A major high street name is about to vanish from one UK city centre, and is now set to host a major sale campaign. Smiggle, the stationery chain known for its vibrant pencil cases, scented pens and rainbow-hued backpacks, is preparing to close its branch in York this week.
The shop, based on Coney Street, will shut its doors for good on Sunday, June 15 amid a number of high street closures across the UK. Locals still have a few days left to pop in and grab a bargain, with a closing-down sale offering up to 50% off everything in-store.
The decision to close follows a landlord’s decision not to renew the lease, according to YorkshireLive. While some fans have been left disappointed, the brand isn’t disappearing from the area entirely – Smiggle is due to open a brand-new store in York Designer Outlet this July.
Originally launched in Australia, Smiggle has grown to over 100 stores across the UK, but this isn’t the only recent closure. In May, Smiggle stores in both Inverness and Shrewsbury shut down, following an earlier closure in Dundee back in January. Another location, in Cwmbran Shopping Centre, is also scheduled to close in August.
Smiggle hasn’t issued an official statement on the York closure, but the decision comes during a challenging time for the retail sector.
According to the Centre for Retail Research, more than 17,000 UK retail sites are forecast to shut in 2025, with mounting pressures from rent hikes, business rates and increased staffing costs.
Experts say the latest rise in National Insurance Contributions could cost the sector over £2.3 billion.
The closures come just weeks after River Island announced it would be shutting its Banbury branch later this month. Hobbycraft is also reportedly planning to close up to nine sites by June 21.
While the overall future of the high street looks uncertain, Smiggle’s quick pivot to reopen in the same city – albeit in a different location, at the York Designer Outlet which is expected to open in July – shows how some brands are adapting their retail footprint to changing consumer habits.