More Toiletry Choices In The UK???

Completely understandable---Is there really a need for an ENTIRE US-Sized aisle full of chips/crisps/pretzels?!

No more so than a UK aisle full of baked beans or sausages.

I really don't think there's that much of a difference. That or I'm just not phased by the bigger variety here in the US. I know what I want and I find it quickly here. In the UK I only had an issue with the stick deodorant. Other than that, I found the choices, especially with body washes (which I don't even use!) about the same.

I also found it fun to try UK products and aside from contant lens solution (which is just too damned expensive there), eventually found good or better stuff in the UK.

Hi

Pretty much most of you who've responded in the thread are indeed correct, have your own viewpoints and crucially, are looking at things from a consumer point of view. Nothing at all wrong with that of course, however I'll give you a view from a business perspective, so you can all have more of the bigger picture.

The reason the US has more choice is because, quite simply consumers lead the DEMAND for the products. The businesses SUPPLY that demand and the hope is all the lines that are actually wanted actually will sell. I'd say overall, that's exactly what happens when you look at the bigger picture. To then compare to the UK, consumer demand is less and as such there's less choice overall. Of course, there's variances within specific product groups - USA has loads more cereal and drinks choices and the UK might have more fresh cheeses and certain meats etc choices, but overall theres less choice in the UK because there's less consumers wanting the product.

Consider this view too, If I was to open up a premises here in the UK and stock USA products and brands etc, I'd be aiming/risking for a very small percentage of the market - US people used to the brands will say great fantastic and probably buy, but the other 99.95% of the population out there won't bat an eyelid at my store and I'd end up going out of business pretty quickly. That said, there is a good business model for products that can be imported over on a smaller scale, however the pricing structure and delivery costs mean those who are interested in the product will say oh it's so expensive here and I could just get it when I next go back for a visit. That also said, I do indeed import products from the USA which aren't normally available here, manly for the automotive industry, which then overlaps with technology and consumer electronics etc.

Don't even get me started on product pricing and just why everything in the UK does cost more! I've had a recent run in with a potential supplier about this after which i was fuming after the phone call !!

Cheers, DtM! 

Dennis,
Slightly off what you are talking about but I don't like the monopolies that exist in the US for products. I think I have been corrected in the past that I should use the word Oligopolies?

I look at labels in the different supermarkets and see the same manufactures but have different brands.

I like to think that in the UK there is a demand for the small manufactures and how long that will last with six major supermarkets I don't know.

I quote:
The fruits of oligopoly can be lush, but like all fruit, they ripen and eventually spoil. Without the discipline of competition, bad habits develop, become ingrained and institutionalized, and ultimately weaken the competitor

Cheers

Hi

I know there's much more to micro and macro economics than I know about. There's various theories etc.

Monopolies aren't just 'created' and 'thought up'.

What 'monopolies' do you mean?

a 'Manufacturer' can be the same or different to a 'brand'. Some manufacturers have different 'brands' to cater for different markets and consumers.

It'd take a VERY brave company or independant to open up a shop nowadays. Of course, where it's geographically worthwhile and stock/products can be obtained cheaply enough for which there is a sustainable demand - then those small independant shops may well have a future. Put simply, the 'Cost' of running a business in the UK is astronomical when you start to want premises etc. Much as theres an element of consumers - of which there's many posters here on UKY in support of small independant shops, the challenge I mention to them is to look at the rest of the business costs and then look at why there's less and less of them. Again, it's not 'just' the big supermarkets fault, but with many other aspects and elements. Commercial Property pricing is even more insane than housing, business costs and red tape swamp the small business owner and on top of all that, the UK's business laws are heavily in favour of the consumer rather than the business person/owner. Pubs, small independent shops, specialist retailers are all going under because of the Costs to run their businesses, demand, give or take depending on industry is still there. Those with 'some' money to invest in a business are going down the route of a franchise, like Spar, Costcutters etc.

I had a good talk with someone within the industry I'm in, and he thinks theres a good opportunity he's spotted for a vehicle MOT station near to him. He's put off by the investment of having to purchase £250,000 worth of equipment he must have in place in order to be granted permission to open as a MOT centre. The space needed is coming in at around £3000 month to rent. He's then got to pay employees, cover all that admin, mandatory costs for running the premises etc. Expected monthly costs are perhaps £6000-7500 and then on top of that, he has to make a profit in order to live off. He calculated that by being 2 cars down per day he'd be making a loss.

Sure there's businesses that are doing well and I believe the figures are 80% of all UK commercial enterprise is classed as small businesses, but in most of the 'usual' industries and especially those that are often spoken about on this forum, its absolutely terrible out there.

Cheers, Dennis!

Now I mostly get whatever's here...I use Nivea/Dove bodywash whenever they're on sale, but I'm more than happy to try anything.  I still import Secret deodorant, though I think I remember seeing a stick deodorant in my (rather large) Boots recently,so I'll probably switch to that when I run out.

I'm learning to use what is here. I have found I really like the Palmolive body washes, even though I 'prefer' Caress that I haven't seen here. I still haven't found a deoderant here that suits me, but I have learned to stock up while in the States. When we came back after our trip this summer, I had six spares in my suitcase. I'd also love to get Noxzema here. I meant to bring some of it back with me and forgot.

Thanks Dennis,
When I read this I wondered if those costs are being put in place by the government at request of companies to stifle competition? Just sayin.

Hi

Cheers - I think you've been watching too many TV shows and films !! that said, we all know corruption to an 'extent' exists everywhere. It's entirely possible, theres some people or companies or whoever that can control things to this extent, we'll most likely never know!

Even if this 'IS' the case, it'll only affect the complete economics of the country to a relatively 'small' extent. Much more 'likely' is the fact that those companies that do get business decisions right, and provide what the consumer's/population want and demand, they'll grow very large. Tesco is such an example. Business wise, they've grown and grown to the level that in every £8 spent in the UK, £1 of it goes to Tesco (figures from a couple years ago) that is some mighty financial strength, and they didn't get there by being a monopoly, they got there with sound business decisions combined with what more of the population wants. I can understand those who want independent shops and local businesses to thrive, but the various costs of business are simply too ludicrous to cover now that cheap credit isn't around which is what propped many up in the past.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Tesco is such an example. Business wise, they've grown and grown to the level that in every £8 spent in the UK, £1 of it goes to Tesco (figures from a couple years ago) that is some mighty financial strength, and they didn't get there by being a monopoly, they got there with sound business decisions combined with what more of the population wants. I can understand those who want independent shops and local businesses to thrive, but the various costs of business are simply too ludicrous to cover now that cheap credit isn't around which is what propped many up in the past.

Except what Tesco's can do is to come into an area, completely undercut the opposition because they have the resources to do so and drive the opposition out of business. Once they've done that they can put prices up because they have a monopoly.

Ah, you've been to Inverness!

Except what Tesco's can do is to come into an area, completely undercut the opposition because they have the resources to do so and drive the opposition out of business. Once they've done that they can put prices up because they have a monopoly.

Hi

To extent, I do agree with you and I fully understand why many would have that sentiment. However, you must remember that all business is competitive by nature and you cannot entirely blame a Tesco for the shutting down of other previously established businesses going under. There are multiple reasons of why that would happen, and one mundane aspect, and one I'd see VERY often from my IT career is just how shambolic some of these 'local businesses' were run. It's any wonder some survived as long as they did! and this was just from the aspect of them doing their bookkeeping and accounts, I'd often look at some businesses accounts and literally my jaw would drop, trying to work out just why they took a particular direction with something. The 'result' of that was quite often heavy (comparitive to the size of the business) losses going back multiple years. In a nutshell, some of these 'stuck in the mud' owners didn't or couldn't look further ahead for business directives and thus when a competitor comes in and efficiently does what they could have been doing, it's curtains for that owner. Consider shifting patterns in the populations buying practices and tastes, pubs are shutting down at a fast rate as people choose to buy alcohol at supermarkets and consume at home with friends - easier, less expensive, more fun and less chance of meeting the much feared local yobs etc. Some pubs have diversified or looked to offer more of an edge compared to others, guess what, they seem to be surviving!

I'm not saying the biggest grocery retailers in the UK are entirely holier than thou, but in any business, shrewd and calculated risks and availed opportunities always lead to successes more often than not.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

My friend lived in a small village in Scotland.  There was a little local shop that sold groceries and had a little bakery.  Sounds very nice.

Until you look more closely and realise the shop sold rotted fruit and expired can goods and at high prices.  They were really happy Tesco opened a local store because they could now buy milk that didn't go bad within 2 days.

Getting back on topic... (although someone start up a thread about the destruction of the High Street and I am there!)

I'm learning to use what is here. I have found I really like the Palmolive body washes, even though I 'prefer' Caress that I haven't seen here. I still haven't found a deoderant here that suits me, but I have learned to stock up while in the States. When we came back after our trip this summer, I had six spares in my suitcase. I'd also love to get Noxzema here. I meant to bring some of it back with me and forgot.

I embrace this is healthy attitude. I stock up if I can going in either direction. We all had brand loyalty before moving and now have new brands to figure out, and that can be intimidating. I'm getting ready to stock up on my deodorant and excedrine again like it's nuclear war!

But I wonder, (devil's advocating here) why the resistence to accept what there is? Is the quality really that different/bad that we feel the need to stock up? For me it's a yes, in the case of excedrine. I have used every combo of headache meds in the UK and my headaches always won. Or is it just a case of brand loyalty?

I embrace this is healthy attitude. I stock up if I can going in either direction. We all had brand loyalty before moving and now have new brands to figure out, and that can be intimidating. I'm getting ready to stock up on my deodorant and excedrine again like it's nuclear war!

But I wonder, (devil's advocating here) why the resistence to accept what there is? Is the quality really that different/bad that we feel the need to stock up? For me it's a yes, in the case of excedrine. I have used every combo of headache meds in the UK and my headaches always won. Or is it just a case of brand loyalty?

For me with deodorant, it isn't about brand loyalty. I was an Arrid or Secret kind of girl, but when I buy to come here it doesn't matter. I bought all Suave this time. I used to not use Suave in the States, but now it is better than what I have used here so I don't mind. I just haven't found any that work as well over here, including brands you can get in the States. Someone mentioned somewhere on here that the US uses a chemical that is banned here. That may be why it doesn't work as well.

I have noticed a difference in headache medicines here too. I used to take ibuprofen for migraines, but here it doesn't seem to be as strong, despite the fact everyone seems to speak of it in hushed tones and an almost sense of reverence. I've been prescribed heavy doses of it, yet people seem to insist I ONLY take one of the 400 milligram ones because of the dangers of addiction/overdose.

yet people seem to insist I ONLY take one of the 400 milligram ones because of the dangers of addiction/overdose.

You'd take more than 1 of the 400mg tablets?!?!

You'd take more than 1 of the 400mg tablets?!?!

I've been prescribed 800mg ones for migraines, and I have been known to take up to 1000 mg for a stubborn migraine. I don't do it often, but when you have a 14 day migraine and have to work, you have to do something. Fortunately I haven't had to do it often.