{"id":77935,"date":"2023-09-11T17:58:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T17:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/posterboyedit.com\/?p=77935"},"modified":"2023-09-11T17:58:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T17:58:05","slug":"end-of-an-era-as-high-street-fashion-chain-with-dozens-of-branches-to-close-store-within-weeks-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/posterboyedit.com\/lifestyle\/end-of-an-era-as-high-street-fashion-chain-with-dozens-of-branches-to-close-store-within-weeks-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"'End of an era' as high street fashion chain with dozens of branches to close store within weeks | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
A FASHION chain with dozens of branches is closing one of its stores in weeks as residents brand it the "end of an era".<\/p>\n
Jack Wills is pulling down the shutters on its shop in Bell Street, St Andrews, Scotland, next month.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It means the retailer, which currently runs 32 stores across the UK, will be closing its last remaining Scottish branch, reports The Courier.<\/p>\n
Local residents have shared their dismay at the store's closure on Facebook.<\/p>\n
One said: "End of an era," while another added: "This should not need to happen. It does not need to happen."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, staff at the store are said to be furious and were left in tears after being told the news it will close.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They said:\u00a0\u201cStaff didn\u2019t even get five minutes to think when they were told to start setting the shop up for the closing sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaff are very angry and were crying all morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot knowing was the worst. They just wanted transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes after Jack Will's was bought out by Mike Ashley's Sports Direct, part of the Frasers Group, in August 2019.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>SHUTTING SHOP <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>WILKO WOE <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>CHOCO WIN <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/picture>WIN BIG <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The billionaire put in a \u00a312.75m bid for the ailing business, which at the time had 110 stores across the UK and Ireland.<\/p>\n It was founded in 1999 as a single shop in Devon and its clothes became popular in the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n But it lost its appeal in the years that followed as sixth-formers and university students turned to grungier styles.<\/p>\n In March 2020, it announced it would permanently close nine stores, just days after revealing five would shut.<\/p>\n Branches in Abersock, Aldeburgh, Dartmouth, St Ives and Rushden Lakes were all impacted.<\/p>\n The St Andrews store was also earmarked for closure, however a lease agreement was agreed with the landlord which saved the store.<\/p>\n House of Fraser, owned by The Fraser Group, has also announced closures in recent months.<\/p>\n The branch in Solihull closed on August 28 while its Guildford store is set to shut on September 30.<\/p>\n Both stores have launched 20% closing down sales to clear any leftover stock.<\/p>\n And in May this year, Mike Ashley's Frasers Group threatened to axe 200 jobs in a bid to cut costs across the business.<\/p>\n The Sun approached The Frasers Group for comment.<\/p>\n It's not just Jack Wills closing stores in 2023 with a number of other retailers struggling to keep branches open.<\/p>\n Consumers have been increasingly turning their attentions to online shopping and away from physical branches.<\/p>\n High inflation since 2022 has seen shoppers with less expandable money in their wallets and purses too.<\/p>\n That, combined with high energy and wage costs, has seen a number of retailers closing branches.<\/p>\n Cath Kidston, Paperchase and Wilko have all crashed into administration in 2023.<\/p>\n Hopes to save hundreds of Wilko stores from closing are fading too, after a bid by the owner of HMV failed.<\/p>\n Other retailers haven't gone bust completely, but have been shutting stores, including Tesco, Iceland and Argos.<\/p>\n It's not all negative news though – some retailers have been opening branches across the UK.<\/p>\n A huge bakery chain that closed 170 stores after collapsing into administration is set to reopen branches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile, homeware chain The White Company is opening five new branches over the next three months.<\/p>\n Plus, Poundland and B&M are opening stores too.<\/p>\n Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing\u00a0money-sm@news.co.uk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group\u00a0members.<\/strong><\/p>\nAll 400 Wilko stores to close by October after final rescue bid fails<\/h3>\n
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