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WHSmith to close Accrington store on March 15

The WHSmith store in Accrington will shut following lease expiry, reducing high street presence further.

February 24, 2025 at 03:55 PM

WHSmith announces next UK store closure after four branches shut in February

WHSmith confirms closure of its Accrington branch following multiple store shutdowns.

WHSmith plans further store closure as Accrington branch shut

WHSmith is set to close its store in Accrington on March 15, 2025, following the expiration of its lease. This decision comes after the company recently reduced its high street presence by shutting down four branches in February. The company stated that it will provide support to affected staff, aiming to redeploy them to nearby locations where possible. WHSmith continues to streamline its operations, with 14 closures occurring in 2024 and an additional 17 planned for the current year, according to property experts.

Key Takeaways

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WHSmith will close its Accrington store on March 15, 2025.

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The company has significantly reduced its high street outlets recently.

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Support will be provided to staff during the closure transition.

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Retail experts suggest WHSmith must restructure to survive in the current market.

"We are disappointed to be losing our presence in Accrington."

This quote from a WHSmith spokesperson highlights the emotional aspect of the closure.

"It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location."

This statement reflects the practical challenges facing higher street stores like WHSmith.

"I don’t see anybody is going to buy WH Smith without needing to put it into some sort of restructuring process."

A property expert points to the need for WHSmith to undergo restructuring to remain viable.

"A lot of stores are underinvested."

This expert opinion indicates broader issues within the retail sector affecting WHSmith.

The ongoing closures reflect a significant shift in consumer behavior and high street dynamics. As online shopping becomes more prevalent, traditional retailers like WHSmith struggle to sustain their physical locations. Experts indicate a necessary restructuring within the company, focusing on a core group of profitable stores while potentially closing underperforming outlets. The future of these high street locations hangs in the balance, as maintaining relevance in a digital age presents complex challenges.