An article in The Guardian newspaper chronicles the difficult situation faced today by UK retailers and department stores in particular. Being creative is the only way out in the face of online shopping and low wages. Grade A locations, cities and concepts are thriving but the rest are struggling. The piece describes House of Fraser and its large debt, and others considering large-scale store closures. The case of the old BHS store on Oxford Street is illustrative: part of it is now a shop of the Polish chain Reserved, while the rest will house a market-style dining hall set to open this autumn, and a crazy golf operator Swingers (pictured here). The high street is increasingly populated by vape shops, hearing aid stores, ice-cream parlours, Microsoft, Dyson vacuum cleaners, and Tesla cars. The pop-up business is also developing fast.

full article