With Jessops in turmoil, we ask: Which shops do you miss most?
Camera chain Jessops's fall into administration this week could result in another old Leicester name disappearing from the city centre.
If that happened, Jessops would follow other popular names which have vanished from the high street, such as Habitat, Cecil Jacobs and Woolworths.
Yesterday, we asked shoppers in Leicester which stores they missed the most.
Those named included Lewis's department store, which used to stand in Humberstone Gate.
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Jessops was founded in Leicester in 1935. The chain, which has its head offices in Braunstone Frith, Leicester, had previously suffered from debt problems and was rescued after a deal with HSBC in 2009.
Administrators said on Wednesday that some of Jessops' 192 stores would almost certainly close.
Jessops' problems follows the closure six months ago of fellow Leicester photography chain Cecil Jacobs, after 73 years in business.
Comments
by Bob491
Sunday, January 13 2013, 1:03AM
“That was quick.
Another business in Leicestershire has today announced it is also likely to close down in the next few months with the loss of hundreds more jobs.
This is Con Cameron's rampant 'Busted Society'!”
by Bob491
Friday, January 11 2013, 10:35PM
“I will miss all the other shops and businesses that will soon be going bust because of the reckless austerity of this inexperienced and incompetent Con government.”
by DBLeicester
Friday, January 11 2013, 2:53PM
“I miss the shops that actually offer value for money. Considering online prices in comparison, I'm afraid there aren't many left. There needs to be a real big shake up with retailers, or we are going to see this happening more often than not. Big chains, and small ones going bust. Until rates and rents reduce overheads for business on the high street, most shops are literally doomed.”
by Banksider33
Friday, January 11 2013, 11:03AM
“In a perverse way there is some irony about the demise of Jessops.
As a teenager and interested in photography, I recall visiting their shop opposite the Magazine, and being served by founder Frank, or his son Alan.
They had a policy of not demonstrating the equipment, but selling you the unopened box at a price that under cut Jacobs and Youngs, so you'd visit them first to look and handle the equipment.
As Jessops expanded (and had that megastore on Hinckley Road, now a Tesco Express and paint shop, staff did demonstrate and advise on cameras and lenses, but with the growth of the internet, customers shopped online prices undercut Jessops - and there's the irony. What comes around, etc?
Once supermarkets started selling cameras - which the manufacturers are at fault for even considering - it was game over for the High Street camera shop, facing low profits and high rents.
Sad that Jessops demise is, it will hopefully ensure a few more specialist retailers survive, even though margins are slim.”
by Stoned
Friday, January 11 2013, 10:26AM
“I suppose we all miss familiar shops in the city but if we shopped there they wouldn't have to close and I'm as guilty of that as the next person. According to reports Jessops have been driven out due to on-line competition but as they too have an on-line presence perhaps they can continue to trade. At least this might provide work for the local warehouse and administration staff.”