A GIANT tech firm plans to shut its city centre store on Christmas Eve in a “shock” decision.
The Samsung Experience store in Eldon Square, Newcastle, is set to close for good on December 24.
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It is understood that 13 members of staff at the city centre store will be made redundant as a result of the closure.
The decision has come as a blow to staff, according to local news reports.
One member of staff spoke anonymously to The Chronicle, and said they had been caught “completely off guard”.
The staff member who has reportedly worked for the store for over three years said: “On October 24 we received a text from our manager asking if everyone on shift the next day could stay after work and invited everybody who wasn’t in to also come in.
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“The next day the store closed and our regional manager and area manager both arrived to announce that we’d all be made redundant as of Christmas Eve.”
The member of staff continued to say that there was “no prior warning” and that the store had only recently taken on two new employees.
When the store closes the nearest Samsung Experience outlet will be in Scotland or Manchester.
The closure of the Eldon Square shop leaves 9 remaining Samsung Experience stores across the UK.
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A spokesperson for Samsung told The Sun: “We can confirm that the Samsung Experience Store in Newcastle’s Eldon Square shopping centre will close at the end of trade on December 24th.
“Our partners at PRS have worked closely with staff to minimise impact and support them during this period.
“Customers requiring advice or assistance with any product or service purchased from this store should contact the PRS contact centre on 0333 344 1916.”
It is a tough time on the high street at the moment and big-name retailers are disappearing from our towns and cities at an alarming rate.
The rising cost of living has left consumers thinking twice before they spend their hard-earned cash on anything other than essentials.
This means retailers just are not getting the footfall to justify their high street premises.
One of the big shocks this year was the demise of much-loved discounter Wilko.
The chain fell into administration in August after failing to find a buyer for the entire business.
However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for fans of the chain as five Wilko stores are set to open before Christmas.
The Range stepped in and bought the Wilko brand name and website, and has just revealed its plans for a comeback.
Meanwhile, high street card shop Clintons has just announced it will be closing another branch in the new year.
It comes just months after the retailer confirmed it would shut 38 of its stores to avoid collapse.
Other well-known retailers such including Argos, Lloyds Pharmacy and Poundstretcher have also closed branches in recent months.
However there is some good news for shoppers as some big brands are looking to expand.
Poundland is opening 15 new stores over the next few weeks.
Fellow bargain retailer B&M is also opening more than a dozen new branches across the UK by the end of 2023.
Earlier this year the Sun also revealed bargain retailer Costco plans to open 14 new warehouses around the UK over the next two years in a major expansion for the chain.
