Holiday shop chain with more than 300 UK stores to close town centre site after 30 years in ‘big blow’ to high street
A HOLIDAY shop chain with more than 300 UK stores closed down a town centre location after more than 30 years.
TUI has confirmed that its branch in Market Square, Hanley shut for good yesterday after 31 years as a city centre staple.
Luckily, it’s not all doom and gloom, as the TUI Holiday Superstore is set to reopen today in Festival Park following a refurbishment.
The Staffordshire location expressed its deepest thanks to the customers who have used it to book holidays for over thirty years.
The TUI team wrote on Facebook: “Today we close the doors of our much loved shop in Hanley Market Square.
“We first opened our doors in 1993 and it’s been our pleasure for the last 31 years to book your dream holidays.
“You can still find us in TUI Leek and TUI Newcastle Under-Lyme and your closest store is TUI Festival Park.”
Shoppers were quick to wish the team well, as it is not known if the staff have been transferred to another location.
One wrote: “Such a shame, one of the best teams ever. Good luck to all of you and thank you for all your help over the years helping our family have some amazing holidays and making fabulous memories.”
Another added: “End of an era, good luck to you all with your new ventures.”
A third wrote: “So sad to see it go. Another big loss to Hanley. Good luck to all the lovely staff.”
The closure of this TUI location comes after several high street retailers have been forced to shut their doors.
These include Geek Retreat, shoe shop Brassingtons, as well as the Stoke City store, Lids and Aroma Obsession inside the Potteries shopping centre.
TUI still remains one of the biggest travel agents in the UK, and as of June 2023 operated 319 shops, according to Statista.
HIGH STREET TROUBLES
Local residents in Newport City Centre were forced to say goodbye to their branch of Deichmann yesterday, The Sun reported.
After 17 years in the Welsh city, the store will draw its blinds for the last time after running its normal trading hours.
The German company, which has approximately 4,600 branches, told The Sun: “We can confirm that we are sadly closing our store on Commercial Street in Newport on Saturday 11th January 2025 after trade.”
Speaking to the South Wales Argus, store manager Tobias Cordus said he had been informed of the news weeks ago.
He said: “We still have the sale items from Black Friday and other sale stock.
“These items will stay on sale at 50% off.”
Is supermarket fashion the new high street?
DEPUTY Fashion Editor Abby McHale weighs in:
The supermarkets have really upped their game when it comes to their fashion lines. These days, as you head in to do your weekly food shop you can also pick up a selection of purse-friendly, stylish pieces for all the family.
Tesco has just announced a 0.7 per cent increase in the quarter thanks to a ‘strong growth in clothing’ and M&S has earnt the title of the number one destination for womenswear on the high street.
Asda’s clothing line George has made £1.5 million for the supermarket in 2023, 80 per cent of Sainsbury’s clothes sold at full price rather than discounted and Nutmeg at Morrisons sales are also up 2 per cent in the past year.
So what is it about supermarket fashion that is becoming so successful?
Apart from the clothing actually being affordable, it’s good quality too – with many being part of schemes such as the Better Cotton Initiative.
A lot of the time they keep to classic pieces that they know will last the customer year after year.
Plus because they buy so much stock they can turn around pieces quickly and buy for cheaper because of the volumes.
But despite the tempting offer of sales, locals were only saddened by the news.
The closure will mean a significant blow to jobs and signals another major loss for the high street.
Local resident Russel Jones told the Argus: “Another one going from the town in 48 hours shutting shop.”
Someone commented on Facebook: “Newport is going to be like, Ebbw Vale, a ghost town.”
The reason for the closure is officially unknown.
It has also not been publicly confirmed what will replace the store when it’s gone.