Latest news with #closingdownsale
The Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- The Sun
Trendy fashion chain launches huge closing down sale ahead of disappearing forever – full list of closures
A TRENDY clothing chain has launched a huge closing-down sale ahead of disappearing from the high street forever. A huge closing down sale has been launched ahead of its closure in August, according to the Glasgow Times. It means shoppers have a chance to grab some last minute deals before it closes for good. The Sun has contacted H&M for comment. The store, which first opened in 2017, will close as H&M continues with its plans to integrate the brand with another one of its fashion lines, Weekday. It comes just weeks after the popular clothing brand shuttered it's branch on Carnaby Street in London. News of the closure came as a blow to shoppers, who in the past described it as their "favourite store" in the world. While another fan said the clothes were "amazing quality" and "look so good". H&M already boarded up Monki branches across Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Sheffield earlier this year. One remaining store continues to trade in Bristol and will either close later this year or be transformed into a new concept store. Monki's online store has also closed down with the brand now only available to shop through the revamped Weekday website. Major card chain with 163 shops launches closing down sales ahead of shutting its doors for good You can check out the full list of stores here: Arndale Shopping Centre, Manchester -closed January 12 Birmingham city centre -closed March 6 Eldon Square Newcastle -closed January 2025 Sheffield - closed June 2025 Carnaby Street, London - closed June 15 2025 Glasgow - closing August 2025 Bristol -open A previous statement from H&M read: "A limited number of Monki stores are intended to be transformed into multi-brand Weekday destinations, while the others are intended to be closed." "The newly formed Weekday multi-brand destination will cater to customers' high aesthetic standards while embracing their multitude of unique expressions." As part of the process, H&M has also revived its Cheap Monday brand and begun selling it in select Weekday stores and online. The fashion line was a hit during the early noughties, but H&M axed it in 2018, blaming poor sales. Weekday currently has five locations in the UK, all of which are in London. Like Monki, it caters towards a younger audience and sells trendy fashion pieces. RETAIL PAIN Plenty of other retailers are reducing their store estates in the face of rising costs and shoppers having less money to part with at the till. River Island will close 33 of its 230 stores as part of a major restructuring. The future of a further 70 stores is at risk and dependant on agreements being reached with landlords to slash rent payments. The retailer is set to split its store estate into seven categories of closures and rent reductions. New Look has previously warned it would shut nearly 100 stores ahead of National Insurance hikes which came into place in April. The popular clothing store will also shut down a branch in Neath on August 6. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The Original Factory Shop launches huge 70% off closing down sales ahead of shutting NINE stores in days
THE Original Factory Shop has launched a huge closing down sale ahead of the brand shutting nine of its stores within days. One of the discount department stores due to close in Pembrokeshire has slashed prices on everything by a whopping 70%. 1 The Original Factory Shop in Milford Haven is set to shut up shop next week. Branch Store Manager, Mandy Salter, announced the massive sale on Facebook on Thursday, June 19. She said: "The Original Factory Shop, Milford Haven, now has 70% off across everything in store. "Only 7 days left to trade as closing our doors on 26th June for the final time." Over June, nine stores will be closing it total, including sites in Dorset and Durham. The Sun reported on the Cupar site closure earlier last week with huge discounts ahead of its closure in July. Another site in Middlewich is also set to close, but a date is yet to be confirmed while another site is due to close in July. You can see the full list of store closures here: Heswall, Merseyside - June 21 Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 Perth - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC The Milford Haven site previously announced its closure in May with a post on the store's Facebook page. The announcement read: "With a heavy heart we regret to inform you that the rumours are true. "The Original Factory Shop Milford Haven has served you for 15 years and will be closing its doors for the final time on the 26th June." The post encouraged shoppers to pop in and grab a bargain and that they were "proud" of being part of the community. It added: "At this time we ask that you are considerate and respectful to our team as we are truly devastated." The death of the high street is the death of communities Shoppers flocked to the comments to express their sadness at losing the store. One commented: "So sorry to hear this, all the staff are absolutely wonderful. "A great loss to Milford Haven - now where do we shop for reasonably priced clothes and shoes?" Another simply said: "So, so sorry, love all the staff". Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been put up for sale. The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords - making it unclear whether these shops will remain open. What's happening to the Original Factory Shop? Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street shops. It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. It said at the time: "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future." The Original Factory shop has already shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Supermarket chain with 300 stores launching closing down sale ahead of shutting popular site this weekend
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, A POPULAR supermarket chain is launching a huge closing-down sale this weekend, as it shuts one of its 300 high street stores. The budget foodstore has been providing shoppers with bargains in the busy shopping precinct for over two decades. 2 2 Farmfoods, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, is closing its doors for the final time this Sunday, June 22, with the remaining stock being sold off at a reduced price. Shoppers have been left devastated by the news, which marks another blow for the high street. Posting in the Ilkeston Life Facebook group, one person said of the Scottish store, which was founded in 1954. "A blow for savvy Ilkeston shoppers - Farmfoods in the precinct is closing. "It will be missed by many people, and the pleasant, helpful staff will be out of a job. "Shops like this are a lifeline to many folk." The post was flooded with comments from locals, sharing their sadness at the loss. A second person said: "It will be a sad day to see another shop closing. "It always seems to be busy though so it makes no sense." NatWest to close 53 bank branches in fresh blow to UK high street – see if your local is affected A third person added: "Oh what a shame, it will be sorely missed." This follows the news that Poundland has confirmed plans to shut 68 stores, with up to 150 at risk of closure. The struggling discount chain was sold for just £1 last week and it was expected a major shake-up would be needed to rescue it. Poundland has now announced a huge series of changes aimed at keeping itself afloat - although these will need to be approved by the High Court in August. Why are retailers closing stores? 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. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." They include ditching its frozen food items, getting rid of its loyalty scheme app and no longer selling products online. The Original Factory Shop has also recently launched another closing-down sale as the brand pulls the shutters on another store. The discount department store has slashed the prices on everything, from clothing to gardening tools to toys. Clothing rails have been tagged with percentage-off signs as high as 30 per cent off. And a major DIY retailer has launched a huge closing-down sale as it prepares to close one of its branches in weeks. The Hobbycraft store in Imperial Park, Bristol, has confirmed that it will close its doors for good on June 21.
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The Original Factory Shop launches closing down sale at another store – see full list of locations set to shut for good
THE Original Factory Shop has launched another closing-down sale as the brand pulls the shutters on another store. The discount department store has slashed the prices on everything, from clothing to gardening tools to toys. 3 Clothing rails have been tagged with percentage-off signs as high as 30 percent off. If you're looking for something stylish this summer, TOFS in Cupar, Scotland, is packed with pretty dresses, linen pieces, and jeans. There are also huge discounts across all footwear in the store - from trainers to heels. Over in the men's section, there is an abundance of polo shirts, gym vests, and t-shirts. It's worth stocking up on cleaning products and household essentials as they have a 10 percent reduction on the price. For those sweet-toothed shoppers, there are plenty of deals across all confectionery. Photos of the sale went on the Cupar store's Facebook with the caption: Up to 11 TOFS stores are already to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria . Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been placed up for sale. The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords - making it unclear whether these shops will remain open. It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result. Over June nine of these stores will close, including sites in Dorest and Durham. Another site in Middlewich is also set to close however a date is yet to be confirmed. You can see the full list of store closures here: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 Perth - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Middlewich - TBC Heswall - TBC The following stores are also up for sale: Nairn Market Drayton Troon Blairgowrie Castle Douglas Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street shops. It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. 3 3
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The Original Factory Shop launches closing down sale at yet another store – see full list of locations closing in June
THE Original Factory Shop has launched a closing down sale at yet another store. A branch in Heswall is the latest store to announce its closure, leaving shoppers heartbroken. 1 The Merseyside branch has launched closing down sale to help shift stock before it shutters for good. Shoppers have a chance to grab up to 70% off selected lines, and 50% off electrical products. The Henswell store opened two years ago in June 2023. The exact date the store is closing has not yet been confirmed but The Sun will update this piece when we hear more. Up to 11 TOFS stores are already to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria . Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been placed up for sale. The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords - making it unclear whether these shops will remain open. It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result. Over June nine of these stores will close, including sites in Dorest and Durham. Another site in Middlewich is also set to close however a date is yet to be confirmed. Popular retailer to RETURN 13 years after collapsing into administration and shutting 236 stores You can see the full list of store closures here: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 Perth - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Middlewich - TBC Heswall - TBC The following stores are also up for sale: Nairn Market Drayton Troon Blairgowrie Castle Douglas What's been happening with The Original Factory Shop? Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street shops. It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. It said at the time: "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. And it is not only TOFS that is facing hard times. Hobbycraft is set to close nine stores come June 21. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
