Standing tall
If boots were made for walking, as Nancy Sinatra sang, then, for some footwear retailers, they are walking straight out of the sector (p28). In January, Dolcis and Stead & Simpson called in the administrators – their difficulties in part owing to competition from clothes shops and supermarkets.
Competition is the nature of business, but variety is the spice of life and that is what specialists offer. Unfortunately, times change and this is not the first time famous names have left the high street – although there is talk of the Dolcis brand being kept alive by its new owner Stylo. For now, let us lament their demise, but hope that in the future new, desirable brands will emerge to keep consumer choice alive on the high street rather than shoppers having to rely on supermarkets and the “cheap chic” chains.
Coffee nation
The UK’s coffee market continues to grow. Cilantro is an Egyptian entrant hoping to make it big Gloria Jeans Coffees is aiming to expand and established brands such as Costa and Starbucks are looking to increase their empires (p18). Two weeks ago, Costa announced the addition of 150 outlets and opened its first Russian store in Moscow.
And these chains want more. With the demise of the above footwear retailers, some of whose units were in prime locations in shopping centres and high streets, sites are being targeted by the coffee houses. We are turning into a coffee nation. While the predictions are that consumer spending in 2008 will not be high, at least the consumers will be high on caffeine.
