A HIGH street bargain chain with over 500 branches has announced a store closure set for next month.
Fans have cried out “all towns are becoming deserted” as the retailer shuts down a branch.
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The Works – a discount retailer specialised in crafts – is set to shut down their branch in Caernarfon, Wales on March 17.
But the retailer reassured that their workers would be relocated to stores in Bangor and Llandudno following the closure.
A spokesperson for The Works said: “We can confirm that we will be closing our store in Caernarfon on 17th March.
“We have loved being part of the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure.
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“We are working to redeploy all team members to local stores and customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores in Bangor and Llandudno.”
The spokesperson also added that the customer can shop their range of products online at the retailer’s website.
They continued: “We constantly review our property portfolio to ensure we have the right mix of stores in the right locations to best serve our customers.
“This occasionally means closing stores, whilst also improving our stores with refits or relocations if a more favourable site becomes available.
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“We’re always on the lookout for new locations too and have a handful of new openings planned in the coming months.”
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The customers were “gutted” to learn the news as they fear the town will become “deserted”.
One person said: “Gutted to hear that The Works in Caernarfon is being closed down!
“It’s concept caters for all ages! Why are so many of our shops closing down? It’s becoming a ghost town.”
Another one added: “What has happened to North Wales all towns are becoming deserted.”
Third person wrote: “It’s not unique to here. Online shopping is the biggest issue, and overheads for small businesses. The fuel bills are crippling.”
“At this rate there will only be hairdressers and barbers left in Caernarfon .That is so sad,” someone else said.
One commenter pitched in, saying: “No new businesses can afford to start up. It’s a vicious circle which is killing off the high street.”
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.
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.
Peacocks – a major fashion retailer – once had more than 400 stores across the UK but has closed down half of them in a major blow for shoppers.
However, it has been slowly reappearing on the high street, building its portfolio back up to around 350 stores.
In October last year, the chain revealed it had plans to open seven new stores across Wales, England and Scotland.
Matalan is another fashion retailer which has recently shut down three of its branches – with plans to close another one in February.
Recent figures from the Centre for Retail Research reveal over 10,000 shops closed for the last time in 2023, and almost 120,000 jobs were lost across the sector.
That said, the figures are lower than they have been in recent years, with over 150,000 retail jobs lost in 2022.
Meanwhile, despite the backdrop, it’s not bad news for all retailers and some are opening stores across the UK.
Primark is to open five new shops starting in weeks as it promises “bigger and better” stores.
This means Primark will reach a total of 195 stores across the UK.
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