High street favourite to close all but one store as it pulls down shutters on its longest-serving branch after 70 years
A RETAILER loved by high street shoppers is closing all but one of its stores as it bids farewell to a key branch enjoyed by customers for 70 years.
The fashion chain has been a classic of Kent town centres for generations and the latest blow has inflicted a “a very sad time”.
Over the years, Whites of Kent featured its stores in Sandwich, Sittingbourne, Herne Bay, West Malling, Folkestone and Cliftonville – now all shut down.
The retailers are known for putting anything cloth-related on their shelves, from lingerie to carpet.
But it’s now bidding farewell to its Faversham branch and head office, drawing the curtains on the Court Street store on August 31.
Maria O’Mahoney helps run the business with her siblings, and said the sad closure came as a consequence of declining trade.
Maria told Kent Online: “Retail on the high street has changed considerably during this time and unfortunately trade has declined significantly.
“We think the closure of the banks around us has led to a lower footfall in the town and many people shop differently now, with online shopping a part of our next-generation culture.
“Also, there comes a time when you have to think about retiring gracefully, when a lifetime of retail comes to a natural end – a conclusion to a long-standing family business that has run its natural course.”
Whites established itself in Faversham back in 1954.
Following the closure there, there will be one Whites standing – in Whitstable.
The White family will be hoping for better luck for that branch after a van smashed into the shop window earlier this year.
Maria and her brother Nigel are part of the third generation of the family and started working from the White firm in 1979.
Shopper Josie Griffiths took to Facebook to express her sadness, posting: “What a shame Whites of Kent closing down.”
Nuala Sayers said: “Saw that tonight. End of an era.”
An admin for the neighbouring Faversham Salvation Army page wrote: “We are so sad to see that you are closing. You’ve been great neighbours to us since we moved into Court Street.
“We are going to miss you but we will be praying for you all and the future.”
Brenda Delory, who said she was a former staff member, said: “So sorry to hear this sad news, you will be missed. Best wishes to you all.
“This will be a very sad time for us as a family but also for the town.
Maria
“I count myself so lucky to have worked for you at the Cliftonville shop for 13 years, loved it there.”
Maria said it would be an equally sad time for the family.
She told Kent Online: Maria said: “We believe Faversham is a great town with a wonderful feel of history and culture; you just have to look up as you walk around to see beautiful buildings, historical plaques and a sense of community and pride.
“This will be a very sad time for us as a family but also for the town.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of our customers who have shopped with us over the years and also our wonderful staff past and present who have served our Faversham community all these years. We’ll miss you all.”
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.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.