‘More bleak news’ moan shoppers as family-run homestore announces closures after 36 years
SHOPPERS have been left devastated after a family-run homestore has announced it will be pulling down its shutters after 36 years.
Loyal customers have moaned “more bleak news” after their beloved home store decided to close down its location.
Residents of Workington will have to take their business elsewhere after the long-running Dixon store will shut down for good.
The homeware and furniture shop has served customers at Dunmail Park shopping centre since it first opened its doors 36 years ago.
The staff have been informed about the store closure last week with consultations taking place to minimise job losses.
Dixon also runs a department store in Whitehaven which will continue operating as usual.
Director Marie Dixon said: “Following a review of the business and its future strategic direction, we have reluctantly decided to close the Home Store at Dunmail Park after 36 years.
“We will now focus all of our attention on our famous department store in Whitehaven, where there is a large furniture department, and will continue to serve the people of the area for many years to come.”
In the light of the closure, Dixons will kick off a major sale with discounts up to 70 per cent on Friday.
Prices are expected to be slashed on all products including quality furniture, mattresses, and decor accessories.
The shop posted on Facebook, saying: “ALL STOCK at our Workington showroom will be priced to clear and EVERYTHING MUST GO as we close the store forever! Don’t miss it!!!”
But despite the tempting bargain deals, fans have flocked to the comments to express how sad they were to see the store go.
One person wrote: “My sympathies to the staff. I called here as a supplier and loved the store and all the ladies who work here.”
Another one added: “More bleak news.”
A third person commented: “Such a shame. It will be a big miss to Workington.”
“What a shame another great store gone,” someone else said.
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
Workington and the general area of Cumbria have seen several high street shops close over the years.
Last year, Wilko closed its doors for the final time in Workington after the retailer tumbled into administration.
Wilko collapsed after being hit hard by inflationary pressures, competition from rivals and supply chain challenges.
Last September, the retailer announced all 400 shops would close that same month.
Several rivals swooped in to buy out some of Wilko’s store portfolio though, including Poundland, which purchased 71 stores.
Clintons is also among retailers to have been affected by depressed high street footfall and competition from online rivals.
Its store in Whitehaven, Cumbria, was closed last March with the firm going into administration earlier that same year.
Which other stores have we lost recently?
We have seen several big losses in the last 12 months including popular discounter Wilko and stationary brand Paperchase.
More recently, health and beauty chain The Body Shop fell into administration and announced the closure of many of its 200 stores.
Almost 500 staff are set to lose their jobs after 75 stores were earmarked for closure.
Plus, Ted Baker fell into administration in March 2024 too, with 15 stores having shut by April 19.
Other retailers such as Iceland, Boots and Matalan have been slimming down the number of stores they have on the high street.
Just this spring Boots is closing a total of nine sites, as part of its wider plans to get rid of 300 locations.
These closures will see the retailer’s total shops reduced from 2,200 to 1,900.
This has upset a lot of locals in the affected towns, however, the health and beauty chain has said where stores are closing there is an alternative shop less than three miles away.
Last year Argos started to put in place its plans to reduce the number of standalone stores and focus on opening more locations inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
It closed 42 UK shops, including all 34 of its branches in the Republic of Ireland last June.