Budget fashion chain with 345 branches shuts shop ‘that’s been there forever’ TODAY leaving shoppers ‘absolutely gutted’
SHOPPERS are “absolutely gutted” as a fashion chain with 345 branches shuts a beloved store for good today.
Fans of the budget retailer cried “nothing will be left” as their County Durham high street waved goodbye to another shop.
GoogleShoppers were ‘gutted’ to hear their beloved Peacocks branch was closing[/caption]
FacebookA 30 per cent closing down sale was offered to customers[/caption]
FacebookThe store announced their closure with posters on the window[/caption]
The Peacocks store, located in Consett, sadly announced their closure date last month.
A message plastered to the window read: “As of September 22 there will be no further refunds done at this store.
“This is due to store closure on October 19, 2024.”
They went out with bang and offered a 30% discount on all goods before the shutters were permanently pulled down.
For those who still want to shop at Peacocks after the closure, their nearest outlet can be found in Bishop Auckland.
It appears a Farplace charity shop will be moving in to take the place of Peacocks.
News of the closure prompted huge reaction on social media, with many expressing their disappointment.
One member of the Facebook group ‘The Consett Chatterbox’ stated: “Absolutely gutted loved Peacock’s especially with Christmas coming up.
“They always had lovely stock in, ridiculous that Consett’s losing yet another good shop.”
Another local questioned the decision saying: “Absolutely crazy it’s been there forever, love Peacocks, why can’t they just move somewhere else in Consett?
“There’s plenty of empty shops?”
Someone else added: “Nothing going to be left. Our high street now is so very run down.”
“Unfortunately another retailer going. Use it or Lose it’ springs to mind,” another member replied.
“What an absolute shame,” agreed a fourth.
“Another to bite the dust,” penned another.
One member added: “They went into administration a few years ago and were saved. Nothing going to be left in our high street not just Consett everywhere is suffering.”
In July earlier this year Peacocks announced they would be strategically closing stores as they launched a new website.
The fashion retailer revealed an annual turnover of £238million for the year to February 2023, with £14.65million in profits for the same period.
The company said the hike in profits was due to an investment in its store estate, which saw the opening of new stores in “key retail locations” and the strategic closure of stores on high streets where ”the impact of the pandemic has been irreversible”.
Group CEO Steve Simpson said: “In the last two years, we have been focused on a strategy of offering our customers exceptional quality and value for the whole family.
“With the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, we have been committed to offering our customers even better products than we have done before, still at low prices.
Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been hit by soaring inflation and a downturn in spending due to the cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking their toll.
Some high street shops have closed due to businesses opening up in different locations such as larger retail parks.
Shops may also close due to a number of other reasons, such as rising rents.
We explain which retailers are closing in 2024:
Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, with two stores closing this year due to leases not being renewed. It has plans to open more in 2024 too.
Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops.
Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shut eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
“We have welcomed into the Peacocks family our stylish celebrity ambassadors of Louise Redknapp and Michael Owen.
“Their style credentials have resonated strongly with our customers and helped improve our style perception, delivering strong growth in their ranges across ladieswear, menswear and lingerie.
“As we celebrate our 140th year we remain focused on expanding our product offering to our valued customers.”
Peacocks was originally bought out of administration in 2021, saving 2,000 jobs.
The brand was saved by investors led by Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s chief operating officer Steve Simpson.
It comes as closures have rocked high streets across the UK in recent years.
Devastated shoppers cried “what a tragedy” as a beloved shop of 33 years is set to pull down the shutters for good.
Czerwik Fine Wines & Cheeses, in the Brighouse town centre, West Yorkshire, has been a hailed part of the high street for decades.
Fans were saddened to learn the store would be waving goodbye forever on December 31.
Elsewhere, a much-loved tea room is being forced to close having been in business for 34 “happy and successful” years.
The family-run Two Hoots Tea Room is situated in one of Wales’ most-visited tourist spots and they say they are devastated after they were ordered to pull down the shutters for good.
Meanwhile, customers were left devastated after a family-run clothing shop was forced to close after 144 years.
And, closures are affecting various industries across different sectors as a historic city brewery, with a legacy spanning 150 years, is also set to close.
The Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has confirmed plans to close Wolverhampton’s Banks’s Brewery.
Why the high street still rules!
Fabulous’ Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer shares her thoughts.
I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.
Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.
My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.
I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high street fave River Island.
I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.
Frilly Ra-Ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.
Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.
At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.
Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.
I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.
One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!
That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.
It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When ‘Cool Britannia’ hit in the Nineties, they all turned up in one big store.
‘Designers at Debenhams’ was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson to name a few.
This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.
Years later I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.
In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.
Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!
Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.
I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.
I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.
At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?
High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.
Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!
A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.
Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.
I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.
Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.
Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.
The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.
The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!
© 2020 SOPA ImagesPeacocks was originally bought out of administration in 2021, saving 2,000 jobs[/caption]
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings