When I were a lad, Woolies, Boots, WH Smith and the Post Office were the staples of every high street. Towards its bitter end, it was hard to work out why you’d go to Woolworths, and if you found a reason, it was a depressing experience. The writing was on the wall. Now, I go to WHS if I forget to order stationery online, or to queue to see the one person behind the post office counter. Neither it nor Boots have had a lick of paint in years; so much so that, yes, you really can see the writing on their walls.
“Marks & Spencer profits plunge as clothing sales continue to fall”
So profits are down at M&S. Not really a surprise, I, like many, buy the occasional chicken Kiev but haven’t found anything I’d wear, even in private, for a long time. However, most of us running our own businesses would say, stop moaning, at least you’re making a...