Another black day on high street as two big chains shut up shop

Collapsed retailer Mothercare will disappear from the high street today.

All 79 stores of the health, beauty and baby product chain will close with 2,500 jobs lost across the country.

In Scotland, only two of the chain’s stores – both in Glasgow – remained open yesterday. Stores in Falkirk, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen have already shut.

A member of staff who answered the phone at the Edinburgh store said it had closed its doors on Friday.

Customers were unable to access the company’s website but were urged to visit their nearest store for up to 80% off on other selected items, with 37 of the 79 still remaining open yesterday.

After 59 years in the business, Mothercare went into administration last year after struggling to compete with online shopping.

At the time, Dave Gill, national officer for USDAW, which represents shop workers, said: “The scale of company administrations in recent years is devastating, not just for staff, but also for our communities and shopping centres.”

In May 2018, Mothercare secured a Company Voluntary Arrangement restructuring deal which it said would lead to the closure of 50 stores and affect 800 jobs.

But after a struggle to keep up with rents and cheaper competitors, the parent business announced in November 2019 it would file a notice to appoint administrators as it could no longer “satisfy the cash needs” to keep it afloat.

Meanwhile, fellow retailer Debenhams confirmed 19 of 160 stores across the UK are to shut their doors for good this month.

The chain’s store in Kirkcaldy, Fife, closed yesterday. It is not clear what will happen with the chain’s 15 other Scottish branches. Up to 660 job losses are expected around the UK.

The struggling clothing department store entered administration last April as it sought to reduce debt and start a major restructuring.

Further branches are expected to shut down next year, bringing the total tally of closures to 50.

But details of the locations have not yet been disclosed.