SHUTTING UP SHOP
Major retailer with 77 sites to shut 17 stores before the end of the year – see the full list of locations affected
Watch as we deep-dive into the industry affected by closures in our video above
A major retailer with 77 sites across the UK has plans to close 17 stores before the end of the year.
Dobbies Garden Centre wants to shut 11 larger sites and six Little Dobbies stores all of which are unprofitable.
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The retailer will also work with landlords to seek temporary rent reductions at a further nine sites.
It comes as part of a restructuring plan launched by the business to address "historically uneconomical rent costs".
Dobbies began a financial overhaul of the business back in August, which it warned would lead to shop closures.
The full list of stores set to close are:
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- Altrincham
- Antrim
- Gloucester
- Gosforth
- Harlestone Heath
- Huntingdon
- Inverness
- King’s Lynn
- Pennine
- Reading
- Stratford-upon-Avon
Six Little Dobbies, which are smaller branches selling houseplants located locally rather than out of town, are set to close in these areas:
- Cheltenham
- Chiswick
- Clifton
- Richmond
- Stockbridge
- Westbourne Grove
If the restructuring plan is approved the 17 sites will close by the end of the year.
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They will continue to operate as normal for now until the plan is approved.
The nine sites where its seeking rent reductions from landlords have not been named.
A spokesperson told The Sun: "Subject to the restructuring plan being successfully approved, we expect the affected sites to cease trading by the end of the year.
XMAS CLOSURES
"Thereafter, Dobbies will operate 60 stores and continue to play a key role in the market, working constructively with stakeholders and suppliers, and having an active and committed role in the communities in which it’s based."
The group said the closure will affect 465 workers, of which 82 are full-time, of the company’s roughly 3,600 strong workforce.
The garden centre chain, which was bought by investment firm Ares Management last year, fell to a £105.2 million pre-tax loss in the year to March 2023, against a £7 million loss a year earlier, according to its most-recently filed company accounts.
Restructuring plans are often launched by businesses when they find themselves in financial difficulty to help shore up extra costs.
The process can sometimes lead to store closures or job losses.
Talk of the closures has already upset locals of its branch in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Commenting on a social media post one customer said: "Go here often.. how very sad".
Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been hit by soaring inflation and a downturn in spending due to the cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking their toll.
Some high street shops have closed due to businesses opening up in different locations such as larger retail parks.
Shops may also close due to a number of other reasons, such as rising rents.
We explain which retailers are closing in 2024:
- Argos - The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q - The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, with two stores closing this year due to leases not being renewed. It has plans to open more in 2024 too.
- Boots - The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer's estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons - Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We've listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee - The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you'll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We've revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland - The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl - The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S - M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It's not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops.
- Trespass - The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith - The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shut eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
While another said that they "could not believe it".
It comes as many retailers are struggling to keep their heads above water.
High inflation coupled with a squeeze on consumers' finances has meant people have less money to spend in the shops.
Garden centres and home improvement businesses also boomed during the pandemic when customers were stuck at home.
But customers have been forced to cut back on spending since.
Back in August, Homebase announced that 10 of its stores would close and be transformed into Sainsbury's supermarkets.
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Homebase's owner, Hilco Capital, is preparing to sell the company.
The retailer has closed 106 stores since it was taken over by Hilco Capital in 2018.
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