‘Sad reality of the high street’ sob shoppers as fashion chain with 62 branches abruptly closes site

A HIGH street fashion chain with 62 branches has abruptly closed another shop after being taken over by Next.

Joules, known for its wellies and raincoats, pulled down the shutters on another of its stores in Stratford.

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The Joules site in High Street in Stratford shut its doors on February 23.

Next saved the struggling brand in 2022 after it collapsed into administration.

Shoppers have reacted to the news that the Stratford site will be closing on social media.

One said: “It’s unfortunate and sadly the reality of high street retail these days, towns will have to be more creative with how they repurpose these empty spaces!”

Another wrote: “Sad to see Joules on the High Street is closing down today. Creating another empty unit.”

A third simply commented: “Oh no!”

While a fourth posted: “Not even worth going into the town to shop anymore.”

Joules said that it is hoping that it’s not the end for the brand in the area.

A spokesperson said: “We are currently negotiating contracts for the Joules store at Stratford and our hope is that we will reopen the store with a full refurbishment.”

As part of the £34million deal, Next secured the jobs of 1,450 workers and 100 stores.

However, a total of 19 shops closed their doors for good.

The Stratford shop is one of several other sites to have shut in the past year as part of restructuring plans.

The Joules shop in Oban, Scotland pulled down the shutters in February for the last time.

While the shop in Bracknell’s The Lexicon shopping centre also closed its doors in January.

Three other sites shut down between May and August in 2023, these include Chelmsford, Harrogate and Nottingham.

In April, Next announced that the relaunch of Joules had been moved forward from March 2024.

It transferred Joules’ online operation onto its own in October, five months earlier than planned.

Next said at the time the move was intended to secure “cost savings” at Joules but will mean that “a number of tasks performed by Joules personnel will be absorbed into Next teams or no longer be needed”.

At its peak, Joules had 132 stores and employed 1,600 people.

Shoppers can browse the entire Joules collection on its website.

Retailers closing stores in 2024

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 are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

Here’s a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:

• Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
• B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
• Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
• Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
• Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
• Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
• Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
• M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
• Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
• WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.

What other brands has Next rescued?

And it is not the first time that retail giant Next has taken over a struggling business.

Made.com was rescued from administration in 2022.

Now, Made.com has opened its first brick-and-mortar store since being acquired.

The fashion giant also recently snapped up retailer Fatface for a whopping £115.2million.

Next’s growing list of retail acquisitions and cement the group as one of the most prolific buyers of rival high street fashion chains.

In 2023 Cath Kidston was bought by Next after falling into administration.

Next started selling Gap clothing online in late 2021, after it took over the running of the high street brand.

It then started selling Gap clothing in stores in early 2022.

It also agreed a sale to buy struggling lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret in a move that saved its UK shops and website.

Earlier in 2022, it took a stake in baby and maternity clothing retailer JoJo Mama Bebe.

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 high street 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.

Several big-name chains are pulling down the shutters for the final time this month.

Boots is set to shut another 10 shops in the coming weeks.

The move by health and beauty retailer Boots forms part of plans to close 300 sites.

Matalan closed down one of its branches in Leeds on February 24.

High street designer brand Kurt Geiger has pulled down the shutters on its shop in Brighton.

Department store Fenwick also shut its flagship London store in Bond Street on February 3.

High-street fashion chain Peacocks closed one of its branches in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.

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

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.

Plus, a total of 56 bank branches are set to close their doors in March alone.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk