Fashion retailer with 40 branches across Britain closes store in major blow for shoppers
High street closures are partly being driven by online shopping trends
PA
‘Closing down’ signs have emerged outside a major fashion retailer within a busy shopping center.
Fashion chain Blue Inc is understood to be closing its store in Cumbernauld, Scotland, in a blow for shoppers.
The retail chain previously went into administration in 2016, resulting in the closure of multiple stores, but was later bought out in 2019.
It currently holds 40 stores across the UK, with the headquarters of the brand located in London.
The menswear retailer currently holds 41 stores across the United Kingdom
Antonine Shopping Centre
In December 2023, Blue Inc closed one of its stores at the Bury Town Centre, in Manchester.
The Antonine shopping centre, which extends 200,000 square feet, is home to 42 retailers, bringing in an annual 3.5 million visitors.
The retail hub went into administration, with partners in the accountancy firm Azets working to secure a sale of the building, according to the Glasgow Times.
A going concern sale of the shopping centre was subsequently secured, allowing the complex to continue operating as the Antonine Shopping Centre.
It comes as a string of store closures have been announced for February, concerning high street retailers like Boots, WHSmith, and Matalan.
The top retail outlets and supermarkets are believed to be closing stores in a bid to meet business needs.
The Health and beauty chain Boots announced the closure of around 300 locations as part of an overhaul.
WHSmith also announced the closure of one of its stores on Pool Street in Caernarfon, Wales, though recent reports suggest talks are in place to prevent the stores from closing.
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Costa Coffee recently announced plans to close branches
PASupermarket giant Lidl confirmed the closure of two of its stores this month, though it has also announced plans to open 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.
Costa Coffee has also been listed among high street branches closing some of its stores indefinitely, as the brand goes through some operational changes.
Figures released by the Centre for Retail Research in January revealed more than 10,000 shops and almost 120,000 retail jobs were lost in 2023.
It is believed online shopping trends spurred by the pandemic are driving the closure of high street businesses.
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