‘It can’t go on like this’ moan shoppers as major retailer with 350 shops to close branch in weeks ‘with heavy heart’

SHOPPERS have been left distraught as a fashion retailer with hundreds of branches gears up to close one of its shops in weeks.

It comes after the chain shut 200 of its then 420 stores before rebuilding its portfolio to around 350.

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Peacocks is pulling down the shutters on its store in Camborne, Cornwall, on April 3, with “a really heavy heart”.

The retailer revealed news of the closure on its Facebook page which also showed a closing down sign-up in the branch window.

It read: “It’s with a really heavy heart that we have to announce that we are currently closing down. Our final day of trade is April 3, 2024.

“We would like to thank every single customer who has walked through our doors and supported us over the years.”

Dozens of shoppers have commented on the post sharing their dismay the fashion retailer will be pulling down its shutters for good.

One said: “So sorry to see this. It can’t go on like this. We need change.”

Another said: “Such a shame. You’ve worked so hard to drum up sales too.”

A third added: “Bloody hell Peacocks not been in Camborne that long in the grand scheme of things, such a shame, why is this happening?”

And a fourth commented: “Another nail in the coffin”, while a fifth said: “Gonna be nuthin (sic) left in Camborne no more.”

It comes after Peacocks closed its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on January 25, with shoppers sharing their frustration at the news.

One branded it “another hole in the high street” while a second simply said “tut tut”.

The fashion chain is also shuttering its branch in Boscombe, Bournemouth, on April 6 in a blow for locals.

Peacocks collapsed into administration in November 2020 and shut half of its then over 420 stores in a blow to the high street.

The fashion chain went bust after struggling for business amid the coronavirus pandemic and multiple lockdowns.

However, it has been slowly reappearing on the high street, building its portfolio back up to around 350 stores.

And in October last year, the chain revealed it had plans to open seven new stores across Wales, England and Scotland.

It did not confirm the exact opening dates for the new stores.

It comes as several other retailers struggle on the high street.

Both Wilko and Paperchase fell into administration last year which saw thousands of jobs lost and branches shut down.

Earlier this month, The Body Shop called in administrators FRP Advisory, shutting seven stores on February 20.

FRP said almost half of The Body Shop’s 198 stores will eventually close.

But it’s not all bad news as some branches are expanding their portfolios across the UK too.

Earlier this month discount retailer B&M revealed the exact dates it will open 10 more branches across March and April.

It comes after the retailer opened 17 branches in January and February.

Asda is massively expanding its portfolio of smaller Express stores too.

Plus, in February, Primark confirmed plans to open new branches and invest in and renovate more than a dozen of its existing shops.

The Sun approached Peacocks for a comment.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk