A DISCOUNT chain with 800 shops is set to close another branch in weeks.
Shoppers have branded the Poundland closure as “absolutely ridiculous”.
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The bargain brand will be pulling down the shutters on its shop in Galashiels, Scotland, at the end of February, although an exact date hasn’t been confirmed.
Locals reacted the post on social media, posting: “How sad is this…”
It was met with dozens of comments from disappointed shoppers.
One said: “Absolutely ridiculous. Hitting the poorest.”
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Another wrote: “So sad to hear this, love the pound shop, feel sorry for all the lovely staff too.”
A third commented: “Noooooo…where am I going to do my Christmas Shopping now???”
A fourth posted: “Actually gutted. Even with price changes, you could still get some treats and essentials in there without breaking the bank.
“Staff always top drawer both full time and passing through.”
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While a fifth said: “Wow..didn’t expect this…gutted.”
Reviews for the shop online describe it as “great for people on a budget” and say that it “has loads of bargains”.
Confirming the closure to The Sun, a spokesperson for Poundland said it had been unable to either renew the store’s lease or find another site in Galashiels.
They said: “We’re as disappointed as colleagues and customers that we’ve been unable to either renew our current lease or find alternative premises in Galashiels.
“Sadly this means the store will close at the end of February. If we can find the right premises in future, nothing would please us more than to return to the town.”
It said it will do everything it can to look after employees at the store.
Elsewhere, Poundland was set to pull down the shutters on its site in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre, Ipswich.
But now the discounter, which has more than 800 shops in the UK, has pulled a 180 after negotiating with the landlord.
Confirming the news a spokesperson said: “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes with the landlord and are pleased that we’ve managed to secure an agreement that will keep the store open.”
Poundland closed its store in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on January 5 and another branch in Basingstoke on December 31.
It comes after further closures took place last year.
The following shut their doors in 2023:
- Bolton – closed August 22
- Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire – closed June 11
- King’s Lynn, Norfolk – closed June 2
- Gateshead – closed May 25
- Festival Park, Stoke – closed May 19
- Dewsbury – closed May 17
- Swadlincote – closed April 25
- Epsom – closed March 29
- Lime Square, Openshaw – closed March 27
- Ipswich – closed March 11
- Southport – closed March 3
- Walkden – closed February 28
But the closures come amid major expansion plans for the retailer.
Poundland opened 75 stores by Christmas last year.
In October, it took on 71 former Wilko sites after its rival collapsed into administration.
In December, Poundland’s boss Austin Cooke said the retailer had experienced “amazing” trade across the acquired former Wilko sites.
He added: “People are really chuffed we are opening up in their towns.
“You can’t deny times are tricky for many and the cost of living situation is having an impact, but it just gives us more and more reason to give outstanding value.”
What else is happening on 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.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year and more are on their way.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Many retailers have been struggling to get by, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and have no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
British retailers saw the amount of goods they sold drop last month at its fastest rate in three years as under-pressure families shifted part of their Christmas shop to earlier in the year.
Sales volumes dipped by 3.2% in December, data from the Office for National Statistics suggests, down from a rise of 1.4% a month before.
Several big-name chains are pulling down the shutters for the final time this month.
A Tesco Express in the Whitefriars Shopping Centre will be temporarily closed until March 4.
Lidl will be pulling the shutters down on its site in Thornaby later this month.
The bargain retailer has confirmed the sites in Stockton-on-Tees will shut on February 29.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
High street fashion chain Peacocks pulled down the shutters of its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.
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Entertainment retailer HMV also shuttered its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire, on January 27.
And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito shut their doors.
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