Hi there folks, good to see some inciteful postings and some nice suggestions from the ape. Keep 'em coming..... Anway, thought I would relay my company visits yesterday which took place from 14:00 in Flagship stores on Bond Street. Certainly it was a lot busier than my previous visit @ XMAS.
Next - Absolutely swarming. Discounts ranging from 30-75% off! Which means though sales might hit the roof margins take a knock. I think Next might not do as badly as everyone thinks and having missed shorting these earlier will not do so now.
Foot Lockers(does a PLC own these?) Swamped. 30% Discounts Clearly recession fears not affecting this store.
JJB Sports (I a short these) - Not as packed as foot lockers still busy though and service very good. 30% Discounts A lot more adults in this store raather then just teenagers which might inidcate a higher spend rate too.
JD Sports - (I a short these) The least packed of the 3 sport shops with a clear lack of interst in their clothing range. All the buying was taking in place in their comprehesive trainer section. Up to 50% discounts. Service was good.
Thorntons (I am short these)- Empty! More staff then customers. 25% Discounts but nobody seemed intersted.
Godiva Chocolates (does a plc own these?) Again Empty! More staff then customers.
Selfridges - Busy but it was intersting very few people buying - Including myself. The stuff on sale - 30% disocunts was univeraslly poor -across the board.
Ted Baker (My biggest retail short) - Not busy either in the Adult or Childrens Department - 30% Disocount - Limited range of clothes on sale.
John Lewis - Again Doing very well Discounts up to 30% - Think they will do well this year.
HMV - Again packed again (also @ XMAS eve) It was rammed again with 25-50% discounts but people were buying and not just the odd CD. Big DVD collections sets etc.
