21 years ago

Yesterday Ray Kelvin, the man closest to Ted (Baker) picked up his CBE. Today it was announced that Schuh, the funky footwear retailer, has been sold to an American firm for £125 million. And what connects the two pieces of news? Well, 21 years ago Ted Baker and Schuh were part of the now defunct Goldberg group.

21 years ago the Houndshill Shopping Centre was anchored by Goldberg's (which I managed). Change really is the only constant in retailing as a tour round Blackpool this morning shows. Since then the Houndshill Centre has been extended and refurbished. It is now anchored by a Debenhams. Elsewhere in the town centre the old C&A store is now a TK Maxx; two Woolworths stores are now TJ Hughes and Home Bargains; the Alexon shop is now a Poundland; the Clarks shoe shop is now Nandos; the former Next is now empty as it, like the former River Island store (now a Madhouse), are both prominent in the refurbished Houndshill Centre.

As retailers have gravitated towards the Houndshill Centre, elsewhere the town centre is home to an array of charity shops and a plethora of value stores. The cafe society is alive and well though. I suppose Blackpool is just indicative of some general retail trends.