High street chain with 178 shops to close EIGHT stores as massive 50% closing down sale launched
A BARGAIN high street chain is closing eight shops starting in days and huge closing down sales have been launched.
The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) is closing a raft of its stores on June 28, weeks after saying it would have to shut some “loss-making” locations.
The discount chain has struggled in recent years and has had to look at restructuring.
The Sun reported yesterday that five stores were closing in the coming weeks – but a further three have now announced they’re shutting for good too.
TOFS’s stores in Arbroath, Kidwelly and Shaftesbury are the latest to say they are shutting up shop.
The Arbroath store will be closing on June 28 and the building has been put up for sale or rent.
A post on the store’s Facebook page reads: “We would like to take this time to thank all of our customers at the Arbroath store.
“We have loved serving you and being part of the community over the last 2 years. We hope you will pop in to see us before we close.”
The store asked shoppers to be “respectful to staff” as the team are “devastated” by the closure.
Before it disappears from the high street, the store is holding a huge 30% off clearance sale.
A huge yellow sign has been posted on the window encouraging shoppers to check out the discounts.
Customers were devastated by the news of the store’s closure, with one writing on Facebook: “That’s a shame it’s such a good shop.”
Another said: “Arbroath’s literally a ghost town, Arbroath was a thriving town years ago now there’s going to be nothing left.
“Great place to shop & good customer service it’s really sad.”
The Kidwelly store is also closing on June 28 after 15 years on the high street.
It announced the closure “with a heavy heart” on its Facebook page.
“We have loved being a part of this community, in fact, no we are proud!” it said.
“Why not pop in and grab a bargain or to even say hello and goodbye.
“At this time we ask that you are considerate and respectful to our team as we are truly devastated.”
Disappointed customers said the closure was “sad news”.
One person responded to the post: “Sorry to read this, we were there last week. Hope you and the staff find other jobs.”
Another said: “Oh no ! Why or why. love that place and staff sad news this.”
The Shaftesbury store also announced its closure on Facebook, although it didn’t give an exact date for when it would shut for good.
It posted on May 21 that it would be shutting in six weeks’ time.
“We are in a closing down sale. Lizzy Lee now 50% off.
Just another great deal at The Original Factory Shop Shaftesbury,” it said.
The shop also said it had 20% off storage boxes and “loads more markdowns in store”.
The Sun has reached out to TOFS for comment on the latest closure announcements.
The other TOFS locations confirmed for closure in the coming weeks are Pershore, Normanton, Peterhead, Staveley and Milford Haven.
Meanwhile the Nairn store is listed as up for sale, but TOFS has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with the landlord.
Therefore it is unclear whether the shop will remain open.
You can see the full list of closures and dates below…
Full list of locations closing
- Arbroath, Angus – June 28
- Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire – June 28
- Pershore, Worcestershire – June 28
- Normanton, West Yorkshire – June 28
- Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – June
- Staveley, Cumbria – July 12
- Shaftesbury, Dorset – no date given
- Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire – no date given
What’s been happening with The Original Factory Shop?
The Original Factory Shop was bought by Modella Capital in February, and since then it has launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores.
Private equity firm Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, and has also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith‘s high street shops.
For Hobbycraft, Modella brought in advisers to look at potential options including a CVA.
Meanwhile it is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones.
At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS.
Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business.
They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords.
A TOFS spokesperson previously told The Press and Journal that a “number of loss-making stores will have to close” as part of the restructuring.
They continued: “Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible.
“This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future.”
The Original Factory shop has already shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months.
These are the locations that closed in 2024:
- Brightlingsea, Essex
- Bodmin, Cornwall
- Chepstow, Wales
- Fakenham, Norfolk
- Harwich, Essex
- Mildenhall, Suffolk
- Padiham, Lancashire
- Taunton, Somerset
- Deal, Kent
- Haverfordwest, Wales.