Store Closures
This coverage examines store closure trends within the UK retail sector. Reporting highlights closure drivers—such as lease negotiations, underperformance, and market shifts—impact on regional footfall, staff restructuring, and lease or property plans. Content is tailored for retail directors, operations managers, and property teams managing portfolio optimisation and change strategy.
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Feb- 2021 -4 FebruaryLuxury Goods
‘Robust’ online sales offset store closures at Watches of Switzerland
Watches of Switzerland has welcomed a period of strong trading in its third quarter ended 24 January 2021, with group revenue up by 6.6% to £272.6m despite the ongoing pandemic. This was bolstered by a “robust” e-commerce performance in the UK, which offset continued store closures throughout the period. UK…
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Jan- 2021 -15 JanuaryDIY
Dunelm revenues up 11% despite store closures
Homeware retailer Dunelm has reported an 11.8% increase in revenues for the 13-week period ended 26 December 2020, despite having the majority of its stores closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Dunelm reported revenues of £360.4m during the period, which the retailer said reflected the fact that despite restrictions consumer demand…
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14 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Primark predicts £1.1bn sales loss amid store closures
AB Foods, the owner of clothing retailer Primark, has issued a warning of a hit from lost retail sales of more than £1.1bn, if Covid-19 lockdowns continue through to the end of February. Currently, 305 of its 389 shops around the world are closed which is expected to cost £1.1bn…
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Dec- 2020 -11 DecemberHigh Street
McColl’s revenue tops £1.25bn despite store closures
McColl’s revenue has increased by 2.3% to £1.25bn this year in light of “strong demand” during the pandemic, according to the group’s full year trading report. In the year ended 29 November 2020, the convenience retailer’s like-for-like sales surged by 12%, due to a “strong performance” across its food, drink…
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Sep- 2020 -21 SeptemberComment
The window of opportunity for pop-ups
The Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent events of this year have exacerbated the ongoing decline of the British high street, with footfall falling by 81% in April and 48% in July, according to the British Retail Consortium. From John Lewis to Carphone Warehouse to House of Fraser, it seems that no…
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9 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Quiz sales plummet, store closures anticipated
Fashion retailer Quiz has revealed its sales have been “significantly impacted” by the pandemic, with total sales falling by 77% to £12.8m between 1 April and 31 August. Its website sales totalled £4.9m in the period, marking a 45% decline against the £8.9m reported the year before. Sales through third…
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May- 2020 -4 MayCoronavirus
Hotel Chocolat: Online sales fail to mitigate effect of store closures
Hotel Chocolat has announced that its boost in online sales has failed to “fully mitigate the total sales loss in the key three-week Easter trading period of 2020. In its latest trading update, the group noted the nationwide lockdown on 23 March has had a “material impact on trading”. However,…
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Apr- 2020 -14 AprilHigh Street
Matalan owner reportedly seeking £60m amid store closures
The owner of Matalan, John Hargreaves, is reportedly seeking a cash injection of £60m to support the fashion retailer through the Covid-19 pandemic, after the group was “forced” to close its 232 stores. According to the Mail on Sunday, a statement issued to bondholders claimed the retailer had not faced…
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6 AprilCoronavirus
Temporary store closures due to coronavirus lead to 14% drop in retail jobs
The UK job market has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, with retail jobs dropping by 14% in March, when comparing data with the previous year, according to the latest report from CV-Library. The study, which explores job market data from March 2020 and compares this with figures from…
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Mar- 2020 -27 MarchClothing & Shoes
Jack Wills permanently closes another 17 stores
British fashion brand Jack Wills – which was rescued out of administration by Frasers Group plc in August 2019 – has announced the immediate closure of a further 17 stores, bringing the total number of store closures announced over the last week to 22. Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group acquired Jack…
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