A HIGH street fashion retailer is set to shut a branch in just a matter of days after holding a huge clearance sale.
Phase Eight is set to shut its shop in Salisbury as shoppers cry they “will miss it” when it’s gone.
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The chain, which has around 60 stores in the UK, will pull down the shutters on the branch on January 27.
Signs revealing the shop closure were spotted in the window, breaking the news to heartbroken shoppers.
The signs say: “This store is now a clearance store.
“We will be closing on January 27, 2024.”
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Customers are urged instead to visit the shop at a new location in the Bradbeers Department Store nearby.
Disappointed shoppers have reacted to the news that the standalone store is shutting on social media.
One said: “Have bought a lot from phase eight over the years. Will miss it. Staff are lovely and helpful.”
Another wrote: “What a shame, the staff were just lovely.”
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A third commented: “Thought that would happen!”
And a fourth said: “That’s a shame.”
The fashion retailer has proved popular amongst those in the local area for several years.
Reviews on Google include: “What can I say this shop always delivers impeccable service. The staff is very attentive. Perfect.”
And another wrote: “Cannot recommend Phase Eight in Salisbury highly enough.”
“I’m a fairly frequent shopper in Phase Eight and it’s my go-to shop for good quality clothes that fit well,” another said.
The Sun has contacted Phase Eight for comment and will update this story when we hear back.
The Salisbury closure comes after another site also closed its doors last autumn.
Phase Eight shut the doors of its Cheltenham store in the Promenade in September.
There was no public announcement from the company before the store shut.
Empty clothes rails and a note about the closure greeted customers.
All staff from the store have been redeployed to new roles.
It’s not all bad news though because at the time the company stated it had several openings on the way.
The chain opened a new site on September 29 in Cambridge.
It also revealed it was opening new stores in Merry Hill, Stratford, Manchester and Kingston by the end of 2023.
Other ribbon cuttings are also expected for early this year too including at Blue Water.
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.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Next Home is set to pull down the shutters on its branch at the Crescent Link Retail Park in Derry, Northern Ireland, next year.
Jack Wills in Worcester announced it will be closing down for good on January 30.
In fact, several other high street retailers are set to close a total of 10 stores just between now and the end of the month as shoppers cry of “another sad loss”.
Plus, it’s not just shops either, a total of 189 bank branches will be shutting their doors this year.
And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito shut their doors.
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Meanwhile, Body Shop fans have shared their dismay after the retailer announced it is closing down a major service within weeks.
And elsewhere, a major homeware and fashion retailer with hundreds of UK stores has slashed prices on over 700 products as inflation eases.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
