Dancing on the grave of a much loved Leicester institution

[Mack]

Am I the only one that finds people picking the bones over of a much loved and dying business distasteful?

OK someone must have made mistakes to run the business into £1.5 million of debt and ultimate closure, however the way people flock to pick the bones then stand outside celebrating I find a little sad and distasteful.

Stores like this are so few and far between these days and it's a real shame.

Those of us with kids are left with the only choice of Toys R Us and their mainstream overpriced junk.

 

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Shoppers-pile-Dominoes-toy-store-closing-bargains/story-19827420-detail/story.html

[indierich06]

My first job was at Dominoes Toys, absolutely loved the place. The amount of money they used to take was insane as well, the place was always busy, especially over the Christmas period.

 

I think a combination of being hit by the recession, the high street dying a death and e-commerce really taking off is what's done for the place. Shame, as this was one of the best examples of an independent retailer in the country at one point.

[Ford Super Sunday]

While it was always going to be difficult with the rise of online shopping, supermarket's take up of toys (and Sainsbury's annual 50% off toys sale,) I'd also argue that pedestrianisation of the High Street might not have helped them too. There's no need to venture down there anymore.

 

As a kid it was always a place to go and dream; I'd never actually get toys from there, but you only have to see the way people behaved on ASDA's Black Friday to see how folk are only too happy to "pick over the bones" of a place. So long as they get their bargain they don't care.

[Captain...]

A shame to see Dominoes go, it was probably going to happen for the reasons above, but I hardly think people are dancing on its grave. It would be even worse if nobody bothered with the sale, hopefully this sale allow the administrators to pay off some of the debts.

[Mack]

A shame to see Dominoes go, it was probably going to happen for the reasons above, but I hardly think people are dancing on its grave. It would be even worse if nobody bothered with the sale, hopefully this sale allow the administrators to pay off some of the debts.

 

It cant be any worse, the place has gone bust, and the money raised from the closing down sale will only go into the pockets of the administrators who will then hand out a miserly pittance to the companies owed money by Dominos.

The point that I was trying to make is that places like this are special one offs that should be cherished, respected and looked after by the local people.

We are all quick to bemoan the rip of culture of major multinational corporations but we do little to nothing to help the independent trader who is trying to compete and offer genuine choice. That's of course until the poor bugger goes bust and the administrators flog everything off double cheap and people seem to be around it like flies around shit celebrating their bargains with little understanding that their lack of patronage when stores like this really needed it was nowhere to be seen.

I fail to see anything to celebrate in getting a bargain from the death knells of former Leicester gem.

[Alf Bentley]

It cant be any worse, the place has gone bust, and the money raised from the closing down sale will only go into the pockets of the administrators who will then hand out a miserly pittance to the companies owed money by Dominos.

The point that I was trying to make is that places like this are special one offs that should be cherished, respected and looked after by the local people.

We are all quick to bemoan the rip of culture of major multinational corporations but we do little to nothing to help the independent trader who is trying to compete and offer genuine choice. That's of course until the poor bugger goes bust and the administrators flog everything off double cheap and people seem to be around it like flies around shit celebrating their bargains with little understanding that their lack of patronage when stores like this really needed it was nowhere to be seen.

I fail to see anything to celebrate in getting a bargain from the death knells of former Leicester gem.

 

Spot on!

 

Maybe they made some poor financial decisions, and it would have been interesting to see whether they'd have thrived if they had embraced e-commerce and won a share of internet sales (I presume they didn't, as I always went to the shop).

 

Even so, I find it a sad reflection on our lives that so many people have no time or no inclination to go to interesting shops, preferring to buy largely generic, advertising-hyped junk on-line or at out-of-town superstores. Some Dominoes stock was rubbish or over-priced, but they had a fantastic range and some decent deals....

 

Remind me to visit Rockaboom, The Offie and Christopher James Deli while they still exist....

[Corky]

It cant be any worse, the place has gone bust, and the money raised from the closing down sale will only go into the pockets of the administrators who will then hand out a miserly pittance to the companies owed money by Dominos.

The point that I was trying to make is that places like this are special one offs that should be cherished, respected and looked after by the local people.

We are all quick to bemoan the rip of culture of major multinational corporations but we do little to nothing to help the independent trader who is trying to compete and offer genuine choice. That's of course until the poor bugger goes bust and the administrators flog everything off double cheap and people seem to be around it like flies around shit celebrating their bargains with little understanding that their lack of patronage when stores like this really needed it was nowhere to be seen.

I fail to see anything to celebrate in getting a bargain from the death knells of former Leicester gem.

 

Totally agree with you Mack.

[hairy]

Osbournes gone now too. Sad

[Captain...]

It cant be any worse, the place has gone bust, and the money raised from the closing down sale will only go into the pockets of the administrators who will then hand out a miserly pittance to the companies owed money by Dominos.

The point that I was trying to make is that places like this are special one offs that should be cherished, respected and looked after by the local people.

We are all quick to bemoan the rip of culture of major multinational corporations but we do little to nothing to help the independent trader who is trying to compete and offer genuine choice. That's of course until the poor bugger goes bust and the administrators flog everything off double cheap and people seem to be around it like flies around shit celebrating their bargains with little understanding that their lack of patronage when stores like this really needed it was nowhere to be seen.

I fail to see anything to celebrate in getting a bargain from the death knells of former Leicester gem.

 

Don't disagree with the sentiment, but I'm not going to blame people for picking up a bargain in the run up to Christmas when money is tight. 

 

The damage has been done and Domino's will owe money to their suppliers, who are most likely smaller independent suppliers than used by the bigger stores, the sales may go some way to paying them or paying owed wages.

[Parafox]

A shame it's gone under. I might put a bid in for that little railway that runs round and outside the shop.

 

It was a great place for toys and games. But to be honest I found it expensive. It wil now probably become another generic High Street shop... or a bookies.

[Bellend Sebastian]

I was tempted to go and search out a bargain, but I didn't and it was partly because I did feel a bit strange - perhaps guilty - at taking advantage when it was a shop I didn't actually frequent, hardly ever.

 

I think I still resent them keeping the Princess Leia in combat poncho figurine in a drawer behind the counter instead of on display, so I ended up buying stupid Klaatu instead, and my friend Steve flounced in afterwards and got a Princess Leia just because he had the temerity TO ASK FOR IT.

 

Mind you, you'd struggle to make a figure out of plastic that looked less like Carrie Fisher if you tried, so as always, swings and roundabouts

[Parafox]

I was tempted to go and search out a bargain, but I didn't and it was partly because I did feel a bit strange - perhaps guilty - at taking advantage when it was a shop I didn't actually frequent, hardly ever.

 

I think I still resent them keeping the Princess Leia in combat poncho figurine in a drawer behind the counter instead of on display, so I ended up buying stupid Klaatu instead, and my friend Steve flounced in afterwards and got a Princess Leia just because he had the temerity TO ASK FOR IT.

 

Mind you, you'd struggle to make a figure out of plastic that looked less like Carrie Fisher if you tried, so as always, swings and roundabouts

 

 

You're right. My inflatable version is just rubbish.

 

And the doughnuts keep falling off.

 

[Bellend Sebastian]

You're right. My inflatable version is just rubbish.

 

And the doughnuts keep falling off.

 

 

Cut out a picture of her face and stick it on.

 

Just not a recent one (unless that's what you're into)

[pSinatra]

Incredibly sad to see it go.  I can't say I ever went in there much, seeing as I don't have kids.  I was in there last Christmas though, buying art stuff for the old girl.

 

It sold everything & when you didn't know where you could buy something a little obscure, guaranteed Dominoes would sell it.

 

I used to see someone from Derby & she had 2 young girls (3 & 6).  We went specifically to Dominoes almost like a special treat for the kids........they absolutely loved it.  There was no other place like it.

[Guest MattP]

As I said before in a previous thread a great shame.

 

Real Leicester icon and a place that provided me with a lot of excitement growing up.

 

The bosses take some serious responsibility along with the usual high street excuses though, they didnt come into the 21st century at all, advertising was unheard of, they didnt use Social Media at all, they had to get the word around that Dominoes was a different customer experience for the kids and toy fans to any other shop (which it was) and they didnt manage to do that at all.

 

A lot of kids over the last few years didnt know what or where Dominoes was, thats a huge failure considering what it was in the past.

 

 

Remind me to visit Rockaboom, The Offie and Christopher James Deli while they still exist....

 

That's what Rockaboom do so successfully, huge social media following, they got with the modern market so that when you buy a vinyl you also get the authorisation code to download it to your phone/pc via itunes, they massively advertise for "national buy a record day" and they were queueing out the door last time I went in for that.

 

People can use the "Amazon, High Street, people dont have the cash" excuses all night long but its the same as pubs, if you do it properly, deliver a great service, be modern, treat your customers brilliantly and always offer something enjoyable you'll do well.

[Alf Bentley]

The bosses take some serious responsibility along with the usual high street excuses though, they didnt come into the 21st century at all, advertising was unheard of, they didnt use Social Media at all, they had to get the word around that Dominoes was a different customer experience for the kids and toy fans to any other shop (which it was) and they didnt manage to do that at all.

 

[...]

 

That's what Rockaboom do so successfully, huge social media following, they got with the modern market so that when you buy a vinyl you also get the authorisation code to download it to your phone/pc via itunes, they massively advertise for "national buy a record day" and they were queueing out the door last time I went in for that.

 

People can use the "Amazon, High Street, people dont have the cash" excuses all night long but its the same as pubs, if you do it properly, deliver a great service, be modern, treat your customers brilliantly and always offer something enjoyable you'll do well.

 

Interesting. Didn't know any of that. As an aging git who works from home and still listens to music on a stereo, not a PC, it doesn't particularly affect me at the moment, but does sound like good thinking. The geezer who runs Rockaboom always struck me as pretty shrewd, so it doesn't surprise me.

 

Tend to agree with your last paragraph, too.

[Guest MattP]

Interesting. Didn't know any of that. As an aging git who works from home and still listens to music on a stereo, not a PC, it doesn't particularly affect me at the moment, but does sound like good thinking. The geezer who runs Rockaboom always struck me as pretty shrewd, so it doesn't surprise me.

 

Tend to agree with your last paragraph, too.

 

He is, I don't know him personally but one of my best friends who I drink with in Glenfield went to school with him and has been friendly with him ever since. Very with the times and the sort of person you would want running any store. All round top bloke as well from what I hear.

 

I'll always buy from a local shop or independent brand if the option is there ahead of a chain store. If in town and I have food I'll use Newmans ahead of any fast food joint, I'll always pick a traditional pub over a weatherspoons, Rockaboom and Waterstones over Amazon.

 

We should all be doing that as society will be far better off for it, don't even use self service checkouts, try to avoid anything where a robot is replacing a persons job.

[Vlad the Fox]

Dominoes and zodiac (anyone remember) used to be the highlight of a dull shopping trip up town with my parents as a kid.

[Dan]

I genuinely had no idea Dominoe's was a one-off in Leicester. Shame to see it go, loved it as a kid.

[Rocket-Ron]

 

 

 

That's what Rockaboom do so successfully, huge social media following, they got with the modern market so that when you buy a vinyl you also get the authorisation code to download it to your phone/pc via itunes, they massively advertise for "national buy a record day" and they were queueing out the door last time I went in for that.

 

People can use the "Amazon, High Street, people dont have the cash" excuses all night long but its the same as pubs, if you do it properly, deliver a great service, be modern, treat your customers brilliantly and always offer something enjoyable you'll do well.

Rockaboom hardly use any social media, Hasn't posted on his twitter for 2 years. And I'm sure his Facebook page was set up by fans of the shop.

Still, the amount of money I spend in there he doesn't have to.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Dominoes and zodiac (anyone remember) used to be the highlight of a dull shopping trip up town with my parents as a kid.

 

I can remember Modern Toys at the bottom of Charles St. That was an alladins cave when In was a kid.

 

Incidentally, just an observation on those who don't think that internet shopping is a major threat. I would say from the parcel volumes going through RM at my office at the moment (and reports I've heard 2nd hand seem to indicate it's the same everywhere) are up at 150-200% from last Christmas. Which I would imagine should mean less footfall in the High Street I guess.

 

I would also like to applaud MattP's stance on shopping at the non-corporates/locally, more of us need to do this. One of the major problems with the corporates taking over is that choice is being removed from us. For instance, the old classic of record shops. I have quite alternative tastes and I'm not going to find what I like on the shelves of any supermarket very often. So I usually buy online. I know Rockaboom is there, but the closest I ever go to Rockaboom these days is when I go to watch City. I don't work in town and there's no other record shops to entice me. Back in the 80s and 90s I would walk between Ainsley's, HMV, Virgin, Bugaloo, Rockaboom and others I can't remember now, deciding on what and where I was going to spend my money.  When I moved out to Wigston when I got married, there were record shops in both Wigston and Oadby that I used. Unfortunately, I can't justify travelling into Leicester just for the sole purpose of buying something from one shop.

 

Going back to Dominoes, the toys and games shops is even worse as I believe that we now only have the big corporate Toys R Us. However, if for instance you want to buy a boardgame that was a little more off the wall than Cluedo or Monopoly, then you'd be out of luck. Games like Carcassone and Ticket To Ride have quite a cult following, but you'll never find their like in TRU (Dominoes certainly used to sell Carcassone from memory). As I said, the corporates will be happy when they have narrowed everyone in a mainstream mediocrity where they can sell as few different products as possible to as many as possible.