Peacocks reviews store locations amid high street turmoil

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Dec 19, 2018

Dozens of Peacocks stores have launched ‘closing down’ sales across the country as a result of the annual negotiation of new leases, FashionNetwork.com understands.

Stores in Ipswich, Burton, Kent, Norwich, Folkestone, Taunton, King’s Lynn, Uttoxeter, Ellesmere Port, Winsford, Northwich, Crewe, Widnes, Runcorn, Birchwood, Warrington  and Teesside have put ‘closing down, subject to landlord negotiation’ posters in their front windows in the run up to Christmas.

But a source close to the matter has said only a very small number of stores are expected to close, and that the chain will try to open more elsewhere across the country.

It is understood that only the stores whose lease were set to expire are going through negotiation.

Closing stores has become a common strategy among national chains this year due to falling store sales, growing cost pressures and the rise of online shopping.

Just this week, Laura Ashley announced plans to close 40 UK stores, while store closure programmes by Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, New Look, Mothercare and N Brown will see hundreds of high street shops disappear over the next years.

Fashion retailer Superdry is also considering shutting a number of stores after its full year profits plummeted by due to the unseasonably warm weather.