Latest news with #TOFS
The Sun
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major discount store with 178 shops will shut TWO branches in just hours as closing down sale launched
A MAJOR discount store with 178 shops will shut two branches and has launched huge closing down sales. The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) is preparing to close sites in Bridlington and Caernarfon this Sunday, July 20. 1 Both branches will close for the last time tomorrow, giving shoppers just hours to say their goodbyes. Huge closing down sales have been launched across the stores, with the Bridlington branch offering 70% off all stock. Meanwhile, the Caernarfon is also offering 70% off all items in store, with employees encouraging shoppers to "grab a bargain while you can". That means a £2 item will now scan for 60p and a product which cost £80 will now cost £24. The closures have come as a blow to some locals with one sharing they were "so sick of things closing down". A fan of the Caernarfon store also said: "The only decent shop we had left such a shame." While another added: "Sorry to see the store closing staff and manager were very helpful." And another upset shopper chimed in: "Gutted. Not a great decision." The budget retailer has been closing stores across the UK as part of a major restructuring. The brand already closed down eight stores in late June, including branches in Pershore and Perth. Major card chain with 163 shops launches closing down sales ahead of shutting its doors for good A site in Cumbria also closed down in July 12. A further three stores - Middlewich, Heswall and Ashbourne - are also set to close but no date has been given yet. You can check out the full list here: 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 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Bridlington - July 20 Caernarfon - July 20 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Kirkham, Lancashire - August Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC Blairgowrie, Scotland - TBC Ashbourne - TBC Heswall - TBC What's been happening with The Original Factory Shop? Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street shops. It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. 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."
The Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major bargain retailer launches 50% off Christmas sale in July after shutting nine UK stores in just a week
A MAJOR bargain retailer has launched a rather early Christmas decoration sale after closing nine UK stores in just a week. A branch of the discount store, is offering a 50 per cent off sale - including festive items - as it prepares to shut its doors for good. The Original Factory Shop, which has 178 shops, has announced the upcoming closure its branch in Caldicot. It is the latest in a string of closures, with a further eight stores having shuttered down on June 28. But while Caldicot residents have been left bitterly disappointed by the news, the store is going out with a major sale. Any shoppers looking to stock up on Christmas gifts and decorations early are in luck, as the closing down sale includes the shop's festive stock. A spokesperson for the chain said on Facebook: "Caldicot Store Closing Down Sale. "We have UP TO 50% off items including Christmas stock! " Open 9am until 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am until 4pm Sundays." But commenters on Facebook were distraught that the branch would closing. One user said: "Oh no, I'm gutted, I come over from Weston-Super-Mare to house sit and I absolutely love this shop so many bargains. Very sad!" Aldi's backyard essential is flying off shelves for only $29.99 and instantly gets your home ready for summer "A loss for Caldicot with another shop closing down," another commented. A third said: "Village of my birth so sad to witness such change." It comes after TOFS was bought by Modella Capital back in February. It has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of the retail chain's stores. Last month, a spokesperson for The Original Factory Shop said: "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future." The Original Factory Shop was contacted for further comment. The Original Factory Shop closures 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 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Bridlington - July 20 Caernarfon - July 20 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Kirkham, Lancashire - August Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC Blairgowrie, Scotland - TBC Ashbourne - TBC Heswall - TBC Caldicot, Wales - TBC 2
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major discount store with 178 shops confirms it will shut another store as closing down sale launched
We reveal the full list of 19 stores the discount chain is shutting or has shut in 2025 CLOSING TIME Major discount store with 178 shops confirms it will shut another store as closing down sale launched A MAJOR discount store with 178 shops is shutting another branch as a giant up to 50% off closing down sale is launched. The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) branch in Caldicot, Wales, is pulling down its shutters for the final time with stock reduced to clear. Advertisement 1 The Original Factory Shop in Caldicot, Wales, is set to close Credit: The Original Factory Shop The retailer confirmed the closure in a Facebook post, with an employee commenting that a closure date is yet to be confirmed. The Sun has asked TOFS if a closure date has been set and we will update this story when we have heard back. Shoppers finding out the shop will shut have been left distraught. Posting on Facebook, one said: "Love sad you're to all the staff, always so friendly and helpful." Advertisement A second said: "Oh no, I'm gutted, I come over from Weston-Super-Mare to house sit and I absolutely love this shop so many bargains. Very sad!" Meanwhile, a third commented: "A loss for Caldicot with another shop closing down." A fourth added: "Village of my birth so sad to witness such change." The Caldicot closure comes after a raft of TOFS shops shut across the UK and as the firm goes through a major restructuring. Advertisement The retailer, a one-stop shop for all kinds of goods including electrical items, toiletries and clothing, recently announced two stores are closing in Kirkham, Lancashire, and Blairgowrie, Scotland. The Kirkham branch is set to shut in August while a closure date for the Blairgowrie shop is not yet clear. Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure Stores in Bridlington and Caernarfon are also both closing on July 20 while a store in Cupar, Fife, is shutting on July 27. Since June, 10 TOFS shops in total have shut across the UK including in England, Wales and Scotland. Advertisement A number have launched giant closing down sales to clear remaining stock with some offering discounts of up to 80%. We've included a list of all 19 shops that have closed or are closing this year below. The Original Factory Shop closures 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 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Bridlington - July 20 Caernarfon - July 20 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Kirkham, Lancashire - August Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC Blairgowrie, Scotland - TBC Ashbourne - TBC Heswall - TBC Caldicot, Wales - TBC As well as closing a number of shops in 2025, TOFS shuttered branches in 2024. These are the locations that closed: Brightlingsea, Essex Bodmin, Cornwall Chepstow, Wales Fakenham, Norfolk Harwich, Essex Mildenhall, Suffolk Padiham, Lancashire Taunton, Somerset Deal, Kent Haverfordwest, Wales What is happening with TOFS TOFS was bought by Modella Capital in February which has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of the retail chain's stores. Advertisement Modella, a private equity firm, is known for taking on struggling retailers, and recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops. Modella drew up plans to initiate a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) for TOFS at the end of April. A CVA is a way of restructuring that means a business can continue trading while negotiating its debts, for example by cutting rent costs with landlords. But a TOFS spokesperson previously told The Press and Journal a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the CVA. Advertisement TOFS' woes come as a number of other retailers struggle on the high street. The Centre for Retail Research has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash. The centre said more than 13,000 high street stores shuttered in just 2024. It is also predicting the number of store closures to rise this year, due to hikes to employer National Insurance and the national minimum wage in April. Advertisement RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs would cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research published by the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year shows that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. Separately, 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." Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major discount store with 178 shops confirms it will shut another store as closing down sale launched
A MAJOR discount store with 178 shops is shutting another branch as a giant up to 50% off closing down sale is launched. The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) branch in Caldicot, Wales, is pulling down its shutters for the final time with stock reduced to clear. The retailer confirmed the closure in a Facebook post, with an employee commenting that a closure date is yet to be confirmed. The Sun has asked TOFS if a closure date has been set and we will update this story when we have heard back. Shoppers finding out the shop will shut have been left distraught. Posting on Facebook, one said: "Love sad you're to all the staff, always so friendly and helpful." A second said: "Oh no, I'm gutted, I come over from Weston-Super-Mare to house sit and I absolutely love this shop so many bargains. Very sad!" Meanwhile, a third commented: "A loss for Caldicot with another shop closing down." A fourth added: "Village of my birth so sad to witness such change." The Caldicot closure comes after a raft of TOFS shops shut across the UK and as the firm goes through a major restructuring. The retailer, a one-stop shop for all kinds of goods including electrical items, toiletries and clothing, recently announced two stores are closing in Kirkham, Lancashire, and Blairgowrie, Scotland. The Kirkham branch is set to shut in August while a closure date for the Blairgowrie shop is not yet clear. Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure Stores in Bridlington and Caernarfon are also both closing on July 20 while a store in Cupar, Fife, is shutting on July 27. Since June, 10 TOFS shops in total have shut across the UK including in England, Wales and Scotland. A number have launched giant closing down sales to clear remaining stock with some offering discounts of up to 80%. We've included a list of all 19 shops that have closed or are closing this year below. The Original Factory Shop closures 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 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Bridlington - July 20 Caernarfon - July 20 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Kirkham, Lancashire - August Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC Blairgowrie, Scotland - TBC Ashbourne - TBC Heswall - TBC Caldicot, Wales - TBC As well as closing a number of shops in 2025, TOFS shuttered branches in 2024. These are the locations that closed: Brightlingsea, Essex Bodmin, Cornwall Chepstow, Wales Fakenham, Norfolk Harwich, Essex Mildenhall, Suffolk Padiham, Lancashire Taunton, Somerset Deal, Kent Haverfordwest, Wales What is happening with TOFS TOFS was bought by Modella Capital in February which has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of the retail chain's stores. Modella, a private equity firm, is known for taking on struggling retailers, and recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith 's high street shops. Modella drew up plans to initiate a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) for TOFS at the end of April. A CVA is a way of restructuring that means a business can continue trading while negotiating its debts, for example by cutting rent costs with landlords. But a TOFS spokesperson previously told The Press and Journal a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the CVA. TOFS' woes come as a number of other retailers struggle on the high street. The Centre for Retail Research has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash. The centre said more than 13,000 high street stores shuttered in just 2024. It is also predicting the number of store closures to rise this year, due to hikes to employer National Insurance and the national minimum wage in April. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs would cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research published by the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year shows that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. Separately, 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."
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The Original Factory Shop to shut more stores starting in weeks as up to 50% closing down sales launched
We reveal further details on a major restructuring taking place at The Original Factory Shop below SHUTTERS DOWN The Original Factory Shop to shut more stores starting in weeks as up to 50% closing down sales launched Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Original Factory Shop (TOFS) is shutting more stores starting in weeks with up to 50% off closing down sales launched. The homeware, electricals and fashion retailer is pulling down the shutters on three branches in England and Wales. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Three more TOFS shops are shutting Credit: Alamy A shop in Ashbourne, Derbyshire has launched a giant closing down sale with up to 50% off stock. A second location in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, is shutting, as well as a third in Caernarfon, in Gwynedd, Wales. The Caernarfon store has also launched a clearance sale to shift any remaining stock. It is not clear what date the Ashbourne store will shut while it is understood the Bridlington and Caernarfon sites will close on July 20. Shoppers have reacted with sadness on Facebook after finding out the three stores will shut for good. One, commenting on the Bridlington closure, said: "God it's not been open long getting so sick of things closing down." A shopper discussing the Ashbourne store closure added: "What a shame, such value for money and a good range of merchandise." The latest round of closures comes after TOFS closed eight branches across England and Scotland just yesterday. Shops in Pershore, Shaftesbury, Kidwelly, Arbroath, Normanton, Chester Le Street, Peterhead and Perth all closed for good. These closures came after a branch in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, shut on Thursday (June 26). Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down Four more stores in Staveley, Cupar (Fife), Middlewich and Heswall are set to close later this year as well. The Sun asked TOFS to comment. TOFS RESTRUCTURING EFFORT Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. However, it is not clear if the three branches in Ashbourne, Bridlington and Caernarfon are closing as part of this restructuring effort. HIGH STREET STRUGGLES TOFS is not the only retailer struggling on the high street amid the surge of online shopping and weaker household budgets. Hobbycraft shut nine stores on June 21 after launching closing down sales. Dobbies has also closed a slew of garden centres across the UK this year. The Centre for Retail Research is predicting more than 17,000 retail shops will shut in 2025 too. The centre has forecast a rise in closures after a hike to employer National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage which took effect in April. 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 showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. 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." Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
