A NOSTALGIC fashion retailer with over 227 branches is closing one of its “fantastic” stores within hours – much to the dismay of shoppers.
High street favourite Bonmarché is set to close its branch in Arnold, Nottingham, on September 22.
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Now, shoppers fear the loss of the store will have devastating effects on the local community.
It appears the closure is due to the retail unit’s landlord increasing rent costs.
MP Michael Payne wrote a letter to the company’s retailer director, outlining the importance of the store and the hole it will leave in the people’s hearts, should it close.
He wrote: “Bonmarché has been part of our community for many years, offering an essential service to numerous residents, including those with limited mobility who find it difficult to shop elsewhere or prefer not to shop online.
“The store has also been a vital source of employment for many dedicated staff members who have consistently contributed to the company and local area.”
The MP also posted a pic of the letter to Facebook on August 5, and many equally disappointed shoppers shared their thoughts.
One wrote: “Being the father of one of the members of staff affected, I have seen the dedication she has put into the store to make it now profitable with the support of fantastic staff.
“Big loss to Arnold town centre and all age groups who don’t like going into town or shop online.
“Bonmarche, You are making a big mistake.”
While a second said: “Please no. I use this store a lot and the staff are always so friendly and helpful.
“It’d be a huge loss for Arnold and for me.”
And a third commented: “This is ridiculous. It’s the one place you can get good quality clothes to fit all sizes and shapes.
“Please stay open and thank you Michael for your efforts.”
Meanwhile, another person posted to Facebook to spread the word of the shock closure.
And locals were quick to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “What is happening with Arnold town centre most of that side is closed. Hope we not losing Arnold town centre.”
A second person said: “Bonmarché have been struggling for years, nothing to do with Arnold, lots of there stores are closing in December.”
In response, a third person said: “They should have adapted for all ages and realised older women do not like to show bony necks.
“And sold more smaller sizes.”
Targeted at the over 50s, the store offers a variety of women’s clothing in sizes 10-28.
Only last year the retailer experienced a promising rise in popularity, due to numerous branch openings.
This came after it fell into administration in 2019.
Recent store closures in Arnold
- Bonmarché
- Nene’s Flowers
- Sully’s Bistro
- Arnold Top Clean
On the brighter side, in September, Bonmarché posted on Facebook to announce the opening of a brand new store in York.
One shopped expressed their excitement: “It will be good to have Bon Marche back in York.
“I will certainly be shopping there but maybe not today! Hope it does well.”
While another wrote: “How about reopening our much missed Macclesfield store?”
And a third wrote: “Congratulations York, maybe Plymouth in the future!!”
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
Boss Stuart Machin recently said that when it relocated a tired store in Chesterfield to a new big store in a retail park half a mile away, its sales in the area rose by 103 per cent.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Wilko, Debenhams Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Paperchase to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
