Major high street chain with 1,400 branches to shut store for good in DAYS amid closures
A MAJOR high street chain with 1,400 stores in the UK is set to close a branch in the next few days.
The WHSmith shop in Manchester’s Market Street is said to be shutting its doors for the final time on December 2.
The store is currently holding a closing down sale as well, according to The Manc.
A sign on the window of the store reads: “Unfortunately this store will cease trading on December 2, 2023.
“We would like to thank you for your custom.”
It then informs that the closest WHSmith to Manchester now will be at the Trafford Centre.
At the moment shoppers can get 50% off everything in-store thanks to the “everything must go” sale.
The retailer has 600 stores on the high street, along with more than 800 travel stores located in airports, train stations, hospitals, workplaces and motorway services.
WHSmith has already closed two branches this year, including in Bicester on August 30.
Its Newcastle-under-Lyme branch shut permanently in March too, the Stoke Sentinel reported.
The stationery retailer is also set to pull down the shutters on its shop in Alfreton, Derbyshire, in January 2024.
Smiths is set to shut its branch in Ramsgate, Kent, at the start of 2024 as well.
Earlier this month as part of its preliminary results the chain announced it will close 22 stores to focus on finding better quality space.
In June, WHSmith’s boss Carl Cowling said it had no plans to open any more UK high street stores.
Instead, it is focusing its efforts on UK airports and train stations, as well as looking to expand in the US and Europe, he said.
Over the past 20 years, the retailer has significantly expanded its presence in airports and train stations.
It has also increased its offering at motorway service stations and US-based casino resorts.
Clarks shoe chain has confirmed that several stores will close forever in 2023.
DIY chain Homebase is closing two stores in November and a third in December.
Shoppers have been cutting back spending meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.
Brick-and-mortar stores have also seen a lack of footfall due to consumer habits switching to online shopping.
Cineworld, M&S and Tesco are also closing a handful of stores before the end of the year.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over a five-year period.
While a raft of stores are set to close, shoppers have reason to be cheerful as other retailers are actually expanding this year.
The Sun recently revealed discount retailer Costco is expanding in the UK and is planning to open 14 more warehouses over the next two years.
Wilko shops are set to return to the UK high street after the chain collapsed earlier this year.
Meanwhile, here are all the 22 shops and chains closing doors before the end of the year after an “apocalyptic” era for high street.
Plus, a town in Britain has been dealt a “huge blow” as a Cineworld branch has announced it’s closing this weekend.
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