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Duncan · December 19th 07, 06:14 PM posted to uk.railway,uk.transport.london

In article , says...
In message , at 23:34:21
on Tue, 18 Dec 2007, Duncan remarked:

I can't understand why a lot of the retail units have still not been
fitted out. If WHS and M&S can manage by the opening, why are others
struggling weeks later?

The platform level WHS opened "early" because that part of the concourse
was accessible from Platforms 1-4. M&S is actually SSP, of course, so
they may have had a bit of an inside track seeing as how they will be
operating so many units inside the station.

I agree. As both WHS and SSP who are experienced travel retailers were
able to open immediately, which suggests the delay in open the other
units especially on The Arcade is partly due to the retailers being slow
to fit out.

It will be interesting to compare to Terminal 5 when this opens, as BAA
has made all retailers fit out their units months in advance, and then
mothball them until the final opening. This may introduce other risks
though such as leaving PCs and EPOS equipment unused for so long.

Personally I think there are too many fancy shops. Most of the
passengers there, e.g. domestic travellers, I'm sure will just want
snacks and something to read on the journey. Those retailers that have
been allowed in, such as WHSmith, have units far too small for the
number of passengers trying to use them.

The shops I've been in are very small (M&S last Friday was so full you
literally couldn't get through the door). The WHS is in a part of the
station where the structure only allows a small footprint per shop.
Maybe the master plan is a bit broken?

Maybe. Currently I can't see The Circle being very busy when it first
opens based on the usage of the M&S store and the general footfall in
that area now. It will be interesting to see how this all changes once
the northern Underground ticket hall and the Kent services start.

Duncan