A BARGAIN shoe chain is to shut another store amidst a wave of store closures and it’s left shoppers shocked.
Shoezone which has over 320 stores nationwide will pull the shutters down on another store in the coming months.
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The popular retailer is to close its high street branch in Inverness, a date has not yet been confirmed by staff told local media the store will close for good in late June.
Closing down sale signs went up in the store earlier this week.
The chain’s nearest store after the closure will be in Peterhead and shoppers will face a three-hour drive to reach it.
The Sun has reached out to Shoezone for a confirmed store closure date and will update this story.
Read more on store closures
Locals took to Facebook to share their disappointment at hearing the news.
One user said: “God another long-time shop closing.”
Another said: “Very sad. Great prices plus they were pet-friendly.”
“On no,” cried a third user.
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A fourth user described it as: “terrible news.”
Shoezone is not closing down completely, but it does have plans to shut a number of shops over the years.
The retailer wants to open new “big box and hybrid” format stores from its original, smaller formats.
These stores will offer more stock and a greater range of styles for customers.
The shoe retailer already closed 13 branches last year and 63 stores from 2020 to 2021.
In its annual results, Shoezone said it was hoping to expand its store refit and relocation programme this year.
Which Shoezone stores are closing?
The popular retailer has already shut stores in the following locations in 2023:
- London Road, Waterlooville, Portsmouth
- High Street, Southend (Relocation)
- The Drapery, Northampton (Relocation)
- Bell Centre, Melton, Leicestershire
- Broad Street, Seaford, East Sussex
- Well Croft, Shipley
- Longton Exchange Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent
- Dockhead Street, Saltcoats
- Broadmead Shopping Centre, Bristol
- Grand Junction Retail Park, Crewe
- Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Edinburgh
- Beccles, Suffolk
- Isle of Wight
This year Shoezone closed its branch on Watford High Street.
It’s also yet to shut or relocate the following branches, although the exact dates haven’t been confirmed:
What is happening to the high street?
Several other retailers have been struggling to get by over the past few years.
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 having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Competitor Clarks is also closing a store in Walsall this week, this is the chain’s second store closure already this year.
Troubled fashion brand Superdry has said it is looking at various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring which could include store closures and job cuts.
Matalan confirmed a store closure earlier this week, the third since last September and another Matalan store is due to close this month .
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Major banks have also announced multiple branch closures.
Barclays is to start pulling the shutters down on 14 sites in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland as soon as April.
Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
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