ICONIC shoe shop chain Clarks has confirmed that several stores will close forever in 2023 – we round up which ones are affected.
The retailer has around 300 sites nationwide, and you'll likely have one near you.
The chain has already shut the doors of a number of sites in recent months.
Clarks says it has a strong duty of care to all its employees, and is working closely with the store teams.
So far this year the shoe chain has shut three sites, with another set to close by the end of the month.
Another four shops have been forecast for closure before the end of the year.
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The popular footwear chain was founded in 1825 and operated across over 1,400 stores and franchises internationally at its peak.
But as of July 2023, the brand had just 320 stores.
All is not lost for shoppers though, as the retailer has also relocated and opened new shops this year.
The brand opened a new store on East Street in Taunton in April following the closure of its original high street store.
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Clarks also opened up a new store in Newcastle's Eldon Square shopping centre on May 14.
Below we reveal the full list of Clarks sites which have already shut and those which are due to close this year.
Which Clarks shops have closed?
The following sites have already closed this year, and further sites are due to shut before the end of the year.
The Clarks shop in Dundee’s Murraygate previously shut in July.
This was followed by the branch in Fareham shopping centre on August 5.
The chain also shut the doors for the final time at its High Street Inverness site in September.
Clarks is closing its doors to customers at its Grimsby store at the end of October.
Most recently, the chain confirmed it'll shut its store located in Newport Retail Park in Spytty for good in November.
It will also shut its branch in High Street in Newcastle under Lyme by the end of 2023.
The Clarks store at the Riverside retail park in Norwich currently has a huge closing down sale with 50% off some items and will close in November, according to local news reports.
It'll also shut in Westwood Cross Shopping Centre in Kent in mid-November.
Here is the full list of closures announced so far:
- Dundee – July 25
- Fareham Shopping Centre – August 5
- High Street Inverness – end of September
- Westwood Cross Shopping – mid November
- Newport Retail Park – mid November
- Riverside Retail Park store in Norwich – November
- High Street in Newcastle under Lyme – by end of 2023
Prior to this, it closed the doors on two stores in Kent in Ashford and Gillingham at the end of 2022.
Which other chains are shutting shops?
Several major shops and chains are closing dozens of branches before the end of the year.
Some stores will be replaced with brand new shops while others will disappear from the high street forever.
Boots is closing eight stores before the end of 2023.
Discount supermarket Iceland is closing stores in two locations and Tesco is closing one of its popular Express stores.
DIY chain Homebase is closing two stores in November and a third in December.
B&M, Byron Burger, Cineworld, Farmfoods, M&S, Sports Direct and WHSmith are also closing a handful of stores before the end of the year.
The cost of living crisis, stubbornly high inflation and energy costs are taking their toll on retailers.
Shoppers have been cutting back spending meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over a five-year period.
Several major brands have also collapsed and closed stores for good.
Wilko's fall in August marked the biggest British retail collapse since McColl's plunged into administration in May last year.
Paperchase collapsed into administration at the end of January this year and all 106 stores closed for good.
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Meanwhile, here is the full list of retailers closing locations in October including Iceland and Wetherspoons.
Plus, The Sun recently revealed discount retailer Costco is expanding in the UK and is planning to open 14 more warehouses.
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