The Works, a discount book and craft retailer, has announced plans to close six of its stores as part of a wider restructuring of its property portfolio. The closures come amid a challenging period for the UK high street, which has seen nearly 650 shops and restaurants shut or face closure since the start of 2018, according to analysis by BBC 5 live's Wake Up to Money.
Maplin and Toys R Us account for half of those closures, with both chains falling into administration in February. The remaining Toys R Us stores are set to close on Tuesday, while Maplin's 217 shops remain open but under review as administrators seek a buyer. Other retailers, including Carpetright, New Look, Jamie's Italian, Prezzo, and Byron Burger, have also used company voluntary arrangements to close sites and ease financial pressures.
Doncaster is one of 14 towns where four shops have been affected, including two Toys R Us closures and at-risk New Look and Maplin stores. The town had a net loss of 13 shops last year, nearly 5% of its total, and almost one in five shops are vacant. Local shopkeeper Abs Chaudhry cited high business rates as a major issue, noting that landlords sometimes offer rent-free periods but rates remain prohibitive.
However, some retailers are bucking the trend. Fran Bishop, who moved her business to a regeneration area in Doncaster, reported doubling turnover year-on-year by using social media to attract customers. Doncaster Council is focusing on making the town a leisure destination with a new cinema, events, and a revamped Wool Market to offer experiences that online retailers cannot.
Retail analyst Bryan Roberts noted that some failures are self-inflicted due to a failure to adapt to changing consumer behaviour, but also pointed to cost pressures such as the minimum wage and business rates. Marks and Spencer is also in the midst of a store closure plan, shutting six stores by the end of April and seven more later this year.
