A number of well-known retailers are set to close several branches this week, leading shoppers to express their disappointment and frustration. Chains such as Boots, HMV, Clintons, and Halfords are among those shutting down stores by January 28. This news comes after a report by the Centre for Retail Research revealed that nearly 10,500 shops permanently closed in 2023, resulting in the loss of over 119,000 jobs in the sector. Here is a breakdown of the stores closing this week:
Clintons
Clintons will be closing its branch in Haverhill, Suffolk on January 24. This closure is separate from the 38 stores that the card retailer previously announced would shut down to avoid administration. Clintons currently operates 179 shops and employs 1,400 staff nationwide.
Flannels
The Flannels store in Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton, is set to close on January 24. The store, which opened only last year, will reportedly seek to find new roles within the business for the impacted staff, according to a spokesperson for The Frasers Group, the company that owns Flannels.
Peacocks
High street fashion chain Peacocks will be closing its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on January 25. The closure has been met with disappointment from shoppers who feel that it will further contribute to the decline of the high street.
HMV
Entertainment retailer HMV is shutting down its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire on January 27. The closure is a response to changing consumer behaviors, according to a spokesperson. Local residents have expressed their frustration and sadness over the closure, emphasizing the need for mutual support among retailers during these challenging times.
Halfords
Halfords will be closing its branch in Dudley, West Midlands on January 26. Shoppers have expressed their disappointment upon hearing the news, with one individual referring to it as another blow to the local area.
Boots
Pharmacy chain Boots will be closing its branch in Pemberton, Wigan on January 26. Local residents are concerned about the impact this will have on their town center. Boots had previously announced plans to reduce its portfolio from 2,200 to 1,900 stores, although it is unclear if the Pemberton branch is included in this figure.
Tesco
Tesco is closing its branch in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on January 27, but it will reopen as a One Stop store the following month. One Stop, which is owned by the Tesco Group, expressed excitement about the upcoming opening, stating its commitment to making a difference in the local community.
Zara
Spanish fashion retailer Zara will be closing its branch in Telford on January 26 due to the end of its lease. Shoppers have expressed their disappointment over the closure, describing it as a real shame.
Retailers Opening Stores
Although several retailers are closing branches, there are also those who are expanding and opening new stores. B&M, for example, is set to open six new stores this week in locations such as Stourbridge, Washington, and Loughborough. Asda has also announced plans to open 1,000 more sites throughout the UK and Northern Ireland by March 2024.
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