Comments for Soult's Retail View

Comment on Critiquing the Achica experience as I try out the “members-only luxury lifestyle store” by Janice bramley

Janice bramley — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:45:58 +0000

21may 2013. I returned an order that was unsatisfactory.and asked for a refund by normal procedure. AChica asked for Tracking I’D but because the item was sent direct from the retailer there was no tracking ID enclosed which is in fact stated on my account details. The amount owing to be refunded is £99.75 which is a lot of money. I have sent e.mails with all details. Customer ID ,order number etc. And sent it first class delivery the next day of receiving it. Which was 2may.I have a sinking feeling that all my requests are being ignored. It is now 19 days since I returned the item. No news it seems is bad news and a very bad
Recommendation for Achica.

Comment on Swindon’s former Woolworths store – past, present and an uncertain future by Lee Sartin

Lee Sartin — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:28:56 +0000

Going back to previous comments from last year Graham, I forgot to mention that the other half of the old woolies unit in Swindon is now home to a new Peacocks store. From the few Peacocks stores that were saved, the Swindon branch was relocated from The Parade to Regent Street where it now stands today with a nice new shop fit. I think in terms of floor space its about the same but I guess they have negotiated better terms on their lease for a better location in the town centre. Here are some pictures:

http://www.demotix.com/news/1834057/swindon-peacocks-opens-new-store-whilst-hmv-closes-down#media-1834025

Comment on Reflections on Spennymoor High Street, 85 years to the day from Woolworths’ arrival by Alan Ogden

Alan Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:29:41 +0000

Top to Toe hair, beauty and tanning salon are in the process of moving in to 39 High Street , Spennymoor. We are very interested in the information shared in this article.

Comment on Exclusive pictures: a first look inside the new Tesco Extra at Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Angela Knox

Angela Knox — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:10:59 +0000

Guilia, Gateshead MBCs plans for the other half of Gateshead can be seen at their website. Plans include housing and social areas.

Comment on Exclusive pictures: a first look inside the new Tesco Extra at Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Giulia

Giulia — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:05:20 +0000

Mr Soult, thank you for this detailed and informative piece on the new Trinity Square. I have been following your blog with interest ever since the car park debacle and as a Gateshead resident I am greatly relieved that we are nearing the end of this long running saga and can reclaim our town centre. Finally maybe bypass Gateshead in favour of the Metrocentre or Newcastle town centre will choose to shop here.
What worries me is that there will be a shiny new development at one end of the High Street while the other is still in a very dilapidated state. Do you know of any plans for the High Street towards Matalan? Or for that matter for the ugly brown building attached to the Interchange that houses Wilkinson?

Comment on Hessle Road’s long-gone Woolworths and its successors by Graham Soult

Graham Soult — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:52:48 +0000

Thanks Steven! I’d said it closed ‘by the late 1980s’ as frankly I had no idea when it did close, other than it was still open at the time of the 1972 Woolworths stores list but was clearly gone before the 90s. Your new info narrows it down a bit more!

Comment on Hessle Road’s long-gone Woolworths and its successors by Steven Barker

Steven Barker — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:13:05 +0000

Intersesting, I never knew this building used to house a Woolworths! Especially as I used to work there!
Think you may be slightly out on your dates though,I first had occasion to work there in 1985 shortly after Grandways (Wm. Jackson Supermarket chain) had bought the rival Hull based Goodfellows. This store was at that time trading as a Goodfellows but I was there to begin the process of converting it into a Grandways store.(It would then be rebranded by Grandways into a Jacksons store in 1992)

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by amy

amy — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:06:30 +0000

I would love there to be a Nandos there!!!

Comment on Critiquing the Achica experience as I try out the “members-only luxury lifestyle store” by Therese Shakesby

Therese Shakesby — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:33:27 +0000

I too am a frequent shopper on this site ,my difficulties are with delayed deliveries and extortion postal charge.As i live in northern Ireland my delivery charge seems to tally 14.95 regardless of how many items i”m actually purchasings .Yes i agree with previous customer there is no telephone no to contact anyone direct which is a hindrance.

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Graham Soult

Graham Soult — Sat, 04 May 2013 05:39:55 +0000

I have multiple talents! ;)

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by darren

darren — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:21:34 +0000

just noticed your twitter account, are you a Eurovision expert too? ha I’m going to retire :)

Comment on New Jacques Vert concession launched as Tamworth Co-op’s department store looks to the future by Graham Soult

Graham Soult — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:25:12 +0000

Hi Lissie, much of the remaining non-food buying (and most of the food buying too) is done via group purchasing arrangements anyway, so merging all the Co-ops wouldn’t make much difference from that point of view!

Comment on New Jacques Vert concession launched as Tamworth Co-op’s department store looks to the future by Lissie

Lissie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:20:46 +0000

It would be so much better if all the various coops would amalgamate; they would have so much more purchasing power. Its as though they are run for the benefit of the board and staff members, not the people who shop there.

Comment on HMV needs to know its own strength by Joe

Joe — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:43:18 +0000

Yes the market for CDs has collapsed, but so has the market for recorded music. People just do not buy music in the same masses as they used to, even with the convenience of iTunes. As you said, its shrinking rapidly.

HMV should not have to rely on sales of CDs though. With the money now being in touring and sponsorships, HMV can be providing vital publicity and merchandising space that record companies will be willing to pay for, if the audience is there.

Just look at the size of the new One Direction store opened in New York, I admit this is another extreme example based on a modern day Beatlemania, but it gives you a good idea of where the industry is going.

And yes you’re right about the shop assistants, this is one area that must improve along with a major refit of the way stores are planned.

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Graham Soult

Graham Soult — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:53:34 +0000

True! The corner building there is deeply unattractive (the Woolworths building next door slightly less so). I’d very much like to see the old Burton building (next to the cinema) restored too – it’s rather handsome, but has been spoilt over the years through lack of maintenance, awkward subdivision, and unattractive shopfronts and signage.

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Darren

Darren — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:44:07 +0000

Have noticed there are a lot of retailers moving from the block on the corner of High Street Jackson Street, maybe this corner could be released to provide further development?

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Adam Walker

Adam Walker — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:20:13 +0000

I do hope we get some exciting new shops in Gateshead, although some have mentioned relocating into Trinity Square the Rent is very very steep, and for most small businesses will be impossible to break even. I am interested in the future for the Tesco Temporary store which seems a success, when buying odds and ends a do hope they keep it as a mini express supermarket, as its much quicker for shopping rather than running into a massive supermarket for milk or sugar!

Comment on Can you identify this mysterious Woolworths from a century ago? [updated] by Stuart

Stuart — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:03:15 +0000

I recall Peter Adamson (Len Fairclough) of Corrie fame opening a refurbished Woolies in Union Street Aberdeen mid 70s.

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Graham Soult

Graham Soult — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:43:40 +0000

Yes, at least the development should be reasonably well populated by opening day, which is good news.

Comment on Sports Direct heads tenant list for Gateshead’s Trinity Square by Darren

Darren — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:41:33 +0000

There’s due to be a press release in the coming days, so there may be a few mo confirmations due to come