Shoppers were stunned when the major retailer would close its store in just a few weeks
SHOPPERS are left stunned after a major retailer with 66 branches is set to close a store in a matter of weeks.
The retail giant has caused a stir after rolling down the shutters on one of its Herefordshire branches.
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Cosmetics giant L'Occitane En Provence is closing the doors of its store on Hereford's Old Market.
Staff have confirmed the store is closing next one month on Saturday March 9.
The luxury store first opened in 2014 with the launch of the mall.
Hundreds of customers flocked to the store to purchase skin care, bath and hair products.
But beauty lovers will have to take their shopping cart elsewhere from now on.
The sudden closure has disappointed many shoppers as it follows a wave of shops closing in the Old Market.
Locals now fear the move will leave their beloved shopping center deserted.
Many took to social media to express their frustrations.
One slammed: “It will probably be replaced by a nail salon, or a hairdresser, or a hairdresser, or some other coffee shop?
“Seriously, can we have something decent and not just empty stores?”
But others said the 'expensive' beauty brand was too chic for their city.
Another fumed: “Unfortunately people can't afford to shop at places like this these days.”
“Surprised it took this long.”
A third wrote: 'The real problem is that people don't have enough money to spend in 'niche' and gimmicky stores that no one really needs.
“Hereford needs to attract investment.”
L'Occitane En Provence has been contacted for comment.
Why are shops in the major shopping streets closing?
Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to the rising cost of living.
High energy costs and the move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many high street stores struggling to continue.
The high street has seen a slew of closures in the past year and more are in the pipeline.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Many retailers are struggling to make ends meet, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more consumers than ever are choosing to order online instead of going to the store.
This leaves some retailers struggling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
British retailers saw the amount of goods sold fall last month, at the fastest pace in three years, as under-pressure households moved some of their Christmas shopping to earlier this year.
Sales volumes fell 3.2% in December, Office for National Statistics data showed, compared with a 1.4% increase a month earlier.
Several major chains are pulling down the shutters for the last time this month.
WhSmith in Oban, Scotland, will close permanently on February 17.
Boots has revealed it will close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.
What are my rights if a company I have ordered from goes bankrupt or stops trading?
According to Citizen Advice, if a company or trader stops trading or goes bankrupt, you could end up without the item you paid for or with unfinished work.
There are several ways to try to get your money back or get the work done.
But there is no guarantee that you will get what you paid for.
You will need to call the company, visit their office or store, or write to them to find out what is going on.
Explain what you paid for and ask for the item you purchased or a refund.
If you can't reach a company or want to confirm that the company has gone out of business, you can look up the name at:
- the Companies House website if they are a limited company (with the letters 'Ltd' or 'Plc' after their name)
- the Insolvency Register if they are an individual (a sole trader) or a company – find both the person's name and their trading name
It may take several weeks for information to appear on these websites.