Author Topic: Cotswold Outdoors gloom  (Read 1722 times)

vghikers

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Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« on: 15:29:41, 24/01/19 »
Retail gloom finally arrives at our door - Cotswold Outdoor closures

Considering recent trends, I can't say I'm surprised judging by the paltry numbers of people I've seen in all outdoor stores, not just Cotswold.

Our custom goes way back, we have one of the original Cotswold discount cards given to us in 1994.

These days I have a love/hate kind of feeling for them: on the one hand I'm glad of a real store where I can actually handle the gear and try it out. On the other, most of the gear on their website isn't available in the stores, they have only the few usual suspects in stock and they hardly ever include lightweight gear that interests us. The website has several items I'd want to try like the Hoka One footwear range, but they don't stock them anywhere.

Their staff are keen and willing to talk but their enthusiasm seems to be stuck in the 1980s, recommending unnecessarily heavy clodhopping boots and grossly heavy packs, which is why I never engage them (unless I'm in a provocative frame of mind!). I just sit quietly with my portable scale measuring the true weight of footwear, as opposed to the useless figures given by the manufacturers on the website.


Not good news though, the rot is really setting in.

phil1960

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #1 on: 16:18:12, 24/01/19 »
Bad news, hopefully not the Brecon store and apologies if that sounds a bit selfish, but I do like a good browse and Brecon has already lost Crickhowell Adventure in recent years.
Touching from a distance, further all the time.

Davidedgarjones

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #2 on: 16:35:58, 24/01/19 »
The Manchester Deansgate store seems to have a much smaller stock than a few years ago. However the Ellis Brigham store just down the road has a much bigger one, and also their outlet in Castlefield. Cotswold's boot range is much reduced which is why I went to Go Outdoors in Stockport for my last pair, where I could try on 4 different Scarpa models, though they are not the place for advice and expert fitting.
Dave

fernman

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #3 on: 17:12:57, 24/01/19 »
Not the greatest surprise, how can you keep a mid- to high-end store going when you're up against the likes of GO, Decathlon, Blacks, etc., not to mention internet sales, and I'll second what vghikers said above about "most of the gear on their website isn't available in the stores". I think I've posted this on here before, my wife wanted some new Teva-type sandals, there were quite a few different ones on the website, but only one model stocked in the store, a wasted journey. Sports Direct got the sale.

pdstsp

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #4 on: 17:27:37, 24/01/19 »
Sad news, not just for us, but for the people who work there - jobs in retail are going to be like rocking horse droppings soon!


I've found the staff in my local (Liverpool) store generally very helpful - particularly the boot guys.

gunwharfman

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #5 on: 17:37:40, 24/01/19 »
I don't shop at Cotswold anymore, too many better, just as good and cheaper other brands out there.

 

Ridge

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #6 on: 18:27:24, 24/01/19 »
The staff in the one I sometimes use are friendly and knowledgeable but they are never busy.
I can't really complain though I am  guilty of moving a fair few of my purchases to on line.

April

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #7 on: 18:32:19, 24/01/19 »
This is a shame. I do buy stuff from Cotswold but I normally click and collect from them. What hasn't helped them is the way they display the stock. I went in to find a waterproof last year and had to wander through the whole shop because they are scattered all over, not all of them in one place. Same with everything else, except the boots and camping gear. The shop in Keswick has non walking related clothes on display. Why?  :-\
Hate will never win

Glyno

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #8 on: 19:13:23, 24/01/19 »
The shop in Keswick has non walking related clothes on display. Why?  :-\


Exactly what I was saying to Mrs Glyno the other day as we browsed the Liverpool store. Novelty tin mugs, Pub-wear from Weird Fish!
Cotswolds used to be my first port of call on a visit into town (whether it be Liverpool or Chester), I rarely bother going into either nowadays.

astaman

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #9 on: 20:19:54, 24/01/19 »
Not surprising to me that Cotswold are struggling in the face of the new kinds of competition, especially the internet. I was in an independent outdoor shop 3 or 4 years ago in Ross on Wye making a couple of small purchases while walking up the Wye. I had a Paramo jacket in my rucksack and noticed that the new model that had superseded mine hanging on rail. I took it down to examine it when the owner asked me if I wanted to try it. I explained that I had one with me. He told me that he had noticed an increase in the number of people coming in and trying on clothes, boots and rucksacks but not appearing to intend to buy. His view was that they were using his shop for fitting and then going home and ordering the right size on the internet. Depressing if true. I'm not rich but I am willing to pay a bit of premium to support local independent traders over national chains and internet suppliers. This is a sensitive issue in remote communities like Shetland. John

vghikers

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #10 on: 21:07:12, 24/01/19 »
Quote
His view was that they were using his shop for fitting and then going home and ordering the right size on the internet. Depressing if true. I'm not rich but I am willing to pay a bit of premium to support local independent traders over national chains and internet suppliers.

It is widely true in many shops of all kinds, unfortunately, and he is right to feel aggrieved. We too will pay a bit extra for a real shop and the opportunity to try the goods, it's right and fair.
In the case of Cotswold and other big name stores though, they sell very few items we want these days, in fact almost all our gear is sold only by online specialists like Ultralight Outdoor Gear and Backpackinglight.

phil1960

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #11 on: 21:13:29, 24/01/19 »
A good independent shop in Brecon is http://gibboutdoors.co.uk/ they always seem to have plenty in stock and most sizes, it’s a little more expensive but as others have said in a roundabout way, use it or lose it.
Touching from a distance, further all the time.

BuzyG

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Re: Cotswold Outdoors gloom
« Reply #12 on: 21:40:42, 24/01/19 »
Not good news.  Cotswold Outdoors is the one store we have left locally that sell decent gear.  Alas the stores that cater soleys for mainstream, Trespass, Mountain warehouse, etc just don't have the same range of gear available to try on. Plus staff who actually know how the gear works.  Hope the Plymouth store survives O0

 

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