Major retail chain with 124 stores confirms popular branch to shut in weeks
A MAJOR DIY retailer has launched a huge closing down sale as it prepares to close one of its branches in weeks.
The Hobbycraft store in Imperial Park, Bristol, has confirmed that it will close its doors for good on June 21.
1
Every item in the store is now 50% off, with some items on offer for 70% less than their normal price.
Shoppers have taken to social media to voice their disappointment at the news.
One said: 'Very sad that this great shop is closing.'
Another added: 'No! First Home Sense now Hobbycraft.'
While a third person asked: 'Any ideas what will go in the shop in its place?'
The Bristol store is one of at least nine Hobbycraft stores that have been earmarked for closure this year.
Owner Modella Capital is launching an overhaul after buying Hobbycraft in August last year.
Modella also agreed to purchase WHSmith's high street business earlier this year.
In April Hobbycraft said that nine of its stores will stop trading by mid-July, which will affect between 72 and 126 jobs.
These shops include:
Bagshot, Surrey
Basildon, Essex
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
Bristol, Imperial Retail Park
Canterbury, Kent
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Epping Forest, Essex
Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex
Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down
A number of other stores are still being reviewed.
The arts and crafts chain said the restructuring will also result in redundancies across its Bournemouth head office and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent.
It has not yet confirmed how many jobs will be affected.
Hobbycraft said the shake-up is intended to help secure the future of at least 99 stores and 1,800 jobs in the business.
Hobbycraft chief executive officer Alex Wilson described the closures as a 'last resort' and an 'extremely difficult decision'.
He said: "For many our stores are more than just arts and crafts supplies - they have become places for gaining crafting ideas and inspiration.
"Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years.
"Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country."
Which other shops are closing?
The Original Factory Shop is set to close nine shops this month as it prepares to shutter a total of ten branches in the coming weeks.
The chain previously warned it would have to shut some loss-making locations after it began to struggle in recent years.
The retailer is now set to close the following shops this month:
Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26
Perth - June 28
Chester-le-Street, County Durham - June 28
Arbroath, Angus - June 28
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28
Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28
Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28
Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28
It will also close a store in Staveley, Cumbria, on July 12.
Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of its stores.
The Works is also set to close its Margate High Street store on June 8.
A spokesperson for The Works said: 'As part of ongoing plans to optimise our store portfolio, we will be closing our Margate store.
'We have loved being part of the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure.
'Customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores at Westwood Cross Shopping Centre and Ramsgate Garden Centre.'
The chain has already closed five other branches this year.
Iceland is also set to close a store in Margate in June.
Its store in College Square will shut its doors for the last time on June 21.
Iceland has not yet confirmed the reason for the closure but has said that staff will be offered jobs within the business.
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