Popular retailer to RETURN 13 years after collapsing into administration and shutting 236 stores
It is said the shake-up will help secure the future of 99 stores and around 1,800 jobs across the arts and crafts business.
You can check out the full list of stores earmarked for closure below.
Canterbury, Kent – closed
Basildon, Essex – June 21
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire – June 21
Bristol, Imperial Retail Park – June 21
Dunstable, Bedfordshire – June 21
Epping Forest, Essex – June 21
Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex – June 21
Cirencester, Gloucestershire -June 21
Bagshot, Surrey – June 21
OTHER STORE CLOSURES
Hobbycraft is not the only retailer facing hard times.
Up to 11 Original Factory Shops stores are to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria.
Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been put up for sale.
It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new ownerModella Capitalwith a number of loss-making stores having to close as result.
You can see the full list of store closures here:
Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire – June 26
Perth – June 28
Chester Le Street, County Durham – June 28
Arbroath, Angus – June 28
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire – June 28
Pershore, Worcestershire – June 28
Normanton, West Yorkshire – June 28
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – June 28
Shaftesbury, Dorset – June 28
Staveley, Cumbria – July 12
Middlewich – TBC
The following stores are also up for sale:
Nairn
Market Drayton
Troon
Blairgowrie
Castle Douglas
It comes after pivate equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores.
At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS.
Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business.
They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
May 24 (UPI) — McDonald’s will close all five of its CosMc’s test locations this summer, 18 months after introducing the beverage-focused concept at four restaurants in Texas and one in a Chicago suburb.
The Chicago-based company plans to add the specialty beverages to its 13,637 regular restaurants this summer.
Starting in late June, McDonald’s will close all stand-alone pilot CosMc’s locations on a rolling basis and discontinue the CosMc’s app, the company said in a news release Friday. The program was launched on Dec. 7, 2023, with the first restaurant in Bolingbrook, near Chicago.
The test stores also included food but not McDonald’s signature Quarter Pounder and Big Mac.
The fast-food company said the plan was to test the new drink options.
“The main goal of the CosMc’s test was to create a launchpad for learning for the McDonald’s System — and the insights we’ve gathered have given us a whole new way to get closer to our fans,” the company said.
“Building on the insights gained from the pilot standalone locations, CosMc’s-inspired flavors will be landing at McDonald’s as part of the upcoming U.S. beverage test, seamlessly blending out-of-this-world tastes into the McDonald’s experience.”
The company added “we know we can bring more delicious and innovative drinks to more fans. “
The concept was designed to compete with the drive-thru beverage category dominated by Dutch Bros, Scooters and Swig, as well as Starbucks. Taco Bell is accelerating its in-restaurant drink initiative, Live Mas Caf3.
CosMc’s drinks included shaken expressos, Frappes, cold brew, slushies and lattes, as well as more traditional options like lemonade and blackberry mint green tea.
Soft-serve ice cream also was available.
Food choices at the test market included hash brown and pretzel bites, McPops of apple cinnamon and cookie butter, as well as an egg on brioche sandwich, spicy queso sandwich and creamy avocado tomatillo sandwich.
The smaller stores were designed to “test new, bold flavors and different technologies and processes — without impacting the existing McDonald’s experience for customers and crew.”
“We’ve learned so much, so quickly from the CosMc’s test,” the company said about its Learning Lab.
The name CosMc originated as a McDonaldland character, appearing in McDonald’s advertisements from 1986 to 1992. CosMc is an extraterrestrial who “craves McDonald’s food.”
In another move to drive business, McDonald’s is extending its operating hours at of most of its restaurants until midnight or later. Some restaurants already are open 24 hours a day. Exact hours and menu options are determined by franchises.
“Our fans know there’s no better way to end an unforgettable night than by feasting on your favorite McDonald’s order,” the company wrote in a statement shared with USA Today on Wednesday. “That’s why, as the summer season kicks off, we’re excited to offer up more ways for customers to satisfy their late-night cravings with more choices and expanded hours at more restaurants.”
The company plans to hire 375,000 new employees this summer.
McDonald’s, which has been in business for 70 years, reported first-quarter 2025 U.S. sales decreased 3.6% but included a leap-year day last year. Consolidated operating income dropped 3%.
The company said the decrease was “primarily driven by negative comparable guest counts” in a filing on May 1.
Overall, its first-quarter revenue globally was $5.956 billion with net income $1.868 billion.
AMAZON is now weeks away from shutting down an app that’s been used by hundreds of millions of people.
There are major downsides for affected users – and you might even be owed a big refund.
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The Amazon Appstore is being killed off on AndroidCredit: Amazon
Millions of people using the Amazon Appstore will be cut off in mid-August.
The closure affects anyone using the app on Android phones.
Amazon’s Appstore is a rival to the default Google Play Store, letting you download apps and games. It launched on Android all the way back in March 2011.
But on August 20, the Amazon Appstore will close – and any apps downloaded from it will no longer receive updates.
That means support will end for all apps you’ve downloaded via the Amazon Appstore.
They may become buggy or stop work entirely, and won’t be able to receive any important security fixes either.
In an FAQ, Amazon warned that these apps “will not be guaranteed to operate on Android devices”.
Amazon has already begun killing the Appstore off by blocking developers from uploading new apps to it.
Amazon Prime cancels TEN TV shows this year – including A-list actor’s horror drama and beloved cult classic’s reboot
“In our ongoing effort to streamline and improve our services and programs, we are making some changes to Amazon Appstore for Android devices and Amazon Coins program,” Amazon explained.
“We will be discontinuing support of Amazon Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025. As of February 20, 2025, developers will no longer have the option to submit new apps targeting Android devices.
“However, developers will have the option to submit updates to their existing live apps on Amazon Appstore for Android devices until August 20, 2025.”
Amazon added: “All existing apps on Amazon Appstore for Android devices will continue to be available to customers until August 20, 2025. Developers can continue to submit app updates until August 20, 2025.”
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The change only affects Android phones – and not Fire TV devicesCredit: Google
It’s worth noting that the Amazon Appstore is only shutting down on Android phones.
The Amazon Appstore was never available on iOS for iPhone, so it can’t disappear because it was never there.
A BELOVED department chain is preparing to shut its final store this month as it launches a “Rachel Reeves closing down sale.”
The famous shop will be shuttering forever after serving customers on the high street for 140 years.
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The iconic department store Beales will be shutting is last storeCredit: Getty
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Beales in Poole’s Dolphin Centre is offering 80 per cent off its stockCredit: BNPS
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The site has named the offer a ‘Rachel Reeves’ closing down sale’Credit: FACEBOOK – BEALES POOLE
Beales in the Dolphin Centre in Poole will close on May 31 and is slashing the price of stock by 80 per cent in the meantime.
The historic chain was founded in Bournemouth in 1881 and offers a range of iconic products, including clothing, home goods, and more.
This particular Poole Beales branch was the last one standing when the company collapsed into administration in January 2020, leading to the closure of its 22 other stores.
Despite the stores resilience, the brutal budget introduced last year saw the hike of National Insurance which has forced countless shops to close.
To mark the occasions, the store’s Facebook page is advertising a “Rachel Reeves‘ Closing Down Sale,” featuring discounts of up to 80% and a caption cheekily thanking the Chancellor for “the help.”
It wrote in the caption: “Our closing sale is almost over (cheers for the help, Chancellor) – and we’ve just dropped hundreds of lines to 80% OFF or more!
“Grab a bargain before we vanish into the budget black hole. #FinalSale #80Off #LastChance #WhenItsGoneItsGone.”
Despite weathering the storm for the past five years, it seems the Chancellor’s latest Budget changes have delivered the final blow to the struggling chain.
Beales chief executive Tony Brown previously told The Telegraph the business had become “unviable” following the Chancellor’s announcement of increases to the minimum wage and national insurance contributions in the October Budget.
Announcing the closure, Mr Brown said: “This, combined with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, has left us with no alternative.
Beloved pizza chain to close down for good in just weeks after 54 years
“We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit.
“Our team has been informed, as have our suppliers.
“We will ensure the exit is managed and no one will be left with a financial loss.”
Shoppers were left heartbroken by the news of the store’s impending closure, with one commenting on the latest post: “I’ve loved shopping here over the years.”
Another wrote: “Sadly this is happening to many shops.”
Like many businesses, Beales now faces higher employer national insurance contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%.
Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.
At the same time, the national minimum wage saw a notable increase, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased by £1.40 to £10 per hour.
Founded in 1881, Beales once boasted a proud portfolio of 41 department stores in market towns across the UK, offering everything from furniture and fashion to toys and cosmetics.
The retailer’s decline has been gradual but unrelenting.
With the closure of the Poole branch, the last remaining link to the Beales name, a once-iconic fixture of the British high street, will vanish forever.
DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET
Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
Local residents have been warned by fire crews to keep all windows and doors shut while emergency services remain at the scene as they work on bringing the fire under control
Manor Park Centre, Sheffield
Firefighters have rushed to the scene of a huge industrial fire in Sheffield this morning.
At 12.50am on Monday, May 12 South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called the scene of a huge industrial fire. A number of crews and vehicles have been scrambled to the scene, including six fire engines and one aerial vehicle.
The fire service shared the following statement on X: “Six fire engines and one aerial vehicle are currently in attendance at an industrial fire at Manor Park Centre, Sheffield. Avoid the area if you can and keep windows and doors closed if you live nearby.”
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At this stage it is unclear what building is alight or whether any injuries have been reported.
The Mirror has approached South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and South Yorkshire Police for an update on this developing incident.
