CLOSING TIME
Major high street chain with over 1,000 stores to shut its doors for two days over Christmas
The retailer joins a growing number giving teams an extended break this year
AN upmarket chain with more than 1,000 stores has joined a growing list of retailers closing their doors for two days this Christmas.
Marks & Spencer has confirmed its department stores and food halls will be closed on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
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It joins a host of other retailers who have said they will also close stores on Boxing Day to give staff a well-earned break.
Companies have increasingly been increasing their Christmas closure period.
Often they want to reward staff, who have to work particularly hard in the run-up to the , but also footfall on Boxing Day can be low.
A spokesperson for M&S said: “Our stores, support centres and distribution centres will be closed on Boxing Day so colleagues can spend more time with loved ones, but the majority of stores will reopen on the 27 December for our seasonal sale.”
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Ahead of the Christmas closure the retailer will operate extended opening hours at some stores.
M&S is the not the only retailer closing for two days this Christmas.
Next will close all stores on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and John Lewis will shutter the majority of its estate for the two days to allow teams to celebrate the festivities.
It's common practice for shops across the UK to close on Christmas Day, but not all retailers shut branches on Boxing Day.
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Poundland has also said it will shut all its branches on Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year as will The Range and Wilko.
Lidl and rival Aldi are also closing all its branches over the same two-day period, as are Home Bargains, Homebase and Waitrose.
Iceland will also close all but 76 of its more than 1,000 stores on Boxing Day this year, but the major supermarkets - , , and - will open sites.
Wickes will shutter all its branches for three days this Christmas, with teams also being given Christmas Eve off to spend with family.
Iceland Christmas dinner box
It's not the first year retailers have decided to give staff time off over the festive break either.
Aldi, Iceland, John Lewis, and Poundland all pulled down their shutters on Boxing Day in 2023.
While others opted to operate with reduced hours instead, including Sainsbury's, Primark, Morrisons and Tesco.
We'll keep you updated on the major chains' plans for this year as they're announced.
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It's always worth bearing in mind, opening hours for your local branch over Christmas may vary.
But most retailers have store locator tools which you can use to find out your local branch's opening hours.
Why do retailers close on Boxing Day?
BOXING Day is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
So why do retailers decide to close? Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains.
Closing on Boxing Day allows staff to have a well-deserved break after the busy Christmas period.
This can help improve staff morale and reduce burnout.
It also provides them with an opportunity to spend time with their families and friends during the festive season.
For some retailers, the cost of opening on Boxing Day, including staffing and operational expenses, may not be justified by the expected sales revenue, especially if customer footfall is low.
With the rise of online shopping, some retailers may focus on online sales and promotions rather than opening physical stores on Boxing Day.
For some businesses, it may also be a a long-standing tradition for them to remain closed on Boxing Day.
From a practical perspective, the day after Christmas can be used for inventory checks, restocking, and preparing for post-Christmas sales.
This can be more effectively done without the distraction of serving customers.
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