It’s a truism to say that most of what we hear or read about in the papers has no effect on us, the readers. But often what we read should have some bearing on what we do, because it is not always going to be apparent to our eyes. Life may give us an entirely wrong view of what’s going on.
I’ve been reading about Philip Green selling BHS, and the company collapsing with a huge hole in its pension fund, yet the stores keep going, at least for the moment. The vast empire of shops is being kicked about like a football, but if you hadn’t read the news you’d never guess from the stores themselves that there was anything untoward.
I bought a pair of trousers from my local BHS last week. Earlier I’d also bought from a different branch the excellently frivolous hat I wore for a Buckingham Palace event.
Whatever is happening to the group’s finances, the shops are the same as before. Which is astonishing given what the staff must be going through, with their worries about the future.
It makes me wonder how many other familiar organisations may be considering enormous changes to the way they operate – without any aspect of that change being obvious to us outsiders due to the heroic staff; or without the staff knowing themselves.
I suppose half the time we’ve no need to know what financial upheavals are underway in the back rooms, but BHS shows how ignorance is anything but bliss. I just hope the shopkeepers get through. We ought, as humane shoppers, to be concerned about the staff. We could stay away because they’re having a bad time, but alas it’s not clear that would actually help them if we did.
What do you think? Have your say below?
