November 29th 2024.
As the festive season approaches, news of some garden centres closing down has been making headlines. Among them is the popular garden centre chain, Dobbies. Following in the footsteps of Homebase, they have announced the closure of 17 of their stores, with some shutting down even before Christmas. This decision has been made in the hopes of achieving sustainable profitability, according to the 159-year-old business.
Last year, Dobbies faced numerous challenges such as unseasonable weather, stubborn inflation and the cost of living crisis, resulting in a loss of £130 million. As a result, all six Little Dobbies branches, which specialize in houseplants, will be among the 17 stores shutting down by the end of the year. This will bring the total number of Dobbies stores in the UK to 60. Are you wondering if a Dobbies store near you is on the list? Unfortunately, it might be. In addition to the 17 stores, six Waitrose concessions located inside Dobbies branches are also at risk of closure.
However, there is still a glimmer of hope as Dobbies is working with advisers at FTI Consulting on a reconstructing plan to potentially save the branches. But given that none of the 11 mainline sites and six Little Dobbies stores are profitable, it may not be wise to hold out hope. This decision will affect 465 staff members, but all shops marked for closure will continue to operate normally until their final closing dates.
The full list of Dobbies stores closing in 2024, along with their known dates, includes Altrincham on December 17, Gloucester on December 15, Gosforth on December 19/20, Harlestone Heath on December 17, King's Lynn on December 15, and Pennine on December 15. The six Little Dobbies stores on the list are Cheltenham, Chiswick, Clifton, Richmond, Stockbridge, and Westbourne Grove.
One of the main reasons for the closures is the high cost of rent. To address this issue, Dobbies is seeking rent reductions at nine other sites to prevent further closures. These sites include Aylesbury - World's End, Hare Hatch, Havant, Leicester, Lelant, Morpeth, Northampton, Rugby, and Stapleton.
The closures and rent reductions are part of a larger plan to ensure the long-term future of Dobbies and allow for future investments. If the proposals are not approved by creditors, the business may face insolvency. This news comes just weeks after Homebase announced the closure of 10 of their stores, which have been sold to Sainsbury's. Six of these stores will shut down before Christmas, with the remaining four following shortly afterwards.
Unfortunately, Dobbies and Homebase are not the only ones facing difficulties in the gardening sector. According to British Garden Centres development and project manager Amy Stubbs, the entire industry has taken a hit, especially due to the unpredictable weather. She explained, "It almost feels like any time it's had a chance to start, the weather has then ruined it and it's gone backwards again. It's just been very stop-start." This article was first published on October 1, 2024, as the fate of Dobbies and its employees hangs in the balance.
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