Poundland will close 44 stores from tomorrow as it goes into 'hibernation' due to lockdown – just two days after boss told customers 'we'll be here for you, however long it lasts'
- Retailer said small number of outlets closing to 'protect them for the long term'
- Poundland imposed same measures on 120 stores in the March lockdown
- But managing director gave no hint of closures in message on Wednesday
Poundland will close 44 stores from Saturday in response to the coronavirus lockdown - just two days after its boss vowed to customers that the chain would be 'here for you, however long it lasts'.
The retailer, which has more than 800 stores nationwide, said a small number of outlets across the UK will go in to 'hibernation' to 'protect them for the long term'.
Poundland imposed the same measures in the March lockdown when it hibernated around 120 stores before beginning to reopen them at the end of May.
However, on Wednesday, the firm's managing director Barry Williams gave no hint of the impending closures when he told customers: 'We'll be here for you during this one, however long it lasts.'
Poundland will close 44 stores from Saturday in response to the coronavirus lockdown - just two days after its boss vowed to customers that the chain would be 'here for you, however long it lasts'. Pictured: A closed Poundland store in York, in the north-west of England
The retailer, which has more than 800 stores nationwide, said a small number of outlets across the UK will go in to 'hibernation' to 'protect them for the long term'
Poundland imposed the same measures in the March lockdown when it hibernated around 120 stores before beginning to reopen them at the end of May
Announcing the closures, Poundland said the move would allow it to focus on its larger stores.
Workers in the hibernating stores will be placed on to the Government's furlough scheme where appropriate, the company said.
Austin Cooke, Poundland's retail director said: 'We learned valuable lessons during the lockdown in March about how buying patterns change as people stick to government advice to stay at home.
'Putting a small number of stores into hibernation helps protect them for the long term and focus our attention on the majority of stores that remain open to serve their neighbourhoods.
'We hope this lockdown is short and we can re-open our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs.'
Around 800 Poundland stores will remain open, the company said.
On Wednesday, managing director Mr Williams told customers in a message posted on social media: 'I bet you, like me, have watched all the announcements in the last 48 hours and thought 'here we go again'!
'Well I just wanted to let you know that just like previous lockdowns, we'll be here for you during this one, however long it lasts.'
'Just like last time our 18,000 colleagues are front-line key workers, ready to step up and serve their communities.
'I want to recognise that again. When asked to come to work, they didn't hesitate to answer that call so we could stay open.'
He added that customers could 'shop with us with confidence' and that 'we remain open for your essentials'.
It comes after retailers across the country were hammered by new Tier 4 restrictions imposed just before the critical Christmas sales period.
A new national lockdown was then imposed just days later, forcing all non-essential shops to close.
Figures showed how footfall in Tier 4 High Streets was last week 72.2 per cent lower than in the same period last year.
The figure in London and large city centres was 81.8 per cent.
On Wednesday, the firm's managing director Barry Williams gave no hint of the impending closures when he told customers: 'We'll be here for you during this one, however long it lasts'
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtOTEyNTU3NS9Qb3VuZGxhbmQtY2xvc2UtNDQtc3RvcmVzLXRvbW9ycm93LWdvZXMtaGliZXJuYXRpb24tbG9ja2Rvd24uaHRtbNIBdmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtOTEyNTU3NS9hbXAvUG91bmRsYW5kLWNsb3NlLTQ0LXN0b3Jlcy10b21vcnJvdy1nb2VzLWhpYmVybmF0aW9uLWxvY2tkb3duLmh0bWw?oc=5
2021-01-08 09:56:00Z
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