The EIGHT high street chains closing shops in January with 11 locations set to shut for good
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EIGHT of the UK’s largest retailers are set to close stores in January as businesses continue to abandon the High Street. Last year was difficult for many of Britain’s biggest brands, who were forced to pull the shutters down on several shops for the last time.
![[Thousands of stores are forecast to close this year]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/pcp5mk-bankruptcy-failed-business-going-915860673_dde4dc.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Reduces footfall and lower takings have put pressure on businesses, forcing them into administration or to cut costs by closing shops. Around 13,479 high street stores shut for good last year, according to the Centre for Retail Research. This is a 28% increase on the levels seen in 2023.
It estimates that around 17,350 stores will close this year as higher national insurance contributions and increases in the national minimum wage take effect in April. Eleven stores are already set to close in January, including a popular coffee chain and clothing shop.
Here are all the retailers that have announced they will close stores this month... Skincare store The Body Shop will close its Sheffield branch this month after three decades of trading. The Orchard Square store will close for good on January 15. The news comes after the chain was plunged into administration in February.
The Body Shop made around 800 members of staff redundant and closed 75 shops in the following weeks. The chain was then rescued from administration in September by Aurea Group. At the time the deal looked set to help its 113 UK stores to remain trading.
