SHUTTERS DOWN
Major supermarket with 500 phone shops to close branch within weeks as shopper brand move ‘a shame’
We take a look at what is happening on the high street
A MAJOR phone provider has announced plans to close one of its branches in a popular UK supermarket.
Tesco Mobile in Tesco supermarket in Tenterden will shut its doors next month and locals are not happy.
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The Tesco Mobile store in Highbury Works on Smallhythe Road will close its doors for good on March 17.
The next nearest Tesco Mobile for shoppers will soon be Park Farm supermarket in Ashford, which is more than 10 miles away.
A sign has now been put up in the store which reads:
“This Phone shop will close on Sunday 17 March. Your nearest Phone Shope will be Ashford Park Farm.”
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Locals took to Facebook to share their disappointment at hearing the news.
One user said: “That's a shame. I bought my phone there last year.”
“Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.”
“It’s a shame for the staff employed there,” said another.
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A third user cried: “Oh no.”
“I’m often dropping in to troubleshoot a problem, oh dear,” added someone else.
A fourth user said: “I did use it to get a phone last month and found the staff helpful.”
A Tesco Mobile spokesperson said: “Following a comprehensive review, we have taken the difficult decision to close Tenterden Phone Shop due to low customer demand.”
“We will continue serving the local community through our Ashford Park Farm Phone Shop, which remains open and ready to help.”
Tesco has already had a rocky past few months.
The retailer flogged its banking business to Barclays for £600million after running it for 27 years.
Barclays will hand Tesco a yearly income for using its brand.
We've also seen quite a few Tesco store closures in recent weeks.
Tesco confirmed the closure of two stores in Chippenham and Armthorpe.
The store in Chippenham had been a staple of the Emery Gate shopping centre since 2008 when it signed a 15-year lease for the largest premises in the building.
What is happening to the high street?
Several other retailers have been struggling to get by over the past few years, especially since the 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 having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Troubled fashion brand Superdry has said it is looking at various "cost-saving options" after reports it is considering a major restructuring which could include store closures and job cuts.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
The Body Shop is currently going through administration and announced plans to close half of its 198 stores with seven already closing last week.
WHSmith told The Sun it has no plans to open anymore more high street stores as it wants to focus on the travel side of its business.
Major banks have also announced multiple branch closures.
Barclays is to start pulling the shutters down on 14 sites in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland as soon as April.
Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
You can keep up to date with all major store closures this month here.
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