As with almost everything in the UK, we follow the US. I say almost everything, and that's true, but one thing we do follow the USA in is consumerism - and how we shop, and eat...

We're generally 10 years behind, in my experience.

When I was in the Motor Trade it was all small independent garages. A customer would spend all day Saturday and Sunday driving round to the various garages, make a shortlist, go back and test drive, then return to the one garage to negotiate a deal and make the purchase. That was how it was done.

I flew over to the USA and was astonished by the lack of small independents, and the sheer scale of the 'super dealerships' with 1,000 or 2,000 cars. All fixed price, all cheap thanks to the volume/scale, fixed prices - and a one-stop shop as they'd have pretty much any variation of any car you wanted. One place, one 'trip', get it done, buy the car, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

That was in 2002.  Now, in the UK we have Cargiant, Unbeatable Car, Available Car, all stocking thousands of cars. 

If you're a big brand in a big city in the USA, the scale will carry you. If you're a small independent looking to set up a new business, the rents hamstring you to a point where it's just not worth bothering. Same in the UK.

The younger generation also seem more comfortable dealing with 'brand names' - wether that be Costa, Starbucks, Game, Cash Converters, and so on... Rarely (if ever) do I see a 'young person' in an independent specialist hi-fi store saying "So, what's the best speaker dock / which are the best headphones?" and so on.  They read online reviews, stroll into the big discounter, and buy them - in a sealed packet.  (We're back to marketing here.. AGAIN)

In the US, when I've been, you do get these 'slightly out of town' Mini-Mall areas. They usually have a Subway, a restaurant, some small shops and independent businesses (usually nail bars and therapy practices) where the local community drop in. I can't see a B&O Dealership in any of these though...

Here in the UK, as the urban population grows and grows, and more people own cars - and there are less places to park them, we're shying away from town centres. Personally, I'll only go into my local town if I have to.  No longer do I think "I'll go have a wander around the town centre" like I used to. I'd always end up buying something when I did....

I think there's a gap in the market for 'Boutique Destinations' for developers. Somewhere out of town, where land is cheaper and parking is plentiful, where the rents don't have to be sky-high. Maybe something part-funded by the government to boost businesses and create jobs?  Who knows...

Lee

Don't forget Andrew, that the majority of 'consumers' are shopping on line! Of course, the high street is changing. The world is connected now, it's a smaller place. It's more European, it's international. I posted a really great article on how the younger generations are spending their income as it's certainly changed compared to say a 45 year old. Also, in today's economy, how many people seriously have £5K or £4K to spend on a TV or a pair of loudspeakers? Of course B&O shops are total history, for the UK at least. Record shops went out of business years ago when people started downloading and then streaming. Yes vinyl sales peaked for a short time but, most of those sales were from the novelty market - the people buying the Crosley record players for a bit of fun and 2. The collector buying the Pink Flloyd record and saving it, hoping that it would increase in value. 

I disagree Lee. Certainly, certain people follow the USA but I believe that the educated of the UK follow European culture rather than the USA. The USA has 70% of people with obesity, 70% are RELIANT on pharmaceutical drugs, the country is trying to push GMO food on its people with no labelling even though they are totally aware of the cancers that are caused by them. Seriously, if you talk to younger, educated people, they totally shun what goes on in that country and certainly would not buy rubbish from Subway, McDonalds and 'pretend food' places. Maybe the 52% are pro USA in habit but there's the 48% of the UK that are a million miles away from that. And Lee, there's a night and day difference there. Go to a few universities and have a talk to the English and international Masters students - it'll give you a totally different perception than what you are mentioning!

It's also the fact that educated people have woken up to the true consequences of consumerism. They are buying less as there is zero reason to have a house full of 'stuff'. 

Paul, I don't think talking to the international educated elite gives you an accurate reflection of the thought processes of the general public in the United Kingdom?

In todays economy, plenty of people have £4k-£5k to spend on Loudspeakers.  These people are usually over 35-40 years old.

As for culture - the general view is that young Europeans look to the USA for mainstream cultural influence.  Most of the world looks to America. When a country throws open its doors to capitalism and consumerism they queue round the block to have a burger from the newly opened McDonalds, or a coffee from the newly opened Starbucks.

I also disagree that educated people don't want 'stuff'.  They do - but as they're 'educated' they want the coolest 'stuff'.....

Lee

Paul, where do you get this stuff from?

Paul W wrote:

Don't forget Andrew, that the majority of 'consumers' are shopping on line!

Meanwhile, back in the real world.........

in July 2016, 14% of retail sales (excluding fuel) in the UK were made on-line according to the office for national statistics.  This is forecast to increase to 21% by 2018. 

Paul W wrote:

It's also the fact that educated people have woken up to the true consequences of consumerism. They are buying less as there is zero reason to have a house full of 'stuff'. 

People aren't buying less, UK consumer spending has never been higher in absolute or real terms.

Just saying.

Duels wrote:

Meanwhile, back in the real world.........

in July 2016, 14% of retail sales (excluding fuel) in the UK were made on-line according to the office for national statistics. This is forecast to increase to 21% by 2018.

Just saying.

I voted out Paul for reasons I'm not going to bore other Beoworlders about, and I don't believe this is the place for political dogma.

But are you seriously suggesting that myself an airline captain, and all my collegues who voted out bar one, are uneducated morons?

Personally I find it deeply offensive, and is a detriment to this site that you are allowed to persistently continue to post this nonsense. 

Interesting but I think like all things the novelty will wear off - yes great for tins of beans and heavy stuff where you know what you are buying but for things you need to see, hear or feel I think people will start to move back to shops (I hope). In London there has been a massive rise apparently in the numbers of independent butchers, fishmongers etc as I suppose the educated people who watch the likes of Nigella want to sometimes during the week buy fresh and cook at home after being in offices and under pressure.

I haven't a clue where Paul gets his stats but the figures for US obesity are much less than 70% - in fact 40% for women and 35% for men - 29% for boys and girls but this figure also includes overweight so it is in fact less and shows a downward trend - in England 29%of women and 24% of men - figures vary for Scotland, Ireland and Wales - source is World Obesity Federation. I guess the stats for educated and uneducated as based totally on Pauls interpretation from the results of a recent referendum....

Interesting but I think like all things the novelty will wear off - yes great for tins of beans and heavy stuff where you know what you are buying but for things you need to see, hear or feel I think people will start to move back to shops (I hope). In London there has been a massive rise apparently in the numbers of independent butchers, fishmongers etc as I suppose the educated people who watch the likes of Nigella want to sometimes during the week buy fresh and cook at home after being in offices and under pressure.

I haven't a clue where Paul gets his stats but the figures for US obesity are much less than 70% - in fact 40% for women and 35% for men - 29% for boys and girls but this figure also includes overweight so it is in fact less and shows a downward trend - in England 29%of women and 24% of men - figures vary for Scotland, Ireland and Wales - source is World Obesity Federation. I guess the stats for educated and uneducated as based totally on Pauls interpretation from the results of a recent referendum....

Chris Townsend wrote:

 

Personally I find it deeply offensive, and is a detriment to this site that you are allowed to persistently continue to post this nonsense. 

I find it both fascinating and puzzling in equal measure that someone can actually be a caricature of themselves.