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Post by snoggle on Dec 19, 2015 22:40:58 GMT
Is it me or does it not feel anywhere near as busy on the high street as usual this Christmas? Does it also feel as if the retailers are getting more and more desperate because people are holding off spending and waiting for the inevitable sales? M&S even had turkey crown roasts reduced in price this afternoon! Seems ridiculous to have so much Christmas produce in stock with sell by dates around now (or even earlier for some ranges) - a ridiculous waste of resource unless people have been rehearsing Christmas dinner and parties for weeks. I don't "do" Christmas at all so it's of no great concern to me. I was just wondering if people were picking up the same vibes as me.
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Post by thesquirrels on Dec 20, 2015 0:32:48 GMT
Well, I've just been to four supermarkets in north London and only been able to pick up a tree (live or otherwise) at the fourth (dutifully hauled back through Edmonton on a 279).. most places I've seen doing live trees seem to have had a typical year verging on brisk. Four years ago I was able to walk into the first Tesco of my choice (coincidentally the same one I got my live one from tonight) and pick up a plastic one on the 23rd without any problem.
Westfield Stratford last Saturday lunchtime was busy but not absurd. I think there has been an ongoing trend of a more 'even' spread of shopping each year, with people starting earlier and utilising earlier/later hours.
With the breakdown in the 'traditional' family structure the notion of a single get-together on christmas day is rapidly disappearing. I have four christmas dinners to go to this year - my first is before, one on the day and two after! So some non-family units will have a christmas dinner type affair before the day, be it a group of friends or an office environment.. plenty of instances where I could foresee a need for retailers to stock the necessary and expect it to sell before the day itself. I had to put back a 'xmas dinner pack' of swedes/carrots/etc tonight when I realised it had an expiry date of the 23rd. I did initially raise a brow but then I did have a think about it afterwards!
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Post by snoggle on Dec 20, 2015 0:46:09 GMT
Well, I've just been to four supermarkets in north London and only been able to pick up a tree (live or otherwise) at the fourth (dutifully hauled back through Edmonton on a 279).. most places I've seen doing live trees seem to have had a typical year verging on brisk. Four years ago I was able to walk into the first Tesco of my choice (coincidentally the same one I got my live one from tonight) and pick up a plastic one on the 23rd without any problem. Westfield Stratford last Saturday lunchtime was busy but not absurd. I think there has been an ongoing trend of a more 'even' spread of shopping each year, with people starting earlier and utilising earlier/later hours. With the breakdown in the 'traditional' family structure the notion of a single get-together on christmas day is rapidly disappearing. I have four christmas dinners to go to this year - my first is before, one on the day and two after! So some non-family units will have a christmas dinner type affair before the day, be it a group of friends or an office environment.. plenty of instances where I could foresee a need for retailers to stock the necessary and expect it to sell before the day itself. I had to put back a 'xmas dinner pack' of swedes/carrots/etc tonight when I realised it had an expiry date of the 23rd. I did initially raise a brow but then I did have a think about it afterwards! 4 dinners - erk! Veg lasts way past its sell by date unless it's already decaying in the packet. If you're sensible it's no issue at all. Heck you could par cook it, freeze it and then finish it off on the requisite day with no issue. So many people, if you judge from telly programmes [1], seem to have lost the ability to use their eyes, brains and noses to determine the adequacy of food even after sell by dates. There are obvious dangers - meat and seafood - but generally there are very few issues with food beyond sell by dates. I buy a fair share of discounted stuff and have yet to kill myself by eating food days or even a week after the sell by date. [1] for example this week's "Eat Well for Less for Christmas" on BBC1. I couldn't believe what I was watching. Lunacy - a seasonal food and drink bill of Ā£1,400.
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Post by thesquirrels on Dec 20, 2015 0:55:07 GMT
Well, I've just been to four supermarkets in north London and only been able to pick up a tree (live or otherwise) at the fourth (dutifully hauled back through Edmonton on a 279).. most places I've seen doing live trees seem to have had a typical year verging on brisk. Four years ago I was able to walk into the first Tesco of my choice (coincidentally the same one I got my live one from tonight) and pick up a plastic one on the 23rd without any problem. Westfield Stratford last Saturday lunchtime was busy but not absurd. I think there has been an ongoing trend of a more 'even' spread of shopping each year, with people starting earlier and utilising earlier/later hours. With the breakdown in the 'traditional' family structure the notion of a single get-together on christmas day is rapidly disappearing. I have four christmas dinners to go to this year - my first is before, one on the day and two after! So some non-family units will have a christmas dinner type affair before the day, be it a group of friends or an office environment.. plenty of instances where I could foresee a need for retailers to stock the necessary and expect it to sell before the day itself. I had to put back a 'xmas dinner pack' of swedes/carrots/etc tonight when I realised it had an expiry date of the 23rd. I did initially raise a brow but then I did have a think about it afterwards! 4 dinners - erk! Veg lasts way past its sell by date unless it's already decaying in the packet. If you're sensible it's no issue at all. Heck you could par cook it, freeze it and then finish it off on the requisite day with no issue. So many people, if you judge from telly programmes [1], seem to have lost the ability to use their eyes, brains and noses to determine the adequacy of food even after sell by dates. There are obvious dangers - meat and seafood - but generally there are very few issues with food beyond sell by dates. I buy a fair share of discounted stuff and have yet to kill myself by eating food days or even a week after the sell by date. [1] for example this week's "Eat Well for Less for Christmas" on BBC1. I couldn't believe what I was watching. Lunacy - a seasonal food and drink bill of Ā£1,400. Oh, believe me, with my family background I more or less grew up on 'yellow sticker' food and a skilled eye for how far beyond the 'death date' you can take it. Red meat you can play by ear but generally 36-48 hrs beyond the use by, as long as it smells and looks ok. White meat you don't mess around with. Vegetables... this household is on the top floor of a block of flats with UPVC windows, it is not difficult to heat. After finding out on xmas morning that the potatoes I'd bought four days ago had sprouted I'm taking no chances there!
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Post by vjaska on Dec 20, 2015 1:26:29 GMT
Brixton has been busy but then when isn't it but it hasn't been super busy in Brixton but I expect that to change come Christmas Eve, especially going by my own workplace which is the actual definition of hell on that particular day. I suspect the ever increasing move to online shopping as well as people spreading it over more days has something to do with it. All I want is Christmas Eve over and done with - it's the day I dread all year thesquirrels Did you get frozen veg? Only reason I ask is fresh veg isn't all it's made out to be especially as it doesn't hold in as much nutrients compared to frozen veg
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Post by thesquirrels on Dec 20, 2015 1:30:12 GMT
Brixton has been busy but then when isn't it but it hasn't been super busy in Brixton but I expect that to change come Christmas Eve, especially going by my own workplace which is the actual definition of hell on that particular day. I suspect the ever increasing move to online shopping as well as people spreading it over more days has something to do with it. All I want is Christmas Eve over and done with - it's the day I dread all year thesquirrels Did you get frozen veg? Only reason I ask is fresh veg isn't all it's made out to be especially as it doesn't hold in as much nutrients compared to frozen veg Once you've suffered frozen vegetable stew packs you never go back
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Post by ServerKing on Dec 20, 2015 9:18:52 GMT
Is it me or does it not feel anywhere near as busy on the high street as usual this Christmas? Does it also feel as if the retailers are getting more and more desperate because people are holding off spending and waiting for the inevitable sales? M&S even had turkey crown roasts reduced in price this afternoon! Seems ridiculous to have so much Christmas produce in stock with sell by dates around now (or even earlier for some ranges) - a ridiculous waste of resource unless people have been rehearsing Christmas dinner and parties for weeks. I don't "do" Christmas at all so it's of no great concern to me. I was just wondering if people were picking up the same vibes as me. I think you'll find everyone's just buying online so there's time to go and see a certain film... Typical American research full of errors - Arriva with the E8?!
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 20, 2015 9:23:45 GMT
Is it me or does it not feel anywhere near as busy on the high street as usual this Christmas? Does it also feel as if the retailers are getting more and more desperate because people are holding off spending and waiting for the inevitable sales? M&S even had turkey crown roasts reduced in price this afternoon! Seems ridiculous to have so much Christmas produce in stock with sell by dates around now (or even earlier for some ranges) - a ridiculous waste of resource unless people have been rehearsing Christmas dinner and parties for weeks. I don't "do" Christmas at all so it's of no great concern to me. I was just wondering if people were picking up the same vibes as me. I think you'll find everyone's just buying online so there's time to go and see a certain film... Typical American research full of errors - Arriva with the E8?! LMAO! Leon as Palpatine, does not look much like a Villan. That photo of boris looks like hes suffering from some Constipation
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Post by bigbaddom1981 on Dec 20, 2015 9:37:21 GMT
I work for John Lewis in Westfield, Stratford City so I have some knowledge as to how Christmas trade is going this year. London Christmas trade is always different from the rest of the U.K., and trade has been a lot later this year than last year. So yesterday was the first real day that we matched last year, and we anticipate the rest of the days up until Christmas to be extremely busy. A trend this year is for more people to shop online and pick up parcels etc.
I'm on my into work today and I'm expecting a extremely busy day!
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Post by snoggle on Dec 20, 2015 10:28:00 GMT
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Post by Nathan on Dec 20, 2015 11:31:43 GMT
Is it me or does it not feel anywhere near as busy on the high street as usual this Christmas? Does it also feel as if the retailers are getting more and more desperate because people are holding off spending and waiting for the inevitable sales? M&S even had turkey crown roasts reduced in price this afternoon! Seems ridiculous to have so much Christmas produce in stock with sell by dates around now (or even earlier for some ranges) - a ridiculous waste of resource unless people have been rehearsing Christmas dinner and parties for weeks. I don't "do" Christmas at all so it's of no great concern to me. I was just wondering if people were picking up the same vibes as me. I think you'll find everyone's just buying online so there's time to go and see a certain film... Typical American research full of errors - Arriva with the E8?! Must be a sequel to Revenge of the Arriva, right?
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Post by vjaska on Dec 20, 2015 12:45:21 GMT
Brixton has been busy but then when isn't it but it hasn't been super busy in Brixton but I expect that to change come Christmas Eve, especially going by my own workplace which is the actual definition of hell on that particular day. I suspect the ever increasing move to online shopping as well as people spreading it over more days has something to do with it. All I want is Christmas Eve over and done with - it's the day I dread all year thesquirrels Did you get frozen veg? Only reason I ask is fresh veg isn't all it's made out to be especially as it doesn't hold in as much nutrients compared to frozen veg Once you've suffered frozen vegetable stew packs you never go backĀ Lol fair enough - in our house, we're content with Iceland's frozen vegetables for Sunday Roast & Christmas Dinners - tastes nice and doesn't hurt the wallet lol.
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Post by John tuthill on Dec 20, 2015 15:41:28 GMT
Brixton has been busy but then when isn't it but it hasn't been super busy in Brixton but I expect that to change come Christmas Eve, especially going by my own workplace which is the actual definition of hell on that particular day. I suspect the ever increasing move to online shopping as well as people spreading it over more days has something to do with it. All I want is Christmas Eve over and done with - it's the day I dread all year thesquirrels Did you get frozen veg? Only reason I ask is fresh veg isn't all it's made out to be especially as it doesn't hold in as much nutrients compared to frozen veg I can remember as a kid in the 1950s what Brixton was like at this time of year. THE shop was the old 'Bon Marche' building which was part of the John Lewis group, where the cash was transported in tins on a cable system to the central cashier, very posh it was. But ordinary people would use the street markets and Brixton Station Road was the mecca. Some of the veg stalls went over to trees and decorations, and bearing in mind very few people owned a fridge, they would congregate around the stalls selling chickens, only the rich could afford turkeys. The ladies knew the nearer it got to 6:00 the prices would drop, as the butcher wanted to off load his stock for the day, and I remember one year it was like a rugby scrum! If you are interested in the history of the area, I bought a booklet years ago in the Library, which showed a pictorial history of the area. Electric Avenue once had a glass colonnade on both sides of the street, with Rolls Royce's(!) park up there(early 20th century) for the gentry to use all he 'posh shops'
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Post by John tuthill on Dec 20, 2015 15:55:19 GMT
Brixton has been busy but then when isn't it but it hasn't been super busy in Brixton but I expect that to change come Christmas Eve, especially going by my own workplace which is the actual definition of hell on that particular day. I suspect the ever increasing move to online shopping as well as people spreading it over more days has something to do with it. All I want is Christmas Eve over and done with - it's the day I dread all year thesquirrels Did you get frozen veg? Only reason I ask is fresh veg isn't all it's made out to be especially as it doesn't hold in as much nutrients compared to frozen veg I can remember as a kid in the 1950s what Brixton was like at this time of year. THE shop was the old 'Bon Marche' building which was part of the John Lewis group, where the cash was transported in tins on a cable system to the central cashier, very posh it was. But ordinary people would use the street markets and Brixton Station Road was the mecca. Some of the veg stalls went over to trees and decorations, and bearing in mind very few people owned a fridge, they would congregate around the stalls selling chickens, only the rich could afford turkeys. The ladies knew the nearer it got to 6:00 the prices would drop, as the butcher wanted to off load his stock for the day, and I remember one year it was like a rugby scrum! If you are interested in the history of the area, I bought a booklet years ago in the Library, which showed a pictorial history of the area. Electric Avenue once had a glass colonnade on both sides of the street, with Rolls Royce's(!) park up there(early 20th century) for the gentry to use all he 'posh shops' Found these on the web Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Post by John tuthill on Dec 20, 2015 15:56:35 GMT
Brixton has been busy but then when isn't it but it hasn't been super busy in Brixton but I expect that to change come Christmas Eve, especially going by my own workplace which is the actual definition of hell on that particular day. I suspect the ever increasing move to online shopping as well as people spreading it over more days has something to do with it. All I want is Christmas Eve over and done with - it's the day I dread all year thesquirrels Did you get frozen veg? Only reason I ask is fresh veg isn't all it's made out to be especially as it doesn't hold in as much nutrients compared to frozen veg I can remember as a kid in the 1950s what Brixton was like at this time of year. THE shop was the old 'Bon Marche' building which was part of the John Lewis group, where the cash was transported in tins on a cable system to the central cashier, very posh it was. But ordinary people would use the street markets and Brixton Station Road was the mecca. Some of the veg stalls went over to trees and decorations, and bearing in mind very few people owned a fridge, they would congregate around the stalls selling chickens, only the rich could afford turkeys. The ladies knew the nearer it got to 6:00 the prices would drop, as the butcher wanted to off load his stock for the day, and I remember one year it was like a rugby scrum! If you are interested in the history of the area, I bought a booklet years ago in the Library, which showed a pictorial history of the area. Electric Avenue once had a glass colonnade on both sides of the street, with Rolls Royce's(!) park up there(early 20th century) for the gentry to use all he 'posh shops'
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