SHOPPERS have been left gutted as a homeware chain with 80 locations has announced it will close a store.
The Homesense in Salisbury revealed that it will be shutting its doors before the end of the month, and locals aren’t happy with what will replace it.
Shoppers have expressed their sadness and frustration on social media[/caption]
The homeware company, part of TJX International, which owns TK Maxx, confirmed the closure with signs in the window of its Churchill Way West store.
A Homesense spokesperson said: “Our store will be closing during the week of February 24.
“We appreciate the support of our loyal customers and associates over the years.
“We look forward to welcoming you to TK Maxx Salisbury in Cross Keys Arcade, where you can continue to find high-quality, top-brand homeware, fashion, gifts, and childrenswear at amazing value.”
Shoppers are taking to Facebook to share their disappointment and their outrage at what they could see take its place.
Lidl has reportedly submitted plans to take the vacant lot right down the road from a Waitrose.
One person commented: “Ludicrous to put Lidl right next to Waitrose.
“There’s a real need for a supermarket on the Wilton side of town.”
Another replied: “Gutted its shutting love this shop.”
A third said: “What a shame. Loved that shop. Always find something different in there.”
Salisbury’s Homesense will close for good on January 27.
Salisbury customers’ closest Homesense stores will be in Southampton (Above Bar Street) and Bournemouth (Castlepoint Shopping Centre).
Salisbury also recently saw the closure of Smyths Toys on January 5.
MAJOR RETAILER LOSES TWO STORES
In other high street news, WH Smith is having to shut down two more of its locations.
This follows a string of closures.
The company is grappling with changing shopping habits and economic pressures.
The WHSmith Haverhill branch, located at 19 High Street, is set to shut its doors for the final time on April 26, 2025.
Why the high street still rules!
Fabulous’ Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer shares her thoughts.
I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.
Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.
My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.
I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high street fave River Island.
I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.
Frilly Ra-Ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.
Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.
At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.
Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.
I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.
One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!
That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.
It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When ‘Cool Britannia’ hit in the Nineties, they all turned up in one big store.
‘Designers at Debenhams’ was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson to name a few.
This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.
Years later I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.
In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.
Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!
Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.
I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.
I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.
At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?
High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.
Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!
A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.
Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.
I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.
Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.
Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.
The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.
The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!
A spokesperson for WHSmith explained the decision, citing the forthcoming lease expiry as a primary factor.
“We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Haverhill will be closing on Saturday, April 26, 2025,” the retailer said.
“It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store as a result of the forthcoming lease expiry.
“We are disappointed to be losing our presence in Haverhill and we would like to thank all our customers for their support and for shopping with us.
“We are also extremely grateful for the commitment of our in-store colleagues who we will support with this transition and redeploy to nearby stores, where possible.”
The closure of the WHSmith branch in Newtown has also been confirmed, with the store set to close in late February 2025.
One user posted to Facebook: “Such a shame this is happening.”
Others agreed, adding: “This is genuinely so sad”.
WH Smith has also been hit by economic pressures as they close a series of their locations across the UK[/caption]
