Major retailers like Pandora, Swarovski, and WHSmith are closing stores across the UK, impacting high streets and leaving many jobless this year.
Several big brands will shut shops, including Pandora, Swarovski, and Bershka. Urban Outfitters and River Island will too, and these closures impact Oxford Street.
The Centre for Retail Research predicts more closures. They estimate 17,349 shops may close, which will put pressure on high streets.
WHSmith is closing four shops this month, shifting their focus to travel hubs instead. Private equity firms also want to control retailers.
The WHSmith stores closing are in four locations: Basingstoke closed February 1st, and Winton and Rhyl closed February 15th. Bolton also closed February 15th.
Sainsbury’s closed a London store, with the Stamford Hill branch closing February 1st after fourteen years of operation. The landlord plans to redevelop the site.
Iceland also closed a London store, the Bellegrove, Welling branch, without giving specific reasons. Iceland offered staff jobs elsewhere.
Farmfoods closed a Banbury store on February 2nd, shutting down the Calthorpe Centre location. The chain might open a new site nearby.
The Entertainer closed a Croydon shop, located in the Whitgift Centre, on February 1st due to redevelopment plans.
Hollister plans to close an Aberdeen store in Union Square. The exact closing date is not yet known, but they may open another Aberdeen store.
