Shoppers say it's 'so sad' as beloved retailer to close two high street stores this week

A belovedchain is set to close two branches within days. The children'sretailer Smiggle will be closing its Inverness and Shrewsbury store this week.

The store - located in the Eastgate Shopping Centre store - will be pulling down the shutters for good on Wednesday, May 21. After this, the Shrewsbury branch - based at the Darwin Centre - will be closing for good on Sunday, May 25. The retailer has not confirmed how many staff members have been affected by the closures.

Both stores have launched closing-down sales and have cut prices by up to 70%. The stationary chain was founded in in 2003 and became incredibly popular for its brightly coloured products and fun and quirky accessories.

The retailer opened its first UK in 2014, and there is currently 107 branches across the country. At its peak, the retailer had 130 sites.

Smiggle has not officially confirmed the reason behind both closures. However, in a report by the Press and Journal, a Smiggle worker said the Inverness store is closing because it chose not to renew the lease when it expired.

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A spokesperson for the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury confirmed the brand had served notice on the property and would stop trading this week.

The spokesperson said: "The store’s management team has served notice in accordance with the terms of its lease agreement. We would like to thank Smiggle for being a valued part of The Darwin and extend our appreciation to the customers and community who have supported the store during its time with us."

One Smiggle shopper told the Press and Journal that it was "so sad" that the Inverness store was closing. He told the publication: "It is a shame, isn’t it? Because it’s been here for a long time, My kids love Smiggle. It’s pretty sad.

“I think it’s the Eastgate Centre really. I know the rents are quite high for shops."

Another parent said the closure was a "shame", added: "There’s not another shop with this range of stationery really. When kids go back to school, they can come here and choose something they like rather than everything that’s out there online."

It is important to note that retailers close stores for a variety of reasons, and it doesn't just mean they are in trouble. Some close because the tenancy has come to an end on the site, or that the branch is not as profitable as others.

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