‘Another one bites the dust’ cry shoppers as major retailer with 300 branches shuts ‘excellent’ store

A MAJOR high street fashion retailer with 300 branches has shut down one of its “excellent” stores.

Phase Eight has closed down its location in Winchester as shoppers cry “another one bites the dust”.

Alamy

The chain has pulled down the shutters on the branch for the final time.

Signs revealing the shop closure were spotted in the window, breaking the news to heartbroken shoppers.

The sign read: “This store is now closed.

“Thank you so much for shopping with us here, you can still find us nearby in out Southampton store.”

The shop has been emptied from stock and only boxes are piled up inside.

A firm spokersperson confirmed the news, saying: “Sadly, we have recently closed our Winchester store. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers who have shopped with us and supported us over the years.

“Shoppers will still be able to visit us in our nearby Southampton and Ringwood stores as well as online.”

Disappointed shoppers have reacted to the news that the standalone store is shutting on social media.

One person wrote: “Oh dear. Another one bites the dust.”

Another one added: “So sad to hear that it is closing, really angry actually as staff will lose their jobs, customer service will no longer exist and my friends and I will never buy online!”

Google Reviews for the branch are glowing, with shoppers praising both the staff and the selection.

One said: “Excellent personal service given to my wife whilst shopping here. Nothing was too much trouble.

“Lovely shop. Good quality clothing. This particular Phase Eight highly recommended.”

Another one added: “Brilliant service. Great selection.”

A third person said: “Love the clothes in Phase Eight in Winchester, always a perfect fit. The team who work there are great, all of them are incredibly helpful.”

The company hasn’t revealed the reason behind the closure but it comes after its Salisbury location shut down in January.

Phase Eight also shut the doors of its Cheltenham store in the Promenade last September.

There was no public announcement from the company before the store shut.

Empty clothes rails and a note about the closure greeted customers.

All staff from the store have been redeployed to new roles.

It’s not all bad news though because at the time the company stated it had several openings on the way.

The chain opened a new site on September 29, 2023 in Cambridge.

It also revealed it was opening new stores in Merry Hill, Stratford, Manchester and Kingston by the end of 2023.

Other ribbon cuttings are also expected this year too including a new upsized store at Bluewater.

Retailers closing stores in 2024

RETAILERS have been hit by soaring inflation and a downturn in spending due to the cost of living crisis.

High energy costs are a move to shopping online are also taking their toll.

While some high street shops have closed due to businesses opening up in different locations such as larger retail parks.

Shops may also close due to a number of other reasons, such as rising rents.

We explain which retailers are closing in 2024:

• Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
• B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, with two stores closing this year due to leases not being renewed. It has plans to open more in 2024 too.
• Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
• Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
• Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
• Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
• Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
• M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
• Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
• WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.