A high street retailer with 115 shops is closing nine branches in August and September. Hobbycraft is bringing down the shutters for the final time on the outlets as part of ongoing restructuring plans.
Three of the nine have already closed, with the shutters coming down for the final time in Bromborough, Stratford-upon-Avon and Southporton August 4,6 and 7 respectively. The six other shops due to close are in Chichester, Crayford, King’s Lynn, Maidenhead, Stafford and Wigan.
Hobbycraft chief executive Alex Willson said: “Hobbycraft is the UK’s leading arts and crafts retailer, with a strong presence across the country and online, fantastic colleagues and loyal and engaged customers.
“For many, our stores are more than just arts and crafts supplies, they have become places for gaining crafting ideas and inspiration.
“Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years.”
Mr Willson said closing stores was always a last resort and this had been an “extremely difficult” decision.
He added: “Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country.”
Closure dates for the above half dozen shops have yet to be confirmed by the business, which was founded in 1995 and describes itself as the country’s largest arts and crafts retailer.
Sales have been launched at some of the branches set to close, according to The Sun.
Hobbycraft announced in April that it would be closing some of its shops and making up to 126 redundancies.
It said at that time that roles were at risk at its head office in Bournemouth and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent.
The retailer said its plans would help secure Hobbycraft’s future and help secure 1,800 jobs and at least 99 branches.
Retail Gazette reported in spring that nine shops would close in July. These were: Bagshot, Basildon, Borehamwood, Imperial Retail Park in Bristol, Canterbury, Cirencester, Dunstable, Epping Forest and Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex.
According to reports, Hobbycraft has been negotiating rents with landlords at other branches, the locations of which have not been confirmed.
