‘Absolutely devastated’ say shoppers as health and beauty retailer to close store after more than 30 years
A MAJOR health and beauty retailer is due to close another branch within days after more than 30 years.
Boots is closing a branch in Queensway close for good on May 28.
Signs and leaflets were being handed out to customers which read: “We’re closing. This store will close on 28 May 2024.”
Shoppers and locals in the store were very upset to hear the news.
One shopper told our reporters: “Absolutely devastated, the pharmacy here has much more accessible hours than any other in the area.”
“I think I’ve been coming here for about 35 years,” said another shopper.
The store closure was confirmed to our reporters in person but The Sun had reached out to Boots for comment.
However, it appears locals will not be without a Boots for long as another site just a few yards down the road is due to open.
Store signs read: “Your new Boots store will open on 29 May, 2024 at 166 – 172 Queensway.”
Staff noted the new store is smaller than the old branch and it’s not yet clear whether customers will be able to pick up prescriptions in the new branch.
Another branch Kent closed on March 20 while Castlecroft in Wolverhampton will shut on March 21.
North Kenton, Newcastle has recently closed, along with Welwyn Garden City and the East Parade store, Heworth, York.
Boots announced last year that it would close more than 300 branches as part of plans to evolve its brand.
The closures are part of wider plans that will see the retailer’s total number of shops reduced from 2,200 to 1,900.
Boots also closed more than 200 stores over 18 months in 2019.
This saw roughly 8% of Boots high street branches close.
What is happening to the high street?
The high street has been hit hard in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail.
High energy costs and business rates have further piled pressure on businesses.
This has left some remaining retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores.
Several major brands have fallen into administration since the start of 2023, including Wilko and Paperchase.
This year, The Body Shop fell into administration and it has seen dozens of branches close, 82 will have shut in total by the end of the month.
Administrators for Ted Baker have confirmed 15 sites across England will close permanently in a blow to the high street.
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.
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