'Ghost town' has shoppers crying after 400-store bargain store abruptly closes
SHOPPERS cried 'ghost town' after a 400-store bargain store abruptly closed another store.
Poundstretcher has closed a store in Ammanford, South Wales, just three years after opening.
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The employee confirmed the news to local media last week.
Unfortunately, the store only survived two years after opening in February 2021.
News of the closure began to spread after shoppers saw signs in store windows announcing a closing sale, where customers could get 20 percent off everything in the store.
The store posted on Facebook saying: “Evening everyone. Poundstretcher Ammanford is now having a closing sale.”
“We have 20% off EVERYTHING so call and make sure you do because once it's gone, it's gone!”
Local residents have expressed concerns about the closure.
One person wrote: “I had only recently started there…the staff were all lovely, I hope they have found a new job.”
Another added: “I have been active in Ammanford for 24 years and I see the town getting worse and not better.”
A third person said: “We traveled to Ammanford on Tuesday to have a look around. It was sad to see many shops closed.”
“Soon to be a ghost town,” another claimed.
Jonathan Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, told local media he was also concerned by the news.
He said: “This is another blow to the local economy in Ammanford, with the loss of another retailer from the town.
“My thoughts are with the staff and everyone affected by the closure.
“As a local MP I will do everything I can to offer them my support.”
The news follows a series of other store closures already announced by the retail chain.
The discount retailer confirmed it will close two of its high streets: Watford Road, Cotteridge and the Wealdstone branch in Harrow.
A further five Poundstretcher stores were closed last year, but in February the retailer announced plans to open 50 new stores by 2023.
The retailer had some financial problems with a two-year mandatory voluntary agreement that expires in 2022.
While the agreement allows companies to reorganize and continue operations, it typically results in store closures and lower lease negotiations.
Under the scheme, Poundstretcher saw the closure of 500 stores, leaving just 350 in business.
Which other retailers are closing and opening branches?
These are difficult times for retailers in the major shopping streets.
More shoppers than ever are ordering online and energy costs have risen, leaving some retailers struggling with budgets.
It has led to several high street retailers closing their stores as they tried to cut costs.
Some have also gone out of business completely, including Paperchase, Wilko, Cath Kidston and M&Co.
Peacocks, a major fashion retailer, once had more than 400 stores in the UK but has closed half of them in a major blow to shoppers.
However, it has slowly returned to the high street and has built its portfolio back up to around 350 stores.
In October last year, the chain announced plans to open seven new stores in Wales, England and Scotland.
Matalan is another fashion retailer that has recently closed three of its branches – with plans to close another in February.
Recent figures from the Center for Retail Research show that more than 10,000 stores will close for the last time in 2023, and almost 120,000 jobs will be lost across the sector.
That said, the numbers are lower than in recent years, with more than 150,000 retail jobs lost in 2022.
Meanwhile, despite the circumstances, it's not bad news for all retailers, with some opening stores in the UK.
B&M, which currently operates more than 650 UK stores, recently announced plans to open a further 17 stores in January and February.
Asda also plans to open 21 new locations before the end of the month.
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