The high street retail giant is due to close its branch today, the last of three shops to close their doors in the past week, after it announced a massive 70% closing down sale
Hobbycraft is shutting another store for the final time today after launching an up to 70% off closing down sale.
The high street retail giant is due to close its branch in w today, the last of three shops to close their doors in the past week.
The closure follows the scheduled shuttering of the branch in Crayford, southeast London, last Saturday followed by the outlet in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, on Monday.
The closures came along with the announcement of sales, allowing hobbyists to grab a bargain. Nevertheless, the news of the three shops closing drew dismay from customers sad at having to say farewell to their beloved stores.
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Regular shoppers at the Stafford store shared their sadness on Facebook, commenting on the news that the shop was disappearing, to be replaced with a Mountain Warehouse outlet.
“This is an absolute joke we love hobbycraft,” said one commenter.
“But that’s one of the best Hobbycrafts,” added another. “The shop is well laid out and has great selection of stock. It’s clean and looked after and the staff are amazing. They’ve always been incredibly helpful and super friendly.”
Nine branches of Hobbycraft shut their doors in June, under restructuring plans bought in by the company’s new venture capital firm owners. Shops in Bristol, Borehamwood, Basildon and Dunstable have already closed.
Those plans will ensure the future of 99 shops and 1,800 jobs, according to the retailer, with bosses said to be negotiating rents with landlords at a number of branches.
Alex Wilson, Hobbycraft’s Chief Executive, said previously: “Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years.
“Closing stores is always a last resort and this has been an extremely difficult decision.
“Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country.”
Venture capital firm Modella Capital bought Hobbycraft, the largest arts and crafts retailer in the UK, back in August.
In a statement at the time Modella said: “ Hobbycraft has grown to a nationwide business with over 2,000 colleagues, 124 stores across the UK and an online club with over 7 million members. It has consistently grown its profits since the Covid pandemic…”