Everything to do with Shops

[Nemesis]

No sorry, struggling with shopping is enough without taking the camera. Not modern enough for a camera phone !

[SteveH]

Pioneer story from September..........

Latest on Costa Coffee and the expansion of Aldi at Llandudno's Mostyn Champneys

"An Aldi spokesperson said: “Work to expand our Mostyn Champneys Retail Park store will start in October 2021. The existing store will close after Christmas and, when we reopen in summer next year, the new layout will have more space for fresh, chilled and food-to-go ranges, as well as brighter and wider aisles.”

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[norman08]

Lad on the till on Saturday said it could be May/June with a lot more tills.

[SteveH]

A REPORT analysing the use of department store properties across the UK and Ireland has found over three-quarters are now currently occupied or have planning applications pending – revealing a more positive side to the tide of closures which have dogged the retail industry.

The report undertaken by independent planning consultancy, and town centre and retail experts, Nexus Planning, looked at occupancy activity from 2015 to Autumn 2021 in 917 department store locations across nine major retailers, including now defunct Debenhams and BHS, which accounted for 347 properties.

The National Picture
Over 75% of department store properties are now occupied or have redevelopment plans pending
Almost 30% of properties have been repurposed for other uses
More than 14% of former department stores are currently – or will be – mixed-use
Affordable retailers have spotted opportunities to take prime High Street locations
Upward trend in entertainment, culture, independent businesses and organisations taking space

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[SteveH]

Halfords buys national chain with five sites in North Wales
The group has agreed to buy the owners of the National tyre servicing brand for £62m

National has five sites in North Wales - at Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon, Wrexham, Saltney and Bangor.

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[SteveH]

Clarks is set to close one of its North Wales stores.     ref DP

The shoe brand was hit hard by the pandemic, losing £172m in the year to 30 January 2021 as sales fell 44%.

A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was agreed last year and although no store closures were announced for its 320 strong portfolio the rents on some units were reduced to zero.

The UK chain will shut the shop at the Bay View Shopping Centre in Colwyn Bay

[SteveH]

THE Range have given people a first glimpse of their new Llandudno store.

The retailer, which sells products in the home, garden and leisure categories, is eyeing up the unit previously occupied by Outfit on Parc Llandudno.

An application has been registered with Conwy County Council Borough Council for the display of three internally illuminated fascia signs and six non illuminated wall mounted vinyl signs. Drawings and images on how the store will look, if planning is given the go-ahead, have been lodged with the council.

The development also includes an extension to the unit for an external garden centre, storage compound and internal mezzanine.

Llandudno Town Council have recommended the scheme.

[Helig]

Clarks seem to have closed their shops in the south of Scotland too. The one in Dumfries closed last March.

I recommend The Range it has a very wide selection of all kinds of goods. They have lovely items for the home which are very reasonably priced. They have a large store in Dumfries which is great to visit and see what is available. It was open during the lockdowns as it sells pet food, other food and some household products. It looks as though we shall have to think about this type of thing again.

[Robbie G]

Not exactly a shop but the Barclays Bank building on Mostyn street has been sold at auction for £900,000 . The annual rent is £77000 -00 Barclays lease runs until 2027 the head lease has a further 900yrs plus to run , at a ground rent £20-00 per annum . surprising small amount for Mostyn estates 

[Bri Roberts]

They may earn a lot more on compulsory insurances.

[Nemesis]

They may earn a lot more on compulsory insurances.

Exactly.

[SteveH]

The owners of a Llandudno fashion boutique are set to leave after more than 30 years - and hope that someone will keep the store open.

Janet and Paul Boyd were once the youngest hoteliers in Llandudno - taking on the former Mayfair Hotel in their early 20s.

The couple set up ladies boutique Sapphire International Fashion in Llandudno in 1990.

It has been going strong ever since but now the time has come to move on with the business up for sale as they make their second attempt at retirement in their early 70s.

Blacks Business Brokers are seeking offers in the region of £79,950 to take over the business, and the landlords of the Gloddaeth Street property have indicated they will be happy to negotiate a new lease with the purchaser.

cont The owners of a Llandudno fashion boutique are set to leave after more than 30 years - and hope that someone will keep the store open.

Janet and Paul Boyd were once the youngest hoteliers in Llandudno - taking on the former Mayfair Hotel in their early 20s.

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After that they went on to own the Town and Country restaurant in Rhuddlan - which they ran for 17 years before taking “early retirement” in their 40s.

The couple very quickly realised it was too early to call it a day in business and set up ladies boutique Sapphire International Fashion in Llandudno in 1990.

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It has been going strong ever since but now the time has come to move on with the business up for sale as they make their second attempt at retirement in their early 70s.

Blacks Business Brokers are seeking offers in the region of £79,950 to take over the business, and the landlords of the Gloddaeth Street property have indicated they will be happy to negotiate a new lease with the purchaser.

[SteveH]

The town centre of Colwyn Bay has suffered several retail blows over the pandemic but the future of one of the remaining big brand stores looks secure.
The seaside town has lost Argos, Iceland, Peacocks, Clarks and WH Smith over the last two years - as well the Boots opticians.

But there is good news for shoppers and the town.
Boots - who have been at the site since 1979 - have said there are currently no plans to close the store.

In addition the auction listing with Allsop shows they have just last week signed up for a new five year lease on the property.

The company will be paying £20,000 a year to lease the three storey building, which is available at auction at guide price of £255,000. The auction takes place on February 3.
Under the new lease there is a tenant break option in 2025.

There are hopes the town can start to reverse its fortunes when the economy opens up as the pandemic eases.

Regeneration chiefs had hoped the new large Conwy council offices at Coed Pella would help increase footfall and spending in the town but the pandemic saw nearly all the workers relocated to home working.

The town is currently part of a Welsh Government scheme offering grants and low cost loans to tempt businesses in - with hopes this can attract more independent traders.

Boots signing up on a new lease is good news for the resort but now more needs to be done to ensure they and remaining big brands stay for the long term and new businesses can be attracted to the town centre.     ref DP

[SteveH]

How pandemic hit spending in North Wales communities
Financial Times analysed card spending of British bank customers to look at how areas have been affected since Covid hit

How each part of North Wales performed according to the FT analysis.
Conwy
This local authority area had a very slightly worse pandemic than most for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were down by 7.0 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.

Businesses in this area also saw a 4.8 per cent rise in online sales . Taken together, this meant a total fall of 5.4 per cent.

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[SteveH]

Uk retailer Regatta is set to re-brand a North Wales store in the coming weeks.

The outdoor clothing chain is expanding in the region and last year opened at Parc Llandudno
It will now expand its presence with a revamp set to take place of the Hawkshead store in Betws-y-Coed.
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