River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have revealed plans for store closures in January 2026.
According to the Centre for Retail Research, 54 retailers went bankrupt last year, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and affecting 30,153 employees.
The Office for National Statistics reported a 0.1% decrease in retail sales volumes in November.
River Island is set to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a restructuring effort that previously included the closure of 33 stores. Locations like Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees have already closed, while branches in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria are awaiting closure dates.
Poundland will close 12 stores in January as part of a court-approved restructuring plan. The discount retailer had already closed 57 stores by the end of September following its sale to investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1.
Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to the need for significant building repairs, marking its first closure in over a decade. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, cited the extensive repair work as the reason for the closure, with efforts focused on supporting affected colleagues.
Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, part of Lloyds Banking Group, will collectively close 34 bank branches this month, including 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches. The closures are attributed to the increasing trend of online banking usage, as stated by Lloyds.
The ongoing closures in January reflect the challenges faced by retailers and banks in adapting to changing consumer behaviors and market conditions.