A MAJOR stationery retailer has confirmed it is set to close another store within months.
The Works will be closing a branch in Dereham in May this year but it will be opening other stores elsewhere.
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The discount chain, sells value gifts, arts, and crafts, toys, books and stationery.
It has confirmed that its shop in Dereham on Nelson Place will shut its doors for the final time on May 10.
Locals have reacted to the news of the closure on Facebook.
One user said: “Will be sadly missed in Dereham.”
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“Another said: “There will be nothing left in Dereham.”
“A shop I use all the time for my little ones,” said someone else.
“This shop is such a gem and I always find something at very reasonable prices.”
A spokesperson for The Works told The Sun: “We can confirm that we will be closing our Dereham store after close of trade on the 10th of May.
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“This has been a great location for The Works, but our lease was due to expire soon and sadly we have been unable to agree suitable lease terms to stay.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure and would like to thank customers for shopping at The Works over the years.
“All team members will be offered the opportunity to be redeployed to local stores and customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores in Swaffham and Fakenham or online at theworks.co.uk.”
“This closure forms part of our ongoing review of our property portfolio, ensuring 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 estate with refits or relocations if a more favourable site becomes available, and we have plans to open a select number of new stores in the coming months too.”
You can find your nearest The Works using the locator tool on the website.
The news comes after another store in Penrith is due to close in April.
The Works also confirmed a store in Caernarfon, Wales is due to close this month.
Meanwhile, it’s opened four relocated stores in Wolverhampton, Llanelli, Grimsby and Crewer and is now also welcoming shoppers to new stores in Inverness, West Durrington and Beckton.
The Works has more than 520 stores nationwide but it has announced plans to open more stores in the coming months.
What is happening to the high street?
The pandemic was a tough blow as many stores had to close during lockdown.
Since then energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some remaining retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
The Body Shop is currently going through administration and announced plans to close half of its 198 stores with seven already closing.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
WHSmith told The Sun it has no plans to open anymore more high street stores as it wants to focus on the travel side of its business.
Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
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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.
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