September 30th 2024.
In 2020, the beloved fashion chain Peacocks found itself in financial trouble and had to declare administration. Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence for many high street stores. As a result, one of their branches located in Consett, County Durham will be closing its doors for good. This news was met with disappointment from the local community, as Peacocks is a well-known and loved store that employs around 6,000 people.
If you happen to walk by the storefront at Unit 1 6/10 Victoria Road, you will see notices announcing the closure on October 19th. To make the best of the situation, Peacocks is offering a generous 30% discount on all their products in an effort to clear out their inventory. However, this did little to ease the disappointment felt by the locals who will soon lose their favorite shopping destination.
Susan Dowson, a member of the Facebook group "The Consett Chatterbox", expressed her sadness by writing, "Absolutely gutted, loved Peacocks, especially with Christmas just around the corner." She is not alone in her sentiment, as many others in the community shared similar feelings. One local, Lynda Innes McGuigan, even mentioned that the store has been around for as long as she can remember. She also proposed the idea of Peacocks relocating to another vacant shop in Consett, as there are plenty of options available.
Sharon Reilly also chimed in, expressing her concern for the state of the high street in Consett. She wrote, "Nothing is going to be left. Our high street is now so run down." Carole Smith added a thoughtful comment, saying, "Unfortunately, another retailer is going. It's a classic case of 'Use it or Lose it'."
Peacocks' near demise on the high street was averted when a group of investors stepped in and saved the store from closure in April 2021. This news brought relief to many, as it meant that 2,000 jobs and 200 shops would be saved. In fact, Peacocks has plans to expand and open 100 new stores in the next year, with many of them located along the M25, a major motorway that encircles London.
Speaking of the capital, Peacocks is eyeing up potential locations in Brixton, Elephant & Castle, Tottenham, Uxbridge, and Woolwhich. Other towns like Scarborough, Whitby, Christchurch, and Hunstanton may also see a new Peacocks store opening in the near future. Some of their recent store openings include Ripon, Oswestry, Orkney, Watford, and Stroud, with the next one set to open on 43 Broad Street in Seaford.
It's no secret that the decline of the high street started as early as the 1970s, with the rise of out-of-town retail parks. However, factors such as Brexit, the pandemic, and increasing operational costs have only added to the struggle for many retailers. This year alone, almost 7,000 stores have closed according to the retail consortium PWC. But despite these challenges, Peacocks remains determined to continue serving its loyal customers and providing job opportunities across the country.
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