We all know the song and its sentiments and Chumbawumba would seem a good fit for the past 18 months or so. Companies that have been a high street presence for decades have gone for good - Top Shop, Top Man, Debenhams and many of John Lewis’s stores, like the ones in Peterborough, Aberdeen, Oxford Street and Birmingham.
Others nearly sank too - Primark lost £600 million in April 2020 with lockdown and only this week Gap have announced 81 store closures.
So is the high street decline terminal? Can we expect the only survivors to be food stores and small independents? Or will they redefine themselves?
Closish to High Peak Website Design, one city has showed creative thinking - Liverpool. That fine city has realised that for footfall to be maintained and sustained, they need events on the street. That’s just what they’ve invested in.
But, whether that’s sustainable long term, is debatable.
The richest company and man in the world - Jeff Bezos – now has physical stores (just the one in the uk) however, Amazon still relies on its website, app and customer service to dominate a global retail market.
Apple has adopted a similar model and they’ve been clever. They know that people are upgrading hardware less frequently so they’ve invested in subscription-based apps: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple News.
In the UK, ASOS, the online retailer bought Arcadia out (taking the Top Man / Top Shop brands online only) and GAP is heading online only.
The past 2 months have been very positive for us at High Peak Website Design.
People have been instructed to work from home and many have got a taste for it and joined the legions of the self employed. Businesses have realised that a digital presence is not a luxury but a necessity.
Without their website and app, John Lewis would have gone the way of Debenhams according to CEO Sharon White. Their app and website accounts for 70% of revenue.
If you’re looking to start on the first rung of self employment or need a stronger web presence to survive and thrive, this expert freelance web design company can help with apps and websites.
Customer feedback is exceptional, yet prices are modest, with digital platforms of the highest quality.
We’re based in the Peak District, not far from Manchester, Sheffield and Stockport and other major conurbations.
If you need a secure, fast-loading responsive website with smart branding, technical SEO from someone who gets great feedback, yet doesn’t charge an arm and a leg, call me today: 07714 573 975 or email hello@highpeakwebsitedesign.com if you’re a bit shy!
We can’t guarantee that you’ll be the next Amazon, but remember Bezos and Bill Gates both started from converted spaces in garages - and each didn’t have the benefit of great web design in the early 80s.