Showing posts with label branding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label branding. Show all posts

Friday, December 06, 2024

Merry Skipmas!

You know it's really getting festive in Stockport as soon as you see the Cheadle Skip Hire Christmas Skip Tree go up in Adswood!


Cheadle Skip Hire Skipmas Christmas Tree in Adswood, Stockport

Tuesday, October 08, 2024

The Blockbuster Video Store in Fallowfield, Manchester - Five Years On

A look back at the old Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.


A look at what's left of Blockbuster Video on Fallowfield Retail Park
This is what was left of Blockbuster Video on Fallowfield Retail Park back in October 2019

I found the preserved remains of a 'dead brand' - Blockbuster Video - while in Manchester five years ago today!

It became the first of many former Blockbuster Video stores Emily and I travelled to once we found that there were still some other visible remains of the brand to be seen on high streets and at shopping centres around the UK.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Oh, what happened to this sign?

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Dark clouds gathered over the brand in 2013

Blockbuster Video entered the UK video rental market in 1989 following the purchase of Ritz Video. In 2013 there were over 500 Blockbuster locations in the UK. Throughout that year the number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. On the 16th December 2013 all stores ceased operations.

On the visit to the old Fallowfield shop in October 2019 the Blockbuster Video store sign was prominently displayed on both sides of the main sign at Fallowfield Retail Park and the windows of the shop still retained Blockbuster signage.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
A sign in the shop window

Most of the shelves inside had been removed, but the walls and desks clearly retained the brand colours of Blockbuster.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
The window graphics still looked fresh

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Clearly still recognisable as a Blockbuster on the inside

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
The shelves were bare

There is currently one independently owned franchise still operating as a Blockbuster Video in the USA and you can find it in Bend, Oregon.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Quik Drop box to nowhere

We made several more visits to the abandoned Blockbuster Video shop at Fallowfield Retail Park, including one last look as it was being demolished in January 2024.

Other Blockbuster Video stores

There are still traces of former video shops to be found on the streets, shopping centres and retail parks of the UK. While most of those are old Blockbuster Video stores, there are remnants of (and in some cases still operating) independent video shops to be seen if you're lucky. Some of those we've snapped over the years include:

Do you still have a video store near you?

By my reckoning there are three video shops still in operation in the UK. They are:

I've been to two of the above, with Snips Movies on my to visit list in the future. Hopefully I'll be able to get a membership card for the shop too.

Do you have a favourite defunct brand? Are the remains of an old brand still visible near where you live or work? Do let me know.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

A look at the Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide.


Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide
The Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

As a big fan of the British seaside and traditional holiday entertainment I was pleased to find a Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide a while back.

Seeing the Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide brought back so many happy memories.

My family used to go on holiday to Barry Island in the late 80's and 90's and loved it there. The holiday camp was absolutely marvellous, with everything from swimming to Crazy Golf, to snooker and darts, to the fun fair and more - all free of charge once you had checked in. My brother's and I would spend hours going from one activity to another and then spend the evening in the arcades playing games such as Blasteroids, Xybots, Double Dragon and Wardner. Halcyon days.

Check out the six-page Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide. As a former holidaymaker at the camp, fan of the British seaside, postcard collector and marketer it makes for interesting reading - especially some of the adverts!

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide
What a cover

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide
There was always so much to do at Barry Island

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide
The entertainment continues

Back when you could still advertise cigarettes!

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide
A great bit of marketing and use of a postcard image

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide
I spent many an hour at building 5 - Princes Ballroom as that's where the Crazy Golf, snooker and arcade was 

Barry Island Resort was originally a Butlin's holiday camp in 1966 and was re-opened as a Majestic holiday camp in the 1980's. Sadly it closed for good in 1996 and was demolished to make way for housing.

I've returned to Barry Island - in 20092010 and 20192019. Apart from the disappearance of the holiday camp there were some new attractions, but the resort was still recognisable from the 90's.

Friday, April 26, 2024

A Debenhams ghost sign

Spotting a Debenhams ghost sign in Stockport.


A Debenhams ghost sign in Stockport
A time capsule view of old Stockport

As a fan of retail history and ghost signs it was Marvellous to see the old Debenhams logo from 1986-1991 on show at the former Debenhams store in Stockport town centre yesterday evening.

Debenhams ghost signs in Stockport
The window graphics from the 90's, along with a ghost sign outline where the DEBENHAMS letters once were

The building is now home to the recently opened Joseph James Furniture Outlet.

Joseph James Furniture Outlet in Stockport
How the shop looks in April 2024


Debenhams in Stockport, December 2020
Debenhams in Stockport, December 2020

The former Debenhams is over the road from the former Tandy shop, where you can still find a ghost sign. It's also on the same road where until recently you could find a British Home Stores ghost sign.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

From Putt Putt Noodle to Putt Putt Social

The indoor crazy golf business has rebranded from Putt Putt Noodle to Putt Putt Social.



Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich (December 2023)
The old Putt Putt Noodle sign at what is now Putt Putt Social in Norwich, Norfolk

You can find Putt Putt Social venues in Bedford, Gloucester, Norwich, Poole and Telford.

Check out the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

Thursday, March 07, 2024

World Book Day - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Today is World Book Day.


My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

I’ve been really pleased to see the ebook bought and used by a number of minigolf associations and federations, course owners and managers, bloggers, course reviewers and competition players around the world.

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It’s a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We’ve now visited more than 1,000 courses, including 47 overseas.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,400 posts that have attracted 3.1 million page views.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, courses, clubs and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.

Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.


Thursday, February 15, 2024

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

The last Woolworths shop in the UK closed in January 2009 so it was brilliant to see this frontage looking fairly unchanged!


Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

We first spotted the store in Longton while driving through the town in 2019 and returned in 2020 for a closer look. We were very surprised to see the branding still in place.

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Old Iceland in Coventry

Spotting some old Iceland signage on a modern Iceland store.


Emily spotted this old branding on the signage at the Iceland store in Coventry city centre.

Old Iceland in Coventry

Wednesday, August 09, 2023

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne

A look at the Blockbuster Video Express store in Colne, Lancashire.


We visited the former Blockbuster Video Express shop in Colne on this day in 2020.

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne. August 2020
Blockbuster Video Express in Colne, Lancashire

Exploring during the coronavirus pandemic


As our out-of-home minigolfing adventures were curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic I needed to scratch my exploring itch somehow. During the first nationwide lockdown Emily and I spent our daily outside exercise time walking around the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport where we managed to visit and photograph every one of the 265 pubs, bars and clubs in the area!

On our limited travels we also photographed as many pieces of Covid-19-related signage as we could.

The next mini 'tickable list' urban exploration challenge tapped into my interest in ghost signs, shops, retail marketing and old brands. Ever since I found the remnants of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in October 2019 I've been amazed to see the brand still has a lingering presence in other places too.

Here's the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Colne and how it looked in August 2020.


Blockbuster Video Express in Colne
Some of the exterior signage

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne
Blockbuster Video Express

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne
A notice of Administration taped on the inside of the shop window. Note the tape used is Blockbuster branded

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne
The old QuikDrop box

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne
The sign on the front of the shop was long gone

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne
A look inside the former Blockbuster Video Express store. Still recognisable as a video shop

Blockbuster Video Express in Colne






Blockbuster Video in the UK


Blockbuster Video entered the UK video rental market in 1989 following the purchase of Ritz Video.

I remember going to the Ritz Video shop on the Peachcroft Estate in my home town of Abingdon, Oxfordshire in the late 80's and early 90's. That store became a Blockbuster and I rented some classics from there back in the day. Check out this post from the excellent Abingdon Blog to see a photo of the shuttered shop in 2014.

Most Blockbuster Video Express stores were somewhat smaller than regular Blockbuster shops. Although all of the stores expanded to include video game rentals. Old signage for the games area has been clearly visible on both the Fallowfield and Colne stores I've been to.

In 2013 there were over 500 Blockbuster locations in the UK. Throughout that year the number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. On the 16th December 2013 all stores ceased operations.

Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited


Thursday, August 03, 2023

Minigolf book - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Check out my minigolf marketing ebook - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing.


Created after years of playing, promoting and consulting the ebook gives players, courses, federations, associations and clubs a guide to the world of marketing.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

You can see the reviews, read a sample, and buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing from Amazon.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

A BHS ghost sign in Stockport

The ghost sign at the former British Home Stores shop in Stockport town centre is still on view.


A ghost sign on the former BHS in Stockport
A ghost sign on the former BHS in Stockport

Sunday, May 01, 2022

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

I published my minigolf marketing ebook five years ago today.


The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

It's been wonderful to see the guide read and used by a number of associations, federations, course owners and managers, community groups, charities, players and clubs around the world.

The feedback and reviews have been brilliant to see, with some people using the ebook to help them promote other sports too.


Don't worry if you don't have a Kindle as you can download the Kindle App on iOS, Android, Mac & PC.

The ebook is also available on Kobo.

It's just £1.99.

Minigolf Marketing

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It's a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I've worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Emily and I have visited 983 courses in the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK.

Minigolf is booming

Minigolf is experiencing a real boom and new courses are being announced and opened all the time.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing gives federations, associations, courses, clubs, groups and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Links:

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Blockbuster Video Express in Failsworth, Manchester

Spotting a retail remnant on an old Blockbuster Video store in Manchester.


The QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Failsworth, Manchester

My retail archaeologist senses started twitching while on the Oldham Road in Failsworth recently as I looked at a building and thought to myself, "I bet that used to be a Blockbuster."

And sure enough, it was once a Blockbuster Video Express store.

The shop unit now home to AMC Furniture was once a Blockbuster Video Express store
The shop unit now home to AMC Furniture was once a Blockbuster Video Express store

I've only driven along this particular part of the road once before, but luckily this time the view of the shop front was clear and I could see the QuikDrop box still in place!

The QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Failsworth, Manchester

Blockbuster Video

We're big fans of video, videos stores, retail history and retro stuff and have been visiting and documenting the last remaining traces of the Blockbuster brand in the UK over the last few years. We've seen a number of the brand's shopfronts, signs and QuikDrop boxes. As well as some other video shops.


Blockbuster Video Stores

The first Blockbuster Video store opened in Dallas, Texas, USA in 1985.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500+ of which were in the UK.

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of that year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The remaining stores closed on the 16th December.

There is now just one Blockbuster Video store left open. It's in Bend, Oregon, USA.

However, the UK's high streets, shopping precincts, malls and retail parks still hold traces of the brand. And we've been to most of them!

The QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Failsworth, Manchester
The QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Failsworth, Manchester

We've now visited 28 former Blockbuster Video stores since we found the remains of the Fallowfield shop.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)

A visit to the old Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.


Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)

I took another look at the former Blockbuster Video store at Fallowfield Retail Park while driving back from Manchester city centre on Saturday 22nd January.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)

The unit next door has now closed down and there are plans to create a new supermarket on the site.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)
The graffiti wasn't there the last time I looked

It'll be a shame to see this video shop relic from another time lost forever. It's an interesting and fun little time capsule.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)
All Rental Returns

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)

I first noticed the remains of the Blockbuster Video store while driving to Manchester in October 2019.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)
The sign that first caught my attention

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester (January 2022)
Someone has tried posting something in the QuikDrop box!




Blockbuster Video Stores

The first Blockbuster Video store opened in Dallas, Texas, USA in 1985.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500+ of which were in the UK.

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of that year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The remaining stores closed on the 16th December.

There is now just one Blockbuster Video store left open. It's in Bend, Oregon, USA.

However, the UK's high streets, shopping precincts, malls and retail parks still hold traces of the brand. And we've been to most of them!

We've now been to 27 former Blockbuster Video stores since we found the remains of the Fallowfield shop.