Shoe chain with 35 stores will close nine branches because the shopping streets are deserted
A shoe chain with 35 branches will close nine branches, leaving the shopping streets deserted.
Shoppers are left heartbroken after the much-loved shoe store announced it is closing its doors in Devon for good.
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Fashion retailer Moshulu is the latest retailer to bite the dust after a new wave of store closures.
The final curtain has fallen on the Honiton High Street branch.
A poignant sign announcing the closure read: “Closing, thank you for shopping with us.”
According to reports, the store will cease trading on February 26.
Moshulu has 35 stores nationwide, including one in Honiton.
The family business has been an important part of the shoe store for more than 27 years.
Bosses said the decision is due to financial difficulties in staying afloat amid the cost of living.
A spokesperson for Moshulu said: “Due to the lack of footfall and high turnover figures, we have had the difficult discussion of closing nine stores in the UK, including the Honiton store.
“It is not a discussion we take lightly. The staff working in the store have been given the option to work in other stores or resign. Many have chosen to resign.”
But the move has left local customers who frequented the store devastated.
On Facebook, one user said angrily: “What a shame it’s becoming a ghost town.”
Another said: “Ooh no! I just got a beautiful pair boots from there.”
A third said: “I’m so sorry to hear this,” and a fourth wrote: “Such a shame.”
But the doors remain open at the nearest branches in Topsham, Taunton and Sidmouth.
Shoppers can still order their favorite shoes and accessories online through their click-and-collect service.
The Sun Online has contacted Moshulu for comment.
Shoezone will pull down the shutters on another store in the latest round of closures.
The retail chain has already closed 11 branches this year at the following locations:
- London Road, Waterlooville, Portsmouth
- High Street, Southend (relocation)
- The Drapery, Northampton (relocation)
- Bell Centre, Melton, Leicestershire
- Broad Street, Seaford, East Sussex
- Well, Croft, Shipley, West Yorkshire
- Longton Exchange Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent
- Dockhead Street, Saltcoats
- Broadmead Shopping Centre, Bristol
- Grand Junction Retail Park, Crewe
- Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Edinburgh
It comes as the retailer wants to open new stores of the original, smaller format.
Why are shops in the major shopping streets closing?
The retail industry has been hit hard in recent years by the growth of online shopping, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the same time, the cost of living has risen, causing consumers to cut back on non-essential expenses.
Brick-and-mortar stores have also experienced a lack of foot traffic due to consumers’ shift to online shopping.
Beloved discounter Wilko will close all its stores in October, laying off thousands of employees, after the company enters administration.
Well-known brands such as M&Co and Paperchase also had to close all their British stores earlier this year.
House of Fraser will pull down the shutters on one of its stores in the latest round of closures.
However, some chains have managed to defy the problems on the high street and are about to open new stores.
This includes discount chains such as Poundland, which will open 15 stores in the coming weeks, and Greggs, which plans to open 150 new stores this year.
In the meantime, we have also collected all closure locations of retail chains in September.
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 purchased or a refund.
If you can’t reach a company or want to confirm that the company has gone bankrupt, 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.