Lakeland is preparing to shut down another store in the upcoming month. An employee from the Reading branch confirmed that the store will cease operations on August 8, as reported by the Reading Chronicle.
The store has initiated an extensive clearance sale labeled “everything must go,” with conspicuous “closing soon” signs displayed in the windows, according to the news outlet.
Following the announcement, reactions from shoppers flooded social media platforms. Some expressed disappointment at the closure, citing their fondness for Lakeland products and the inconvenience of transitioning to online shopping for kitchen and homeware essentials.
The closure marks another setback for the retail landscape, with the closure of Lakeland’s Syon Park store in West London earlier in June and the relocation of its Eastgate Shopping Centre branch in Inverness to the Simpsons Garden Centre in March.
Founded in 1964 as Lakeland Plastics by Alan Rayner, the company has grown to operate nearly 60 stores across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with its headquarters situated in Windermere, Cumbria.
In a separate development, Asda announced plans to shutter one of its stores at Anchor Retail Park in Stepney Green, potentially impacting 50 jobs due to commercial viability concerns.
Poundland has also disclosed intentions to close 68 stores and two warehouses, putting over 1,300 jobs at risk. The restructuring includes rent reduction at various locations and approval through the High Court process.
Poundland, under the ownership of Pepco Group, operates approximately 800 stores in the UK and employs around 16,000 staff. The company reported a 6.5% drop in revenue to €985 million (£830 million) for the six months ending in March compared to the previous year.