Sports Direct is closing its store in Birchwood Shopping Centre in Warrington, with a closing down sale now launched. The branch first opened in 2015.
The closure means one Sports Direct branch will remain in the Cheshire town, according to the Warrington Guardian. That outlet is located in Wharf Street's Riverside Retail Park.
Closure Notices and Discounts
Posters notifying shoppers of the closure have been put up in the shopping centre branch, with stock reductions of 20%, the Guardian reports. A second branch in Bridge Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, is also reportedly due to close next month.
Frasers Group has a tendency to relocate branches rather than closing them entirely, The Sun reports. Sports Direct is part of founder Mike Ashley's Frasers Group. The business has been approached for comment.
Company Background and Expansion
With branches across the UK, Europe and Malaysia and over 20,000 staff, Sports Direct has expanded widely since the first shop opened in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in 1982. Its parent company recently increased its share of high-end fashion chain Hugo Boss and acquired one of the UK's most recognised luxury retailers, Harvey Nichols.
That move includes Harvey Nichols' flagship Knightsbridge shop as well as outlets in Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds and Edinburgh. In April, Sports Direct opened a 31,000 sq ft megastore in Kingston-upon-Thames in south west London.
Lauren Barrie, Chief Retail Officer at Frasers Group, said at the time: "Sports Direct Kingston is another example of how we’re elevating the UK’s sports and lifestyle retail offering. Delivering immersive retail destinations that bring together global brands and specialist services under one roof. This opening is another important step in delivering our elevation strategy."
