Latest news with #TheOriginalFactoryShop
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
High street chain launches huge 70% off closing down sales as three Scots branches set to shut
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR high street retailer has announced it is set to close three Scottish branches and has launched huge closing-down sales. The Original Factory Shop is a discount department store chain which had over 180 branches across the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The Original Factory Shop is closing three branches across Scotland Credit: Alamy The retail chain sells a range of discounted products, like cleaning supplies, travel items and even some beauty products. Customers can also pick up pet products, jewellery, drinks, perfume and footwear. However, bosses have pulled the shutters down at several shops across the country as part of huge restructuring plans. A total of 22 shops have closed or are set to shut this year across the UK after 10 closed for good last year. The closures come after The Original Factory Shop was taken over by Modella Capital earlier this year. The private equity firm, which is known for taking on struggling retailers, bought the retailer in February. It then quickly launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of the retail chain's stores. Modella, which also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops, drew up plans to initiate a Company Voluntary Arrangement in 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. And bosses told the Press and Journal at the time that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the CVA. Iconic Glasgow Cineworld that's world's tallest cinema building set to close as staff face axe They added: "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." Four Scottish stores have already closed over the summer. Branches in Perth, Arbroath, in Angus, and Peterhead, in Aberdeenshire, all closed on June 28. The store in Cupar, Fife, soon followed and pulled the shutters down for the final time on July 27. Now bosses have revealed that stores based in Blairgowrie, Nairn and Kinross will also be closing down. However, it is currently unknown exactly when it will shut for good. Several other stores across the country are set to close this month, including one in Irkham, Lancashire, and another in Caldicot in Wales. Staff at the Caldicot branch announced the news of the closure in a Facebook post this week. And a closing-down sale was launched with discounts of up to 70 per cent off. Meanwhile, The Original Factory shop in Nairn announced the closure in a similar Facebook post. Full list of TOFS stores that have closed in 2025 or are set to close Here is a list of all the stores that have already shut or are earmarked for closure. 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 Ashbourne - July 20 Matlock - July 26 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Kirkham, Lancashire - August Caldicot - Aug 7 Market Drayton - Sep 20 Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC Blairgowrie, Scotland - TBC Heswall - TBC Blairgowrie, Perthshire - TBC Kinross - TBC Heswall - TBC Nairn, Highlands - TBC It added: 'We'd love to see you in store one final time to say goodbye.' Loyal customers flocked to the comments after Eben left gutted by the news. One person said: "So sorry to hear this. Sending very best wishes to the whole team. We will be sad to see you go." Another added: "Such sad news for the town and the staff". Someone else posted: "Sad sad times to see another store closing in Nairn and also staff losing their jobs. All the best to the staff for their future". While a fourth wrote: "So sorry to hear that. I've loved shopping there and the staff have been so helpful and friendly. Hope they all find future employment". And a fifth chimed in: "Very sad that you're closing, will miss you all, thank you for being so helpful".
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
High street chain launches 70% off closing down sales as 25 shops set to shut
The discount chain is undergoing a major restructure and has already closed, or is set to close, 22 branches - so the latest closures will take the total list to 25 shops The Original Factory Shop has launched closing down sales with up to 70% off at three more of its stores. The discount chain is undergoing a major restructure and has already closed, or is set to close, 22 branches - including one in Kirkham, Lancashire, which will close this month. One new store which has been confirmed for closure is in Caldicot, Wales, which is closing for good this week. Then after this, The Original Factory Shop in Market Drayton, Shropshire, will close on September 20. Another of its shops in Nairn, Scotland, has also been earmarked for closure, although no exact date has been announced yet. These latest locations put the total number of closures to 25. One person said: "Such diverse stock you will be sadly missed." Another commented: "Ahhhhh no, always get birthday balloons etc from you... brilliant service." A third said: "Oh no! Such a shame!" A fourth person posted: "I am so sad to see this lovely shop go me and my family have been poping in for years getting all sorts of bits and bobs." It comes after its owner Modella Capital launched plans to renegotiate rents at 88 of its 178 stores through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), according to Sky News. A CVA is an agreement between a business and its creditors that allows debts to be paid off over a fixed period of time. The creditors must first approve the CVA before it can be implemented. The Original Factory Shop employs around 2,000 people. A spokesperson for The Original Factory previously said: "The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) recently confirmed that as part of a restructuring a number of its loss-making stores will have to close. "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. "We have already announced that two stores will close. Additionally, a small number of other stores are currently under review, with their continued operation subject to ongoing negotiations with landlords." Full list of 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 Ashbourne - July 20 Matlock - July 26 Cupar, Fife - July 27 Kirkham, Lancashire - August Caldicot - August 7 Market Drayton - September 20 Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC Blairgowrie, Scotland - TBC Heswall - TBC Blairgowrie - TBC Kinross - TBC Heswall - TBC Nairn - TBC
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."
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major bargain retailer launches 50% off Christmas sale in July after shutting nine UK stores in just a week
Scroll down to find out more about the major sale SACK FULL OF SAVINGS Major bargain retailer launches 50% off Christmas sale in July after shutting nine UK stores in just a week Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The Original Factory Shop in Caldicot, Wales, is set to close Credit: The Original Factory Shop 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! "Pop in and grab yourself a bargain! "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
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."
