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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Joanna Partridge

Shoe Zone blames tax rises in budget for decision to close some stores

A Shoe Zone sign outside a store
Shoe Zone had 309 stores at the end of March. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

The low-cost footwear retailer Shoe Zone has blamed extra costs resulting from changes to wages and national insurance contributions (NICs) in October’s budget and weakening consumer confidence for its decision to close stores.

Shoe Zone said it had experienced “very challenging trading conditions” between the start of October and the middle of December because of lower consumer confidence and unseasonal weather, which had led to falling sales and decreasing profit.

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