One of the UK’s biggest high street retailers has confirmed that it will be closing one of its stores in the new year and it’s the first time in over a decade that it has closed a shop
Primark, one of the UK’s leading high street brands, has announced it will be closing a store for the first time in over a decade.
The retail giant confirmed that its Dartford branch, located in The Orchards Shopping Centre, is set to shut down after Christmas. With over 190 stores nationwide, Primark is a go-to destination for budget-friendly fashion, homeware and beauty products.
However, the Dartford outlet is due to permanently close its doors post-Christmas, with no final closure date specified yet. A spokesperson linked the decision to the poor state of the building and the hefty costs associated with bringing it up to par.
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Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for the South and South East, stated: “Following careful consideration, we’re proposing to close our Dartford store in the new year.”
She added: “This proposal has been informed by the significant and extensive repair work the building requires. Given its close proximity to two other Primark stores, the level of investment it needs simply isn’t viable.” The company assured that the store will continue to operate for now, with further updates to be provided when available.
Employees at the Dartford branch have been notified, and a consultation period is currently in progress. The retailer pledged to explore options to support the store’s 53 staff members, including potential redeployment opportunities, reports the Express.
Primark also expressed gratitude to its customers for their patronage and acknowledged that the closure would be a letdown for the local community.
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Despite Dartford losing its store, two larger Primark branches are situated nearby. One is nestled in the Bluewater shopping centre in Greenhithe, and the other resides in Bexleyheath. The firm stated that both locations offer a broad range of products and have influenced footfall at the smaller Dartford branch.
Primark first opened its doors in England in 1974 and has since grown to become one of the UK’s leading retailers. Despite the Dartford closure, the company hasn’t revealed any additional plans to close stores across Britain.
This news arrives as other high street chains face similar challenges. JD Sports recently confirmed it had shut down 13 UK shops over the past six months. The sportswear chain explained that the move was due to weaker sales and “strained” shopper finances.