South Shields stores face uncertain future
After customers informed us this morning of the shock news that Kwik Save is to close a third of it’s UK retail operations with the announcement of the immediate closure of 79 stores today, I decided to take a look at their two stores in South Shields to guage their future.
Neither manager was available at the stores in Parkway or The Nook to answer questions today as regional meetings were held to outline the company’s future plans. However, both outlets looked much cleaner and smarter than they have done on recent visits (I like to keep a close eye on the competition), it was evident that finances were in a poor state as neither store had what appeared to be more than a hundred lines of stock on the shelves. All of the shelves were neatly faced with just one facing per line (i.e. a full aisle of mineral waters were occupied by about two brands in three varieties), fridges lay empty, and bread and milk were no longer available, perhaps as suppliers saw little chance of their bills being paid.
Both stores had only three staff working this afternoon and one at the Nook branch expressed their worry about what their employment prospects might be tomorrow.
One does not like to see our shops empty as it reduces the choice and variety for consumers, so we must hold out some hope that Kwik Save finds another way to restructure it’s finances and that those stores earmarked for closure become attractive for prospective buyers, at the end of the day, thankfully, both of the South Shields stores are much too big for another mobile phone operator to be interested!
As a redundancy casualty of a Kwik Save branch, may I just say if you were thinking of having a party in a brewery don’t ask Kwik Save top nobs to organise it!!!
I hope you get the jist of what I’m trying to say.
Comment by lynn — June 6, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
i am another casualty and was told 10 mins before the store was due to open that we were closing down, been promised redundancy 11 yrs loyal service counts for nothing nowadays.
Comment by david — June 22, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
Dear Curly!?
This has nothing to do with Kwik Save.
My company Fulcrum Retail Development Ltd (A Fulcrum being the point of balance)came about after 5 years with BP and 5 years with Spar (UK) Ltd.
My aim is to provide a balanced and unbiased service to independent stores such as -grocer/ctn/forcourt/convenience/farmshop/irn with help in the areas of range, merchandising, equipment, layout and retail skills.
I strongly believe that independent retailers do not always get the advice that is biased in their favour!!
I would be very interested in your thoughts.
Comment by Richard Shorney — July 3, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Richard,
my advice is simple, straight forward, basic, and old fashioned.
Listen to your customers, engage with them, find out what they want, where and when they want it, and find out how much they are willing to pay for it. An independent retailer has as much chance of success as anyone else so long as he/she keeps it simple!
Comment by curly15 — July 3, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
[...] reported on 30th May that both Kwik Save stores in South Shields , (The Nook and Parkway estate) had escaped closure as the retailer tried to seek a refinancing [...]
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