MFI and Woolworths

[Alexia]

Meanwhile I got a rather lovely sofa in MFI for £60

What?! When?

I, and my bessy mate, are in the market for a nice sofa at much cheapness.

Does it have to match your new sweaty-arse chairs and your Martian-designed table?

[Gavin Scott]

Does it have to match your new sweaty-arse chairs and your Martian-designed table?

I must say, we all got together for a breakfast meeting this morning and were all remarking how comfortable they are. The back feels great, and the seat is subtly shaped for comfort too. No sluggy trails either - but it was a cold start to the morning

No, he and I would like something along these lines

250x179_chaise_dark_brown_sofa.jpg

And I'd happily pay £50 for one.

[Alexia]

It looks like it's made of giant Minstrels; but then I've never been a fan of leather; I'm more a fabric man. You can't kip on a leather sofa - you wake up and half of your skin is ripped off as you sit up.

I digress of course. I occasionally have yearnings for a giant jelly snake and if Woolies goes under I won't have anywhere to quench my desire.

[Pete]

I bought this one (google cache link, may break soon)

the smaller one, in cappuccino.

[JonathanEx]

I hear MFI had all the parts for a successful business, but they just couldn't put them together.


...I'll get my coat.

[James H]

I heard the other store were doing ok, but their figures seemed a bit Woolly.

[Chie]

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/

Doesn't look good

[Whataday]

Shops I predict may not survive the crunch:

New Look
Mark One
Dorothy Perkins
Downtown
Farmfoods
Currys
PC World (wouldn't be sad to see the back of them to be honest)
Somerfield
Comet
Blockbuster
BHS
Matalan
Showcase Cinemas
SCS
Co-op

Mark One/MK One has gone into administration.

I'd agree with SCS, and possibly Comet but think BHS should be ok due to a fairly strong parent company, same with Dorothy Perkins, unless there's something I dont know... I'm sure Arcadia would just sell them as going concerns rather than putting them through. Blockbuster benefits from being part of a huge corporation.

Currys/PC World should be fine despite their recent loss. Let's not forget, this time last year they were still making large profits so probably have good finance behind them.

Matalan has lost out to a lot of retailers lately, particularly Primark for the clothing and supermarkets for the household items.

I think Co-op's structure is too complicated for them ever to go bust as a whole? And Somerfield are doing alright now that they've sold KwikSave.

I believe Regent Inns, owners of Walkabout/Jongleurs/Risa are in trouble. They've sold off several Walkabouts and have rushed in quicky sales for each of them because they don't have enough money to hang around for surveys and stuff.

In fact I would expect the next major company to go into administration would be in the leisure industry, as they have been steadiliy hit hard over a period of years and i know that some have been relying on a good Christmas/New Year to get them through. I'm not sure that's going to happen.

[JonathanEx]

I heard the other store were doing ok, but their figures seemed a bit Woolly.

I'm not sure if all staff will lose their jobs, they might pick and mix the ones that go.

[Pete]

I notice the Londis up the road from me is now a Nisa. Anything interesting happening with either of these chains or am i reading too much into it?

[marksi]

I think most people are going to spend pretty much as normal to provide themselves and their families with a good Christmas. They'll also do the sales just after Christmas. The problem is that after that they're simply going to stop spending on anything except the essentials. And that's the point that we're going to see this recession really bite.