'This is crazy', shoppers shout as retail giant closes 'exceptional' branch
SHOPPERS are disappointed after a popular retail chain announced it is closing one of its branches for good.
WHSmith has around 1,400 stores in Britain, 550 of which are on the high street.
Recently, the company announced plans to open 15 new locations at airports, train stations and hospitals.
But now WHSmith will pull down the shutters on its branch in Margate High Street, Kent, on April 20.
The post office in the branch is closing.
Shoppers took to social media to share their sadness at the decision to close the store, which some had described as 'exceptional'.
One customer wrote on Google Reviews: “Great little WHSmiths and a fantastic post office. The staff are exceptional, friendly and flexible. They go out of their way to help.”
One Facebook user said: “This is crazy! Nightmare!”
Another added: “It's so crazy. I use it all the time.”
And a third shouted: 'We are losing everything. It's so sad to see it all going downhill.'
In a statement, a spokesperson for WHSmith said: “Unfortunately it is no longer sustainable to continue trading from this location and the difficult decision has been made to close the store on Saturday 20 April.
“We would like to thank all our customers for their support and shopping with us.
“We look forward to continuing to serve the local Margate community from other nearby stores, including Westwood Cross Shopping Centre.
“We are also extremely grateful for the efforts of our colleagues in the stores, who we will support in this transition and redeploy to nearby stores where possible.”
In June last year, WHSmith confirmed it would NOT be opening any more high streets.
The retailer has previously said that opening more stores on the high street would “just be a duplication” as the company looks to focus on growth.
A spokesperson for WHSmith told The Sun that the retailer has no plans to close its current high street stores.
However, we saw a WHSmith closure in Alfreton, Derbyshire earlier this month.
Just before the end of last year in December, the retailer also closed a store in Manchester.
A number of high street retailers have disappeared from Kent's high streets in recent months.
Boots closed its store in Margate on January 20, leaving the city with just one location.
Regetta closed its store at the Dockside Outlet Center in Chatham on February 3.
In addition, Bensons for Beds downed the shutters of its Sittingbourne Retail Park branch in December.
And Costa Coffee closed its branch in King Street, Maidstone, on January 20.
More main street closures
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.
Lidl is pulling down the shutters on its site in Thornaby.
The bargain retailer has confirmed that its Stockton-on-Tees locations will close on February 29.
Boots revealed it would close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.
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