Major phone provider closing store within weeks and shoppers say it ‘won’t be the last’
A MAJOR phone provider is closing one of its stores within just weeks and shoppers have said it “won’t be the last”.
Telecoms giant O2 is pulling the plug on its store in Barrow town centre, Cumbria.
The branch will close on October 14 following a review of O2 shops across the country.
An O2 spokesperson said: “ Following a consultation with store staff in Barrow, we have taken the decision to close this store on 14 October.
“We continue investing in our high street stores to ensure we deliver the great service our customers expect.”
Shoppers local to the area have taken to social media to express their thoughts.
Some said they weren’t surprised that another shop was closing in Barrow.
One commented: “It won’t be the last.”
Someone else wrote: “Barrow the ghost town.”
While another shopper said: “There’s going to be nothing in this town, so sad.”
The news comes following a string of closures hitting UK high streets.
Retailer Wilko fell into administration on August 10 and as a result, all 400 stores will close for good.
That included the Wilko in Barrow which pulled down the shutters for the final time on September 14.
That same day another 27 stores closed up and down the country including ones in Huddersfield, Dagenham and Walsall.
A further 38 stores closed for good on September 17.
While another 47 Wilko shops closed on Thursday (September 22).
Poundland has since snapped up up to 71 shops, stating that Wilko workers will be first in the line for new jobs.
The discount chain hopes to have them ready to open in time for Christmas trading later this year.
O2 and Wilko aren’t the only stores closing.
Clothes retailer Next is also shutting 11 stores.
The high street chain said six of the closures are taking place because it expects the stores won’t reach their target margins.
Two of the closures are due to site redevelopments, while the remaining three are taking place because an agreement couldn’t be reached with the site’s landlord.
It comes after Next closed its store Westfield Stratford City earlier this year.
Many households and businesses have been battling soaring inflation, which is impacting prices in shops.
But the UK’s inflation rate fell again in August to 6.7%, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Inflation measures how much the prices of goods and services have changed over time.
Falling inflation doesn’t mean that prices aren’t rising, but pressures on household incomes and businesses are easing slightly.
When it goes up, prices on everyday items and essentials from groceries to fuel to transport costs increase – which means you’ll pay more just to get by.
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