CLOSING TIME
Major fashion retailer closing stores within DAYS – is yours on the list?
A MAJOR fashion retailer is shutting stores within days after a string of closures.
New Look is pulling down the shutters on three of its shops between July 30 and the end of August.
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Its branch in the Riverside Shopping Centre, Evesham, is closing tomorrow, .
Meanwhile, its store at Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Bristol, is shutting on August 9.
Its branch in the Crossgates Shopping Centre, Leeds, is pulling down its shutters for the final time at the end of August.
An exact date this branch will close has not yet been confirmed.
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A New Look spokesperson said: "As part of the normal course of business, New Look occasionally closes stores, while also undertaking relocations and new site openings.
"While some sites have closed recently, we have opened a number of new stores this year and we remain on the lookout for appropriate new opportunities across the country."
It comes after the fashion retailer pulled down the shutters on a number of its stores in 2023. They are:
- Birmingham, Fort Shopping Park - January 9
- Trowbridge - January 23
- Coventry - January 29
- Birmingham, Bullring - January 30
- Walthamstow, London - February 4
- Northampton - February 15
- Witham - May 18
- Teesside Retail Park - July 7
- Bangor, Wales - June 16
- Middlesbrough - July 8
- White Rose Centre, Rhyl, Wales - July 25
- Fosse Park Shopping Centre, Leicester - July 25
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But New Look is also opening stores as well as closing them.
It opened several shops across the UK in November 2022 and has plans to open more this year.
It is yet to say how many stores will open and where in the UK they will be.
In 2018, the fashion retailer sought approval from creditors to cut 1,600 staff and close more than 85 stores after poor performance and struggling to pay back loans.
The company earmarked 60 out of its 593 stores for closure as well as a further six sub-letted sites.
The Company Voluntary Arrangement proposal also included a reduction in rental costs and revised lease terms across 393 stores.
It saw 980 of its 15,3000 UK workforce made redundant.
Later on in 2018, a further 25 stores were announced for closure.
What other retailers are closing stores?
Retailers have been struggling for years due to the surge in popularity of online shopping and reduced footfall during the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, high inflation means consumers have less money to spend on everyday essentials.
That, combined with increased energy and staffing costs, means many businesses are feeling the pinch.
Boots is one retailer which has been hit hard. It has already announced that it will close 300 stores for good.
Meanwhile, B&M's store in Kiln Lane, Reading, will shut on August 19.
However, the retailer is opening a "bigger and better" store in Brunel Retail Park on August 26.
B&M is also temporarily closing its Glasgow Forge store on August 20.
The shop is shutting to allow for refurbishment and expansion works to complete.
Following this, the new store will open back up to customers at 8am on Saturday, August 26.
It's not all bad news though as the discount chain has opened a number of new stores this year. This is where and when they opened:
- Armagh - May 5
- Widnes Trade Park - May 24
- Fforestfach (Swansea) - May 26
- Jarrow - May 27
- Fazakerley - May 31
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Argos has already closed dozens of stores since last year.
However, it has also opened 25 branches inside Sainsbury's stores at the same time.
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