A MAJOR fashion retailer with 364 stores in the UK has confirmed it is closing a “gorgeous” branch today.
New Look‘s store in Gillingham High Street, Medway, Kent, has been open for over 30 years – but is shutting for good this evening.
At the end of 2023, the unit hosting the branch at 118-120 High Street, near Poundland, was listed for let by estate agents Crosthwaite Commercial for £52,500 per year.
The listing was then taken down and New Look bosses confirmed the store will be closing down.
From tomorrow, customers in the Medway area can visit the nearby store at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, which continues to operate as normal.
Customers can also shop online for the full range of products.
READ MORE ABOUT SHOP CLOSURES
It is not yet known what will replace the New Look store in Gillingham High Street.
A spokesperson for the fashion retailer said: “Our store in Gillingham is closing on September 17.
“We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years.
“We hope customers continue to shop with us online at newlook.com, where our full product ranges can be found.”
New Look has several other branches in Kent, including stores in Canterbury, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Bluewater Shopping Centre.
The latest closure comes after B&M recently announced it would take over the former home of Wilko between Savers and Sports Direct in Gillingham High Street.
Other recent closures in the area included the Wilko stores in Strood, Rainham, and Gillingham, which closed in September 2023.
The Claire’s store at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre in Gillingham also closed in February 2024.
And the Debenhams store in Chatham Town Centre closed in January 2020.
It comes after Weird Fish, which has around 30 branches across the UK, confirmed it has closed its Canterbury store just two years after it first welcomed customers, located at Unit 5 of Marlowe Arcade.
The closure was a commercial decision due to the landlord of the store “redeveloping”.
A spokesperson from Weird Fish said: “The landlord is redeveloping this unit and the adjacent one, which meant they needed the space back which didn’t work for us commercially.
“We are however very keen to find another suitable site in Canterbury at the earliest opportunity. We also still have a store in Whitstable.”
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.
Other high street news
A number of retailers have been shutting stores across the UK in a hammer blow to shoppers.
Wilko, The Body Shop and Ted Baker have closed hundreds of branches between them after falling into administration.
Other retailers, including Poundland, Lidl and Iceland, have closed branches too.
But at the same time, plenty of chains have been expanding their presence on the high street and across retail parks.
Poundland, Lidl and Aldi have all been expanding – pouncing on shoppers’ appetites for cheap and good quality produce.
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug recently said it wants to open 25 new branches across the UK too.
Asda has been opening hundreds of convenience stores in recent months as it looks to rival major players Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
And B&M plans to open “not less than” 45 brand new stores across the UK in each of the next two consecutive years.
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