A BELOVED town centre fashion store is set to shut for the final time today, leaving locals “devastated”.
The major fashion chain has 62 branches across the country and has served shoppers for more than a decade.
Shoppers in Salisbury will need to be quick if they are hoping to make the most of their local Joules as the store is set to roll down its shutters today.
The lifestyle retailer posted a notice on the shop window of the New Canal Street branch two weeks ago.
This confirmed the closure would take place on Easter Monday.
It read: “This store is closing. We’ve taken the decision to close this store on April 21.
“We’d like to thank you for supporting us over the years.
“And remember, you can always find us online at joules.com.”
Shocked customers took to Facebook to express their disappointment.
One person wrote: “Another shop closing! Salisbury needs to wake up before it dies in its sleep. Parking is too expensive and the restrictions too extensive!”
Another complained: “Sad, another good shop leaving the city, soon won’t be any left that are worth a visit.”
Founder and chief executive Tom Joule confirmed that the closure was a “difficult decision” but was inevitable “after a thorough review of retail operations.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe closes Nashville antiques store after 15 years and reveals reason behind ‘tough decision’” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6371646243112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The Salisbury store is among several affected following the company’s financial restructuring.
After falling into administration the brand was bought out in 2023 by Next for a deal worth £34million.
Next secured the jobs of 1,450 workers and 100 stores.
However, a total of 19 shops closed their doors for good.
At the time, Next’s chief executive Lord Simon Wolfson said he was optimistic about the future of the brand, highlighting the potential in combining Joules’ “exceptional product, marketing and brand building skills with Next’s Total Platform infrastructure”.
At its peak, Joules had 132 stores and employed 1,600 people.
Shoppers can browse the entire Joules collection on its website.
What other brands has Next rescued?
And it is not the first time that retail giant Next has taken over a struggling business.
Made.com was rescued from administration in 2022.
Now, Made.com has opened its first brick-and-mortar store since being acquired.
The fashion giant also recently snapped up retailer Fatface for a whopping £115.2million.
Next’s growing list of retail acquisitions and cement the group as one of the most prolific buyers of rival high street fashion chains.
In 2023 Cath Kidston was bought by Next after falling into administration.
Next started selling Gap clothing online in late 2021, after it took over the running of the high street brand.
It then started selling Gap clothing in stores in early 2022.
It also agreed a sale to buy struggling lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret in a move that saved its UK shops and website.
Earlier in 2022, it took a stake in baby and maternity clothing retailer JoJo Mama Bebe.
