Huge DIY chain launches closing down sale in stores as future of chain still hangs in the balance
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A HUGE DIY chain has launched more closing down sales ahead of Christmas, escalating fears of widespread closures. Signage announcing closing-down sales and steep discounts has appeared at Homebase shops in Morecambe, Lancaster, and Winchester. The same signs were spotted at at shops in Loudwater and Worcester just weeks ago.
![[The closing signs now displayed at Homebase shops in Morecambe and Winchester are unexpected, as these stores were never listed for sale]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-london-uk-shopper-walks-956896577.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
They read "Store closing. Everything must go. All stock reduced". Homebase crashed into administration last month, but it was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, the owner of The Range and Wilko. Dawson's intervention looked to retain "up to" 70 stores and save 1,600 jobs as well as the Homebase brand, leaving 74 branches and roughly 2,000 employees at risk.
Just a week later, Teneo, Homebase's administrators placed these 74 stores up for sale. Although the company established a deadline of November 29 for potential buyers to acquire these branches, it remains uncertain whether any of these stores have been saved.
The closing signs now displayed at Homebase shops in Morecambe and Winchester are unexpected, as these stores were never listed for sale. It could have been assumed that they were originally set to be rescued by CDS Superstores, the owner of The Range and Wilko.
Analysis by The Sun reveals that only 57 stores were not put up for sale and could have been included in CDS' rescue plan. However, the exact number of stores rescued by CDS still remains a mystery. Teneo and CDS superstores declined to comment. At the time it entered administration, Homebase operated 141 stores.
