SHUTTERS DOWN
Is Shoezone closing and which shops are affected?
Full list of stores set to close or relocate
SHOEZONE has already closed several of its high street stores in the past few months.
But the brand is also expanding its presence with a number of store refits and relocations in the works.
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The popular retailer has more than 320 stores and employs around 2,500 people.
It sells over 16 million pairs of shoes every year so it won't be leaving our high streets permanently anytime soon.
But here we explain which stores are closing and why.
Is Shoezone closing?
Shoezone is not closing down, but it has plans to shut a number of shops over the years.
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The high street chain has already closed 13 branches last year.
Shoezone also closed 63 stores in the year to October 1, 2022, opened 13, and converted 11 existing stores into its new formats.
Which Shoezone stores are closing?
The popular retailer has already shut stores in the following locations in 2023:
- London Road, Waterlooville, Portsmouth
- High Street, Southend (Relocation)
- The Drapery, Northampton (Relocation)
- Bell Centre, Melton, Leicestershire
- Broad Street, Seaford, East Sussex
- Well Croft, Shipley
- Longton Exchange Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent
- Dockhead Street, Saltcoats
- Broadmead Shopping Centre, Bristol
- Grand Junction Retail Park, Crewe
- Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Edinburgh
- Beccles, Suffolk
- Isle of Wight
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This year Shoezone closed its branch on Watford High Street.
It's also yet to shut or relocate the following branches, although the exact dates haven't been confirmed:
However, the brand confirmed it opened eight new stores last year in November including Maidstone, Bristol, and newly-refitted stores in South Shields, Gravesend and Colchester.
Why is Shoezone shutting shops?
The retailer wants to open new "big box and hybrid" format stores from its original, smaller formats.
These stores will offer more stock and a greater range of styles for customers.
In its annual results, Shoezone said it was hoping to expand its store refit and relocation programme this year.
Retailers have been feeling the pinch since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to soaring inflation.
High energy costs and a shift to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The inability to renegotiate rents and agreements with landlords is also putting pressure on some retailers to pull out of some locations.
A number of well-known retailers including Argos, Lloyds Pharmacy and Poundstretcher have also closed stores in recent months.
Familiar favourites collapsed into administration last year leaving empty shop fronts up and down the country.
These include M&Co, Paperchase and popular discounter Wilko.
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