logo
#

Latest news with #Bamf

Major high street retailer to shut at popular shopping centre as huge closing down sale launched
Major high street retailer to shut at popular shopping centre as huge closing down sale launched

Scottish Sun

time16-05-2025

  • Business
  • Scottish Sun

Major high street retailer to shut at popular shopping centre as huge closing down sale launched

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR high street chain is shutting one of its stores for good in a busy shopping centre — and launching a huge closing-down sale. Shoppers are gutted after finding out a popular Superdry store near Silverburn, just outside Glasgow, is set to close for good. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Superdry is set to shut its popular branch near Silverburn for good Credit: Alamy The store has slashed prices by 50 per cent to clear remaining stock. One disappointed shopper shared the news on Facebook, writing: 'For anyone near Silverburn, just outside Glasgow — Superdry are closing their store this Saturday. 50% off all stock.' However, another user later revealed the discount had jumped to a whopping 75 per cent. While some believe high street closures like this are now expected, others still express frustration at how quickly long-standing shops are disappearing. Similar cases across the UK have seen stores shut amid rising business rates and increasing pressure on employers. In Ipswich, the Trespass shop on Westgate Street has repeatedly put up 'closing down' posters, most recently this month, prompting debate among locals over whether it's genuinely closing or simply using a tactical sales approach. The Aylesbury branch, however, appears to be the real deal. Staff have reportedly told customers the final day of trading will be this Sunday, with all remaining stock being cleared out at discounted prices. This closure comes during a rough patch for British retail. Other high street names like Sports Direct, New Look, and WHSmith have also shut stores or announced downsizing in recent months. According to the British Retail Consortium, a mix of higher running costs, tax changes, and increased National Insurance contributions are placing a £2.3 billion burden on the retail sector, pushing more shops off the high street. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET 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. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store