I’m watching the news and reports that shops are busy at last. Are they really? I don’t think so. Today did 3 drops around Portsmouth and it was so quiet, more so than a dull Tuesday in February, none of the traffic that take 20 minutes to get out of the centre, none of the parked anywhere cars, few people on the street. My observations/experience seem to be so different to the news reports.
I can remember the local asda last year ,you couldn’t get near it in a car, they was queueing in several nearby roads, none of that nonsense this year though, 
Because most just haven’t got the spare £££ anymore, and those who do are keeping hold of it
There again most shops even smaller indipendant shops will be open tomorrow and monday , so only closing for 2-3 days
Wiretwister:
I’m watching the news and reports that shops are busy at last. Are they really? I don’t think so. Today did 3 drops around Portsmouth and it was so quiet, more so than a dull Tuesday in February, none of the traffic that take 20 minutes to get out of the centre, none of the parked anywhere cars, few people on the street. My observations/experience seem to be so different to the news reports.
My local Sainsbugs earlier was no busier than a normal Friday evening. No problem finding a space in the non-too-big car park and I didn’t even have to queue at the self-serv either. Popped into Leeds centre later on and other than the christmas decs you’d never have known it was just before christmas, it was just like a normal Saturday.
Reading the various Economy columns there’s been talk for a while now that many retailers are clinging on by a thread and hoping that this Christmas will be the lifeline they need to keep afloat after a very bad financial year so far, but personally I don’t see it happening and I think that a lot of big names (and small) are going to disappear before the end of April next year. Obviously this has a direct knock-on effect on the haulage industry too. 
Well from a job point of view this is my quietest christmas ever, im quite enjoying it usually its a nightmare. From a shopping point of view i was in the fort today and you couldn’t swing a cat i got ■■■■■■ off and just left it was so mobbed 
I bet 20 quid the first ‘‘big name’’ to go to the wall will be HMV mark my words 
I suspect people are hanging back for the new year sales bargains, its no secret retailers ramp up there prices heading towards Christmas Eve so they can discount for the new year sales, its all retailer psychology.
merc0447:
Well from a job point of view this is my quietest christmas ever, im quite enjoying it usually its a nightmare. From a shopping point of view i was in the fort today and you couldn’t swing a cat i got ■■■■■■ off and just left it was so mobbedI bet 20 quid the first ‘‘big name’’ to go to the wall will be HMV mark my words
It won’t be HMV as they are still involved in mergers & acquisitions too recently. I know people think of Comets, but there is really no comparison.
I would estimate that most firms are haemorrhaging money at the moment, with the survivors being those that can foot such a bill.
It’s a case of big over small regardless of how efficient the small firm is - big will stay afloat, small will fail on the slightest excuse now.
Last January was dead for agency work, but the run-up to Christmas had me flat out for the whole of december, it not dying the death until the second week of January.
THIS year - Sporradic work from RM, and as for the other usual suspects at Christmas time? - Nowhere to be seen it seems. I would therefore conclude that the worst is very much yet to come on the jobs front, when even crappy last minute shifts are becoming scarce. 
Went through Canterbury this week for the first time in a while, and noticed that the Habitat store seems to have become an Aldi.
An ALDI in CANTERBURY FFS! 
Keep an eye on Waitrose, Nisa, Wilkos, & TKmaxx. I reckon they are all a proverbial “economic banana skin away from disaster” themselves, because there’s not really any more fat to be cut off is there?
Winseer:
merc0447:
Well from a job point of view this is my quietest christmas ever, im quite enjoying it usually its a nightmare. From a shopping point of view i was in the fort today and you couldn’t swing a cat i got ■■■■■■ off and just left it was so mobbedI bet 20 quid the first ‘‘big name’’ to go to the wall will be HMV mark my words
It won’t be HMV as they are still involved in mergers & acquisitions too recently. I know people think of Comets, but there is really no comparison.
I would estimate that most firms are haemorrhaging money at the moment, with the survivors being those that can foot such a bill.
It’s a case of big over small regardless of how efficient the small firm is - big will stay afloat, small will fail on the slightest excuse now.Last January was dead for agency work, but the run-up to Christmas had me flat out for the whole of december, it not dying the death until the second week of January.
THIS year - Sporradic work from RM, and as for the other usual suspects at Christmas time? - Nowhere to be seen it seems. I would therefore conclude that the worst is very much yet to come on the jobs front, when even crappy last minute shifts are becoming scarce.
Went through Canterbury this week for the first time in a while, and noticed that the Habitat store seems to have become an Aldi.
An ALDI in CANTERBURY FFS!
Keep an eye on Waitrose, Nisa, Wilkos, & TKmaxx. I reckon they are all a proverbial “economic banana skin away from disaster” themselves, because there’s not really any more fat to be cut off is there?
Aaah i love supermarket snobbery lol, is Canterbury too good for an Aldi ■■
I drive for them and we are daft busy at the moment - the run up to christmas has been so busy. I reckon some of the bigger supermarkets are gonna be losing a lot of sales to these smaller, lower priced outfits.
i shop in aldi, 
then again its litterally round the corner.
Waitrose is too good for me, and I’m too good for aldi.
“I look up to them, but down upon them” you might say…
sure it is time for another furniture store to go bust
Online shopping is hitting the high street. The few people I know who still
Shop in asda use online shopping and home delivery. All my Christmas shopping has been done online.
It seems to have gone on for ages.
Our Local Tesco had a tree up in October.
Sat with a beer and did it all off Amazon.
That way I don’t need to worry about posting it on to familly just sent it direct.
Depressing fact for Christmas - Easter egg deliveries start in week 53 (the week after Christmas)
So… Surely, with all this online order stuff, how come there isn’t more parcel work with the various carriers?
I’ve yet to work for TNT, DPD, UPS, and Tuffnels… I imagine it is either because they ‘didn’t make the cut on my minimum outing’ , or more likely they just don’t have any work! 
I did 2 delivery trips in a 7.5T to Debenhams at the Meadowhall shopping centre sheffield on saturday afternoon (12 & 3), the car parks where full, but only as full as most weekends.
Traffic was light on the approaches, & there was no queuing back onto the motorway.
It’s very quiet from our point of view (cash n carry) Usually we are mad rushed but not the now . It has been better this last week but not sure if its enough to keep the bosses happy !
Only think that’s not worrying me to much is all the cash n carrys are quiet ! So at least it ain’t us only !!!
Looking out my window, it looks like a normal saturday morning. There’s a fair number of people milling about, but very few are carrying bags.
Perhaps the “Mad” period will be when the january sales hit. 
It’s not every day everyone wants to buy a new sofa, car, etc. after all, so the vast bulk of the public are waiting for the everyday item sales by the looks of it.
Winseer:
Looking out my window, it looks like a normal saturday morning. There’s a fair number of people milling about, but very few are carrying bags.
Perhaps the “Mad” period will be when the january sales hit.It’s not every day everyone wants to buy a new sofa, car, etc. after all, so the vast bulk of the public are waiting for the everyday item sales by the looks of it.
Its monday morning, you been smoking the funny ■■■■
Winseer:
merc0447:
Well from a job point of view this is my quietest christmas ever, im quite enjoying it usually its a nightmare. From a shopping point of view i was in the fort today and you couldn’t swing a cat i got ■■■■■■ off and just left it was so mobbedI bet 20 quid the first ‘‘big name’’ to go to the wall will be HMV mark my words
It won’t be HMV as they are still involved in mergers & acquisitions too recently. I know people think of Comets, but there is really no comparison.
I would estimate that most firms are haemorrhaging money at the moment, with the survivors being those that can foot such a bill.
It’s a case of big over small regardless of how efficient the small firm is - big will stay afloat, small will fail on the slightest excuse now.Last January was dead for agency work, but the run-up to Christmas had me flat out for the whole of december, it not dying the death until the second week of January.
THIS year - Sporradic work from RM, and as for the other usual suspects at Christmas time? - Nowhere to be seen it seems. I would therefore conclude that the worst is very much yet to come on the jobs front, when even crappy last minute shifts are becoming scarce.
Went through Canterbury this week for the first time in a while, and noticed that the Habitat store seems to have become an Aldi.
An ALDI in CANTERBURY FFS!
Keep an eye on Waitrose, Nisa, Wilkos, & TKmaxx. I reckon they are all a proverbial “economic banana skin away from disaster” themselves, because there’s not really any more fat to be cut off is there?
Mate, I hope your a good driver as you would ■■■■ on the stock market. If Waitrose or TK Maxx have problems I’ll eat your underpants.
I wonder how many drivers will be made jobless amongst this lot in the near future, its not looking good.
Starting to get busy at asda
