A number of Argos, B&M, Iceland and HomeSense stores are closing across the UK this month. House of Fraser in Cardiff is also preparing to close its doors in March too.
The Cardiff store has been holding a massive closing down sale, with items like mannequins and fixtures and fittings also up for sale. Iceland is another retailer also making big changes in Wales this year. Two north Wales branches are expected to close this month with a third closing in April. Argos also has planned closures for this year.
The net shop closure rate in Wales reached a six-year high in 2021, with analysis from professional advisory firm PwC and The Local Data Company (LDC) reporting that there were 384 openings and 786 closures in Wales in 2021 - a net loss of 402. Figures from the Centre for Retail Research show that around 15,000 stores across UK high streets are expected to close this year, with the Professor Joshua Bamfield, the director, saying that "big hitters" could also go under.
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Argos
Argos will close its Cardiff Bay store in July, with its Newport, branch also to shut forever in the summer. It comes as part of wider plans to move more standalone sites into Sainsbury's stores.
B&M
B&M closed its store in the Maesglas Retail Park in Newport, Wales on March 4. However, the discount retailer is planning on opening more stores this year.
Iceland
Iceland will close its store in the Deiniol Centre, Bangor, Wales on March 27. The frozen foods retailer shut its site in the White Rose Centre in Rhyl on March 14. The Newport store, which is located in Clarence Place, will close permanently on April 22.
Homesense
Homesense is closing its Swansea branch in March, but an exact date has yet to be confirmed.
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