Store Closures
Store closures in the jewellery sector are a significant indicator of market shifts, economic pressures, and changing consumer behaviour across the UK. Whether driven by rising rents, declining footfall, strategic consolidation, or the rise of e‑commerce, shop closures impact supply chains, retail footprints, workforce dynamics, and brand reputation. Jewellery Focus delivers detailed, trade-focused coverage on this topic—analysing closure patterns by location, reasons behind them, impacts on stock redistribution and staff redeployment, and responses such as pop‑up models or digital pivots. Our reporting provides retailers, brand managers, landlords, and suppliers with insights needed to interpret market signals, adapt commercial strategies, and seize opportunities from evolving retail landscapes.
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Jun- 2019 -4 JuneRetailers
Retail sales in May see ‘biggest decline on record’
Sales decreased by 2.7% in May on a total basis, excluding Easter distortions, making it the “worst decline” since records began in January 1995, according to the latest BRC-KPMG sales monitor. However, the BRC said this was against an increase of 4.1% in May 2018, itself a four year record.…
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Apr- 2019 -25 AprilRetailers
74,400 retail jobs lost in first three months of 2019
The retail sector saw a 2.4% year-on-year drop in the number of employees in the first quarter of this year, equating to a loss of 74,400 jobs. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), this is a higher reduction than the 2.2% drop seen in 2018. The trade organisation said…
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11 AprilRetailers
Retail openings slump to lowest levels on record, says PWC
A record net 2,481 stores disappeared from the UK’s top 500 high streets in 2018, according to PwC research compiled by the Local Data Company (LDC). According to the firm, store openings also dropped to nine a day – almost half the levels of five years ago – due to…
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Jul- 2018 -4 JulyRetailers
BRC calls for two-year freeze on business rates
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has asked the government to consider freezing business rates for two years to ease the pressure on retailers. By proposing a two-year freeze on increases, the BRC said it would give time for the government and industry to develop a proposal for an updated taxation…
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Jun- 2018 -5 JuneRetailers
Smaller shopping centres worst hit by closures
Smaller shopping centres were the worst affected by the number of store closures last year, a new study has shown. Data compiled by retail and leisure researchers, the Local Data Company, showed shopping centres which were given a LDC Health Index Score ranking of 300 or lower saw vacancy rates…
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1 JuneRetailers
Over 10,000 stores predicted to close in 2018, analysts say
A new report from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has predicted that 2018 will be the worst year on record for store closures, with more than 10,000 outlets disappearing from the high street. The ‘Retail At Bay 2018’ study also argues that the developing crisis in the retail sector…
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May- 2018 -31 MayEditor's Blog
High street health
Two interesting things struck me in our news coverage this month. First a new selling feature on photo-sharing social media app, Instagram, was ignored by more than 80% of retailers in its first week. A new ‘Shopping’ feature was rolled out to business accounts in the UK, as well as…
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Mar- 2018 -13 MarchEconomy
Study finds independent retail and leisure outlet growth is soaring
As multiple stores like New Look, Maplin and Toys ‘R’ Us close, a study by OnBuy.com has found that this has led to a rapid increase in the number of independent retailers. The study from the online retailer considered where multiple stores have declined in comparison to areas independent stores…
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Mar- 2016 -16 MarchEconomy
‘Jewellers thriving’ as net closure of retail stores falls 50% in 2015
Jewellers are said to be among the list of retail categories managing to thrive as the net closure of retail stores dropped by 50% in 2015. A PwC analysis compiled by the Local Data Company found despite the rate of openings remaining constant at 13 per day in 2015, the…
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Feb- 2015 -5 FebruaryEconomy
LDC: Empty shops show North-South divide
The North-South divide is clearer than ever with the South having one in ten shops lying empty while the North has one in five, according to the Local Data Company (LDC). LDC, which analyses over 3,000 town centres, shopping centres and retail parks, said that despite the deepening regional divide,…
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