British fashion retailer New Look is closing its Carrickfergus branch in Northern Ireland on April 15. The company shut 51 stores last year, though the Northern Ireland location is the sole closure anticipated this month. Staff posted on social media: 'We are gutted that it is the end of our New Look journey, but unfortunately this is something that is out of our hands.' The outlet is currently running a closing-down sale. New Look operates over 300 stores nationwide, with four remaining branches in Belfast and one in Newtownabbey.
Other high-street names shutting stores this year include supermarket giant Marks and Spencer (M&S), which revealed it is axing 14 in-store cafés throughout the UK to create space for additional products.
Meanwhile, fashion chain LK Bennett has shut its website following administration proceedings. The label entered administration in December, before filing a notice of intention to appoint an administrator at the High Court during January. LK Bennett began shuttering outlets at the start of the year and launched a final sale last week, with discounts of up to 90% on selected items. The website confirms that both 'website and phone orders have now ended', though orders already placed will be processed as normal.
