Work has already started on refitting the shop in Foregate Street, which is expected to open on 2 April.
It won't come as any surprise to British shoppers that the high street is not what it used to be. Empty units abound in most towns and cities, even busy tourist centres like Chester. The number of retail units vacant increased by over 20,000 in the first six months of 2018 alone.
New Look has been finding it tough both at home and abroada for several years now. The discount fashion retailer announced 85 UK store closures from its portfolio of over 500 in late 2018. It also announced plans to pull out of China entirely and concentrate on its remaining UK stores.
Bucking the trend of decline in town centres, charity shops have become such a common sight in the last couple of decades that it's now a rare high street that doesn't boast several. Their success in recent years is down to a number of factors, including favourable business rates, largely volunteer staff and consumers' desire to give to good causes.
The picture isn't quite as rosy for charity shops as is sometimes imagined, though. The ever-increasing popularity of online shopping has hit them as it has traditional retailers, while some charity shop staples such as DVDs now have to be sold for rock-bottom prices. For several years now, closures have outpaced openings.
There seems no prospect of the popularity of online shopping diminishing, with most people now happy to buy clothing from internet retailers. Even car sales are moving online, with Tesla announcing the closure of its physical showrooms. Shops that do prosper may be either large stores like the Chester BHF that can offer a wide range of services or those in niche, specialist segments where personal service is still seen as vital.
News in the same category
Pun was easy but the news is true: Sure, the telecommunication company based in Jersey, just opened a revolutionary interactive store at the corner of New Street and King Street, in Saint-Helier.
For a question of image, most luxury brands don’t tend to reduce prices for their collections. So after a few private sales and some resale abroad, articles are simply destroyed, recycled or incinerated.
The success of the Harry Potter franchise shows no sign of abating with The Cursed Child play and new films. Now this is being capitalized on in York with a new wizard shop due to open soon in the Shambles.
Shoppers in Edenbridge in Kent may be able to look forward to making some future savings on their shopping bills if new plans go ahead to potentially open a new Lidl and Home Bargains in the area.
