Iconic shoe shop with 300 branches to close ANOTHER store in days but shoppers say they’re ‘not surprised’

AN iconic shoe shop with over 300 branches is set to close another store in days following a string of closures in 2023.

Clarks, with over 300 UK stores, has announced that it will shut its Witham store for good next weekend.

The store, located in The Grove Shopping Centre, will close for the final time on Saturday, January 13.

A Clarks spokesman: "Clarks confirms its store at The Grove Centre, Witham will close on January 13, 2024.

"We'd like to thank our loyal customers who have shopped with us at our Witham store, and we'll be delighted to continue to serve them with our full range of products online and at our nearby Clarks stores in Chelmsford, Colchester, and Wickford."

Reacting to the news of the closure on Facebook, one shopper said: "Not surprised really, priced itself out of the market.

"Even sale prices now aren't affordable to the average person."

Another said: "I'll have to go to Chelmsford for my shoes now. I only ever buy Clarke's shoes, I can't afford to buy cheap ones.

"Such a shame," said a third shopper.

In November, Clarks also brought the shutters down on its site in Newport Retail Park amid an ongoing battle high street chains continue to face.

It came shortly after its branches in Norwich and Westwood Cross Shopping Centre, Kent, were saved from closure.

Clarks had planned to close both stores for good but made a U-turn on the decision and decided they would remain open and continue to trade.

The popular footwear chain was founded in 1825 and operated across over 1,400 stores and franchises internationally at its peak.

But as of July 2023, the brand had just 320 stores.

All is not lost for shoppers though, as the retailer has also relocated and opened new shops this year.

The brand opened a new store on East Street in Taunton in April following the closure of its original high street store.

Clarks also opened up a new store in Newcastle's Eldon Square shopping centre on May 14.

Why are retailers closing branches?

The cost of living crisis, stubbornly high inflation and energy costs are taking their toll on retailers.

Shoppers have been cutting back spending, while the cost of actually running a store has also increased, meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) last summer found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over five years.

Several major brands also collapsed and closed stores for good in 2023.

Wilko's fall in August marked the biggest British retail collapse since McColl's plunged into administration in May 2022.

Paperchase collapsed into administration at the end of January 2023 and all 106 stores closed for good.

Scottish clothing brand M&Co and wellies retailer Joules were among a host of other familiar brands that went bust in 2022.

But shoppers still have reason to be cheerful as other retailers are expanding this year.

The Sun recently revealed discount retailer Costco is expanding in the UK and is planning to open 14 more warehouses over the next two years.

Bonmarche is opening at least seven new stores after filing for administration in 2019.

Once-huge bakery chain Patisserie Valerie, which also collapsed into administration and closed most of its stores, has started reopening branches, as revealed by the Sun.