'Main streets in a sorry state' are calling for shoppers as a toy store to close a branch
A POPULAR toy store with a history of more than 100 years is about to close.
Toys UK, an independent retailer based in the Eden Shopping Centre, High Wycombe, will close its store.
The branch stocks traditional wooden toys, LEGO and trading cards.
The company wrote on Facebook: “It is with great regret that we have to announce that our High Wycombe branch in the Eden Shopping Center is closing.
“Visit us in store now for 25 percent off all marked prices, while supplies last.”
And customers quickly responded to the post, sharing their grief.
Alexandra Brown said: “What a beautiful shop. Our high streets and shopping centers are indeed in a sorry state.
“By the time my children grow up, I fear they will be a thing of the past.”
Is there any way it can be saved?
Heather Copete
Heather Copete wrote: “Oh no! That's so sad. Now we don't have a toy store – is there any way to save it?”
Mike Moretti noted, “(It's) very difficult for businesses to survive when the online space is so convenient and cheap.”
Zara, which has more than 50 branches in the UK, also closed its branch in the shopping center last month.
Still, shopping center director Andrew Norton told the Free Press that the next 12 months “looked nice.”
He said: “We look forward to releasing details of the new retailers and leisure operators coming to Eden this year.
“Our current vacancy rate is just 5.7 percent, compared to a national shopping center vacancy rate of just under 20 percent, demonstrating that Eden is performing exceptionally well.”
What happens to the main street?
The country is being swamped by a series of shutdowns as the cost of living rises, utility bills rise and some businesses continue to feel the knock-on effect of the pandemic.
Even industrial giants have fallen victim to the closure of high streets in recent months.
Shoppers have been forced to cut back, while the costs of running stores have also risen.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer showed that Britain had lost 6,000 stores in a five-year period.
Popular beauty retailer Boots has sadly announced it will close 300 stores over the next year, following several closures in 2023.
Meanwhile, discount store Lidl has also seen quite a number of locations close.
The full list, of 1,168 locations, includes locations in all parts of Great Britain: 66 in Scotland, 83 in Yorkshire, 83 in Central England, 91 in South London and 42 in South Central Wales.
Bargain hunters will also be devastated to hear that discount retailer B&M has closed another store.
Punters may be disappointed to hear that Wetherspoons has closed 34 pubs in the past eighteen months and has plans to close dozens more.
For more information, The Sun has compiled a full list of the major high street stores that have closed, including Tesco, Clarks and M&S.
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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.