END OF THE ROAD
‘Just the beginning’ fear shoppers as outdoor sports brand to shut ‘fantastic’ site after crashing into administration
It comes after both independent and big chains have announced closures recently
AN outdoor sports store is set to close its flagship site after falling into administration.
Chain Reaction will be pulling down the shutters for the final time next month.
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The online cycling retailer will be closing its only store in Belfast in February.
It comes after the company, which trades as Wiggle CRC, fell into administration back in October.
The collapsed company, which includes Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles and the Vitus and Nukeproof cycling brands, became insolvent after losing the financial support of parent company Signa Sports United.
The news of the store closure was announced on social media in a heartfelt post.
A spokesperson for the store wrote: "Dear Customers, we regret to inform you that our retail store located on Boucher Road, Belfast, will be closing its doors next month.
"We sincerely appreciate the support from all our customers over the past 12 years.
"We will continue to serve all our customers through our online store, chainreactioncycles.com, where you can shop our full range and receive support, warranty, and aftercare services from our customer service team."
The post continued to say that a huge sale is now taking place to help clear stock, this includes discounts of up to 60%.
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The website is still up and running as usual though.
Hundreds of shoppers have reacted to the closure.
One said: "Service has always been outstanding. Sorry to hear you're closing. Wishing you all the best."
Another wrote: "Sad times, massive loss for our wee country to lose the only CRC shop."
A third commented: "Very very sad news. I have been a customer and a friend of the fabulous CRC Boucher team since day one.
"Bad times for the local & indeed global bike industry losing such a great asset."
A fourth posted: "Such a shame. It was a fantastic store. Travelled up from Dublin a number of times to visit it."
A fifth wrote: "It’s just the beginning we are going to see a lot of bike shops closing…"
"Will be sad to see it close, I loved that shop so much, I spent some cash in there," another said.
The Sun has reached out to find out the exact date Chain Reaction is set to shut.
Wiggle CRC was a merger between two of the UK’s leading online cycling retailers in 2016.
Then in October 2023, shortly after taking control, administrators axed more than 100 jobs and the company halted international deliveries.
Both Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group and Halfords were said to be among those interested in buying the company towards the end of last year.
No sale has gone through as yet.
Bike shops have been struggling in recent months with both independent retailers and big chains shutting shops.
Back in September, Velorution, an urban cycling chain, announced its four stores and website would cease trading that month.
That same month Ride in Coventry also shut its doors for the last time after 25 years.
The Cambridge branch of Rutland Cycling, which has 14 shops, closed in October.
Cytek Repairs and Spares, near Stroud, had been in business for 25 years before it shut for the last time on November 4.
Earlier this month, Scotby Cycles' in Cumberland, revealed it would be shutting its doors after more than 40 years.
Halfords is pulling down the shutters on its branch in The Merry Hill Centre, Dudley on January 26.
It comes after the chain also shut its shop in Wragby Road in Lincoln in November, as well as its branch in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in October.
Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year and more are on their way.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Many etailers have been struggling to get by, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and have no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
British retailers saw the amount of goods they sold drop last month at its fastest rate in three years as under-pressure families shifted part of their Christmas shop to earlier in the year.
Sales volumes dipped by 3.2% in December, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggested on Friday, down from a rise of 1.4% a month before.
Several big-name chains are pulling down the shutters for the final time this month.
Jack Wills in Worcester announced it will be closing down for good on January 30.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Supermarket chain Co-op is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Peacehaven, East Sussex, on January 20.
The Flannels site in Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton, will pull down its shutters on January 24, .
High street fashion chain Peacocks is set to pull down the shutters of its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on January 25.
Entertainment retailer HMV is shuttering its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire, on January 27.
And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito shut their doors.
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