‘Such a shame’ cry shoppers as bargain retailer with 520 branches to close store for final time today
SHOPPERS have been left devastated after a bargain retailer with 520 branches closed one of its high street stores today.
The Works announced earlier this year that it would be closing its Dereham branch in Norfolk for the final time on May 10.
The discount chain, which sells value gifts, arts and crafts, toys, books and stationery, has more than 500 stores across the UK, including nine in Norfolk, but was forced into closing its Nelson Place store.
Having failed to agree terms to renew their lease, The Works in Dereham has now shut its doors for the final time.
At the time of the initial announcement in March, a spokesman said the store has been “a great location” for The Works.
They told The Sun: “We can confirm that we will be closing our Dereham store after close of trade on the 10th of May.
“This has been a great location for The Works, but our lease was due to expire soon and sadly we have been unable to agree suitable lease terms to stay.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure and would like to thank customers for shopping at The Works over the years.
“All team members will be offered the opportunity to be redeployed to local stores and customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores in Swaffham and Fakenham or online at theworks.co.uk.”
“This closure forms part of our ongoing review of our property portfolio, ensuring we have the right mix of stores in the right locations to best serve our customers.
“This occasionally means closing stores, whilst also improving our estate with refits or relocation’s if a more favourable site becomes available, and we have plans to open a select number of new stores in the coming months too.”
Despite the closure, however, The Works confirmed it would be opening other stores elsewhere around the country.
The business has also offered all staff the chance to be relocated to their nearby stores in Swaffham and Fakenham.
Both shops are approximately 20-25 minutes away from Dereham.
There is also a third store in Norwich that customers can shop at.
But the news of the Dereham branch closure has come as a huge disappointment for locals.
One person said: “Such a shame there will be nothing left. A shop I use all the time for my little ones. Another shop sitting there empty no doubt.”
A second added: “This shop is a gem and I always find something, at very reasonable prices.”
A third commented: “Will be sadly missed in Dereham.”
Elsewhere, shoppers have been left gutted after a major chain owned by Frasers Group gears up to close one of its shops within weeks.
It comes after the retailer shuttered a string of branches across the UK in a blow for the high street.
And a bargain chain with 190 sites is closing another of its branch in just a matter of days.
Locals have come out to share their disappointment that the store will shut, as another gears up to close on the same day.
Retailers closing stores in 2024
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 are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Here’s a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:
- Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
- Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.