Huge children’s retailer with over 80 shops closes ‘favourite’ city centre branch leaving parents with ‘nowhere to go’
A HUGE children’s retailer with more than 80 shops has closed a “favourite branch” in the city centre.
Parents have been left feeling they have “nowhere to go” as they flocked to social media to share their disappointment.
Jojo Maman Bebe located inside Crowngate Shopping Centre closed today, according to Worcester News.
The shop specialised in boutique mother and baby clothes.
Philipa Ferguson, manager at Jojo Maman Bebe in Worcester, said: “It is what it is.
“We all have new jobs to go to but it’s just unfortunate for our customers.
“We have known for about a month but the company has been really supportive.
“We are one of the only baby shops in Worcester so it’s very disappointing to see such a safe shop go.
“It really is a shame because Worcester has lost a safe space and we are going to miss seeing a lot of our regular friendly faces.”
Locals reacted to the sad news on Facebook with one person writing: “There is literally nowhere to go now for baby things anymore!”
Another added: “This is very sad news indeed, please tell me not another takeaway in the planning.”
A third agreed: “Such a shame – I shopped in there. It is expensive though and you can buy their stuff online with discount codes.”
A fourth wrote: “Noo!! This was our favourite shop.”
It comes as a major specialist retailer with more than 750 branches has closed an “amazing” outlet for good.
Residents in Winchester, Hampshire, say the city is “becoming a ghost town” due to the number of shops closing down.
The car and bike specialist Halfords closed its outlet in the Moorside Road Retail Park in Winnall on July 5 after more than two decades of trading.
A spokesperson for the firm said it is supporting staff affected and is “hopeful” of being able to offer roles at alternative sites.
Fans were saddened to see the shop cease trading.
One person wrote on a local news Facebook group: “Amazing customer service there.
And also shutting down is a discount homeware store loved for its “great stock”.
Why are retailers closing stores?
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 coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
But a “bigger and better” one is on the way.
B&M Gainsborough in Lincolnshire accumulated hundreds of rave reviews over its time on Lord St.
Customers now have just days to shop in the beloved store as it prepares to roll down the shutters on Wednesday July 17.
But a brand new store will open at an old Wilko site just three days later on Saturday July 20.
Located at Units 11 & 12, Marshalls Yard, B&M promises an even bigger, better store will stand ready to welcome shoppers just three days after the Lord St farewell.