http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/loc ... es-8267279

Very sad.

Never mind that, looks a prime spot for a better Wetherspoon's.

Flats for the immigrants more like

_________________
Lets be careful out there !

I agree its a sad day when such a landmark is to go, but I was a bit annoyed at Sir John's comments on BBC news last night. He blamed the closure on the internet and lack of footfall through the shop. I am sure he is right and those points are significant,

But they interviewed a lady who had worked there for 42 years. She was standing in front of a display cabinet comprising of lots of small glazed wooden doors attached to a sort of pigeon-hole unit. Its was straight out of Grace Brothers shop from 'Are You Being Served'

Maybe that is part of why Randalls will soon be another & oversized ugly block of flats. To keep in business, it is necessary to invest and keep up to date, and I suggest Randalls has failed to do so. At a time when Uxbridge has never been busier, they have pretty much excluded a huge demographic of anyone under 45 by maintaining this old fashioned shop.

Its sad for the staff though and in fairness I am aware that Randalls were very generous in supporting local Charities who wil also lose out

How many department stores can we all remember as kids....
FH Rowse in West Ealing.
The one where the shopping centre now stands in Ealing Bdy.
The pram shop come everything else in West Ealing. Just down from the fire station... Names escape me
Woolworths was one of the bigger failures in this area.

Marks and Spencer, BHS and other have had to modernize but are nationwide brands and have a following. Primark is an example of a success story in the area but this is all down to globalisation buy in stuff cheap from Asia where it was made in sweat shops and sell it cheap here. Even Marks have had to compromise a little on what used to be pretty much guaranteed quality.
Clothes are so cheap now people don't so much worry about quality they buy wear throw away and buy again.

Retailing has been moved deliberately down this road to provide longer range income for the shops..

When I first read about Randalls I thought they were engaging in a pre Xmas rustle up some trade campaign.

Reports of Randalls demise have proved to be false in the past.

There are still a new independent family-owned department stores around, e.g., Elphicks in Farnham, Surrey, and Camp Hopson in Newbury, Berkshire, long may they continue!

I've known Randalls since the early 70's and I've always been meaning to go in there for a browse. Never have though. I think their out of sight location hasn't helped.

_________________
Lets be careful out there !

It is sad that we - as a society - have gone from Randalesque little glass display cabinets, customer service by trained, proud and knowledgeable staff, to cheap crappy goods, thrown in a big heap* and a blooming free for all 'policed' by staff who grunt and point (on a good day)


I met my daughter in Oxford St Primark a couple of years ago (as it was raining). Never again - wot a sty!

I think the demographic in those types of places generally support them, the better areas inside the M25 ranging from Richmond / Hampstead type places to the Zone 2/3 gentrifying areas all seem to have more independent shops and businesses.

I was 'up west' a few weeks ago and as you say Primark is a 'sty'. It's like a cattle market that attracts a style of person who barges around dropping things on the floor and they have no manners when you ask to pass by because they are blocking the narrow aisles.
Only went in to see if their flagship store was anything like the local ones.

Never again

_________________
Lets be careful out there !