WILKO shoppers have been left in tears after a worker bid farewell to their empty store before it shut for good.
All 400 Wilko shops will be shutting by early October and loyal fans are taking it hard.
1
An employee shared his heartbroken goodbye to his shop on social media and was met with more than 6,000 responses.
The worker posted the video to his TikTok under the username owen2smith.
Accompanied by a sad backing track, the 30-second video showed him wandering the aisles bidding farewell to the empty shelves.
Fellow TikTokers commented on the clip, with many left emotional, and other comparing the loss to that of Wilko.
One said: “All jokes aside, what kind of world do we live in where Wilko has closed down.”
Another wrote: “So sad. Loved wilko feels like loosing Woolworths all over again.”
A third commented: “I feel sad watching this.
“Good luck for the future to all Wilko staff.”
And a fourth wrote: “Absolutely gutted, loved a trip to Wilko whilst out shopping.”
A further shopper said: “This is heartbreaking I’m so sorry for all who have lost their jobs and Wilko closing, it’s a sad time.”
Other Wilko staff also commented on the video, echoing the heartfelt responses.
A fellow worker said: “I’m a Wilko employee as well, all the best bro for the fitter [sic], and my fellow team members across the UK really sad times for us all #ripwilkos.”
And another employee commented: “This breaks my heart, will be my store in two weeks.
“I don’t want to go, love from 288.”
A third wrote: “Just waiting on our closing date gutted 17years been there.
“Good luck from Darlington 127.”
One worker said that leaving her shop was like “losing family”.
She said: “I keep crying I really don’t want to leave it’s like losing a family been there seven years and my Nan worked there 17 before that so going to be so hard.”
The beloved retailer tumbled into administration in August before a flurry of potential buyers expressed an interest.
But sadly, a buyer for the whole business couldn’t be found and it has since been announced all 400 shops will close by October.
It will see thousands of Wilko employees made redundant.
Administrators have agreed the sale of the retailer’s brand name and website to The Range, so the name will live on elsewhere.
The list of confirmed closures has been growing, with a total of 287 locations named so far.
Tomorrow will see a further 47 branches will be shutting up shop.
Yesterday a further 111 stores were signposted for closure across the country.
Following this, 37 stores will close their doors for the final time on September 24 with a further 37 shutting on September 26.
And 37 more branches will shut forever on September 28.
Timings for when the remaining stores will be shutting shop will be announced in due course, according to administrators at PwC.
Earlier this month, Poundland swooped in to snap up up to 71 Wilko stores and said former workers will be first in line for new jobs.
Administrators have already agreed a roughly £13million deal to sell up to 51 Wilko stores to rival B&M.
Each of the 122 stores bought by the two discount chains will be rebranded under their new owners’ names.
All remaining Wilko stores will be closed by October, resulting in the redundancies of a further 9,100 employees at those sites.
Meanwhile, Wilko staff have issued an urgent plea to shoppers before it shuts its doors for good.
Plus, Wilko has issued a message to shoppers under its new owners, and they will be delighted at what it says.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
