The discount store Poundland is shutting down in Twickenham due to a lease-expiry on the building it currrently resides in.
Poundland has confirmed the closure is expected to take effect from 5 October, along with 17 other locations by the end of November.
This has come as a shock for many customers, who have said there was no pre-warning of the closure.
Instead, they were greeted with colourful signs displaying “everything must go”, along with posters advertising discounts of up to 60% on in-store items.
The Londoners spoke with shoppers at the Twickenham Poundland including Muna, 39, a frequent visitor to the discount store, who said: “Unfortunately I came in to find it is shutting down.
“I’ve been away for the last two weeks, and before I left these signs were not up.”
She added: “It’s not fair on the workers – they all have bills to pay.”
Muna has stated part of the reason she is continuing to shop in the store is to give the workers moral support during this time.
30-year-old mother of two, Zane, said she has purchased two bags of clothes since the announcement as goods are ‘cheaper now than ever before’.
The number of jobs at risk from the Twickenham closure is unconfirmed, but to-date Poundland has shut down 57 sites across the UK, with a further 11 closures on hold.
This has been part of a wider plan to restructure, recover, and return the business to growth.
The Poundland brand, which was once renowned for selling majority of their goods for a pound, has gradually begun to lose face with their customers due to over-pricing of supposedly budget items.
Anna, 55, added to this, expressing gratitude for the shop’s departure as it sells ‘cheap rubbish’ which could be bought in any other place, possibly even cheaper.
Poundland’s closure, along with the departure of Twickenham’s Superdrug earlier this year, has caused customers to question the extent to which high street chain stores can be successful in the modern day.
Michelle, 46, said: “The rent in Twickenham for shops are too high.
“We need lower rent rates so we can have more shops, because right now there is a death of the high street.
“I just want somewhere to shop and browse; there needs to be a regeneration of our high street.”
A Poundland spokesperson commented on the matter, stating the closure arose due to the landlord serving notice on Poundland, not because of restructuring.
“In circumstances such as these, we always consult with colleagues and do whatever we can to look for opportunities elsewhere,” they said.
“It’s obviously disappointing to have to close any store, but I’m afraid in this instance it was as a result of the landlord issuing notice which we know will be disappointing to customers and colleagues alike.”
Poundland has confirmed there will be reductions of up to 40p, in an effort to mark down prices until they are sold and all stock has been covered, adding: “Customers will be able to take advantage of significant savings.”
A spokesperson for Acas, a company which gives employees free, impartial advice on workplace rights and rules, said: “Store closures are devastating for staff and have an impact on local communities.
“At Twickenham Poundland all staff were offered redeployment, but that could become redundancy if the offer isn’t acceptable to the individual worker.
“We continue to engage with the company to engage with the company to try to minimise job losses and help the business back to profitability.”
Featured image credit: Alexia Thompson
