Messy Shops

I know that there has been an economic downturn, and high street chains are finding it hard to maintain profits and growth, but is that really an excuse for how busy and messy all these stores now look.
WH Smith has had some notable problems of late, and for a while was torn over exactly what kind of products the shop should be carrying. It seems to have settled wisely on a broad range of best selling books, CDs and DVDs, and is keeping on its magazine range (it would have been fatal to drop its one USP). But does any of that excuse the mess that is instore in this chain these days?
And then look at Boots. To many people, still an “essential” store despite the growth of the healthcare and pharmaceutical sections in the large supermarkets. But you can barely squeeze through the aisles instore now.
The problem in both cases, and others besides, is the introduction of section ends, free-standing dumpbins, special offer stands and many more. The aisles are now completely cluttered, and what stand-out these sections once had is completely lost in a mess of stands that your average village corner shop (there are a few left that haven’t become Tesco Expresses I believe) look like a minimalist Bond Street designer store.
There’s a very easy rule of thumb to employ in clothes shops – the more free space there is, the greater the prices are. So those chains that have aisle space akin to the average cattle class airline seat’s legroom, charge pennies for their Chinese made clothes. While those stores that could easily accommodate a regulation five-a-side pitch between the rails probably has price tags of the “if you need to ask, you’re not going to be buying” sort.
It’s a straight equation based around revenue earned per square foot of shop-floor space, and the location’s rent.
But if you’re a parent who has to wheel their pram around these cluttered aisles, or even someone who aspires to live in a minimalist manner that the ads always show us, why would you want to navigate box after box of “Gift Wrap” (it’s “Wrapping paper” you morons)? The average out of town Tesco actually has enormously wide aisles, with barely a single obstacle. If it didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to wheel around your gargantuan trolley, loaded with everything from a Christmas tree and underwear, to a new DVD recorder and three months’ worth of disposable contact lenses. Oh, and maybe some food too.
Shopping is a necessity, but wouldn’t it be nice to keep it vaguely pleasureable too?


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