aiming at all those new potential customers who love taking pics with their phones and targeting to get them into (proper) photography.

I spoke to the photographer at a friends wedding and he was telling me that smart phones are so good these days, they have removed the need for the lower end SLR's unless you really really want one. He actually said he used his Iphone for some shots during the day, just because it was so good.

[I've been a good boy]

I spoke to the photographer at a friends wedding and he was telling me that smart phones are so good these days, they have removed the need for the lower end SLR's unless you really really want one. He actually said he used his Iphone for some shots during the day, just because it was so good.

There was a very small part in The Wolf of Wall Street which was filmed on a phone, of the aircraft seatbelt sign turning on. Couldn't even tell it was recorded on a phone, and that was in 2013. Simply no need for entry-level cameras anymore.

[rob1966]

There was a very small part in The Wolf of Wall Street which was filmed on a phone, of the aircraft seatbelt sign turning on. Couldn't even tell it was recorded on a phone, and that was in 2013. Simply no need for entry-level cameras anymore.

Never knew that. My lads have got iphone 11s, I nick them for the camera.

Steven Soderbergh filmed this entirely on an Iphone8

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/0iL1K_l8Jyo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/0iL1K_l8Jyo</a>

[CraigDS]

I spoke to the photographer at a friends wedding and he was telling me that smart phones are so good these days, they have removed the need for the lower end SLR's unless you really really want one. He actually said he used his Iphone for some shots during the day, just because it was so good.

Agree with that. I do think there is a bigger market now for those who may want to step up from using a phone though than there ever has been, or at least there should be, and do think they’re missing a trick not aiming for these people.

[Brissyred]

I spoke to the photographer at a friends wedding and he was telling me that smart phones are so good these days, they have removed the need for the lower end SLR's unless you really really want one. He actually said he used his Iphone for some shots during the day, just because it was so good.

Depends on what you're doing, if all you do is wide landscapes or informal portraits then you can get away with it, anything requiring a bit of speed or telephoto and you need a camera.

[thejbs]

A camera phone is great and wipes the floor with compact cameras, but still has nothing on a good mirrorless or DSLR. The big difference is sensor size and all the associated IQ problems of having a small sensor. Second is the optics. Distortion is crazy on a smartphone compared to a proper camera, aperture is usually fixed, and synthesised bokeh/compression/blur in portrait modes is just evil.

I love shooting with my iPhone but it has nothing on my Sony A7III and certainly wouldn’t be up to pro shooting. Still, I’d love to see some of the software ingenuity from my iPhone make its way into pro camera bodies.

[Red Beret]

Friend I know got a Sony mirrorless second hand off Ebay or some such site for about £130, one of the early models, but can't remember the type. She even managed to haggle the poor guy down by about twenty quid. Barely been used too.

I'd love one, but I'm not a committed enough photographer. I barely even use my bridge camera anymore, unless maybe I go abroad.

[rob1966]

Depends on what you're doing, if all you do is wide landscapes or informal portraits then you can get away with it, anything requiring a bit of speed or telephoto and you need a camera.

I think the main thing is, most people are happy just taking a few shots and aren't really bothered about much else. The convenience of just whipping your phone out of your pocket is a big plus too and you do get really clear pics.

A camera phone is great and wipes the floor with compact cameras, but still has nothing on a good mirrorless or DSLR. The big difference is sensor size and all the associated IQ problems of having a small sensor. Second is the optics. Distortion is crazy on a smartphone compared to a proper camera, aperture is usually fixed, and synthesised bokeh/compression/blur in portrait modes is just evil.

I love shooting with my iPhone but it has nothing on my Sony A7III and certainly wouldn’t be up to pro shooting. Still, I’d love to see some of the software ingenuity from my iPhone make its way into pro camera bodies.

My Dads always been into his photography, he had a cracking Canon last time I saw him and some of the shots he gets are brilliant. I used to get some cracking pics with my old OM10, I've still got the camera, and can appreciate that a proper camera will always be better.

[thejbs]

Camera phones have a lot of software wizardry that blows me away, but ultimately physics will limit what they can do. Still, it always surprises me how the camera phone ingenuity never bleeds over into pro cameras. Especially when Apple and Sony operate so closely in mobile development.

[gazzalfc]

Tata steel will close both furnaces in Port Talbot and sack 3000 (75%) workers....

[Andy @ Allerton!]

I'm reading a book called 'Pyramid of Lies' that touches on what happened here.

[killer-heels]

Ofcom recommends/suggests Royal Mail cut their deliveries down to 5 or even 3 days. Another well done privatisation.

Fuck you Lib Dems. 

[gazzalfc]

Ofcom recommends/suggests Royal Mail cut their deliveries down to 5 or even 3 days. Another well done privatisation.

Fuck you Lib Dems. 

I barely get post 2 days a week in my area. I wouldn't say they are as bad as Evri yet but they are heading that way.

Trust in Royal Mail/Post office is at rock bottom right now and the excuses are running out. Plus other delivery companies have just blown ahead in terms of delivery options. DHL I get a 1 hour delivery window and can track the driver for delivery. Amazon gives you so many delivery options. Most have options now for smart lockers/drop off options (local corner shops) so you can pick up your parcel at your own convenience.

I would say let Royal Mail stick to letters but they cant even do that right any more. There just isn't enough money in delivering letters.

It's a shame because Royal Mail was an institution but like you say, Fuck the Lib dems

[killer-heels]

I barely get post 2 days a week in my area. I wouldn't say they are as bad as Evri yet but they are heading that way.

Trust in Royal Mail/Post office is at rock bottom right now and the excuses are running out. Plus other delivery companies have just blown ahead in terms of delivery options. DHL I get a 1 hour delivery window and can track the driver for delivery. Amazon gives you so many delivery options. Most have options now for smart lockers/drop off options (local corner shops) so you can pick up your parcel at your own convenience.

I would say let Royal Mail stick to letters but they cant even do that right any more. There just isn't enough money in delivering letters.

It's a shame because Royal Mail was an institution but like you say, Fuck the Lib dems

There is certainly an argument as to whether we really need letter deliveries more than 5 days a week and in this age 6 does seem a tad excessive so I do have sympathy for them with that. But yet again this dumb fucking nation has not sat down and considered what are essential services and what should remain important.

They should have known that if Royal Mail goes under, its going to have to be bailed out by the taxpayer anyway because its hardly feasible that the only deliverer of letters and post can stop doing it. Therefore why privatise it or at least that in the first place? It didnt sell for much, it didn't need that much money pumped in every year and the pensions were always going to be protected and bailed out.

Water, energy, post. Is it or is it not essential?

[Riquende]

Water, energy, post. Is it or is it not essential?

I'm sure most people on here will share that sentiment (and go further), trouble is there's always a small yet influential section of society that seem to get absolutely enraged when something just happens and there's nobody making a profit off it, so they send the lobbyists out.