// TK Maxx the latest major retailer to shutter UK store estate amid coronavirus outbreak
// 349 stores will close as of tomorrow until further notice
// Stablemate Homesense will also close its 78 stores
TK Maxx has become the latest retailer to reportedly take the decision to close down its UK store estate as the coronavirus crisis shows no signs of an end date any time soon.
According to Retail Week, TK Maxx’s 349 stores are due to close until further notice once trading ends today.
Stablemate Homesense’s 78 stores across the UK and Ireland are also set to be temporarily closed.
READ MORE:
- Coronavirus: Clarks, Sweaty Betty, Oxfam, Fenwick the latest to close stores
- Burberry feels the coronavirus bite as majority of its stores close
- Coronavirus: Selfridges closes UK stores; Harrods reduces opening hours
Retail Gazette has contacted TK Maxx for further details, including whether staff will be paid during the closure period.
TK Maxx, which posted record full-year sales last month, has 672 stores across Europe.
The discount fashion retailer, owned by TJX Companies in the US, has already closed its stores in Germany, Poland, Austria and The Netherlands.
Nonetheless, TK Maxx is not alone in announcing store closures when a government-mandated lockdown is not in place like in neighbouring European countries.
Clarks, one of the biggest privately-owned retail businesses in the UK, is also the first major British retailer to have announced store closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Fenwick also said it would close all stores until further notice due to coronavirus, following the footsteps of rival department store Selfridges which announced store closures yesterday.
Activewear retailer Sweaty Betty said it would closing all of its stores internationally, including its 50 in the UK, and Oxfam is closing its 600-plus high street charity shops until further notice.
Other retailers that have announced temporary store closures include Boden, Nike and Calvin Klein.
Meanwhile, Apple said it would close all of its stores outside of China until further notice.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
I have ordered online but was due to pick up in store what happens to my purchase
No click and collects were getting deliverd anyway so u will probs get a refund
Get a life mate peoples jobs are at risk
Well said! Some people are out of zone
Unfortinutley you will not be abaile to pick it up before we opend the store.
So the stores were still open today until 5:30 and will be closed starting tomorrow, is that right?
Hello,
And what about the returns? will they be extended?
store was not even opened for trading today 19th March, went to one and called some stores, all closed. I need to the do some returns. And cannot due to the pandemic. they have to extend the returns policy.
Will their poor staff be getting payed still? And do they all still have a job to go back to?
All staff get full pay of contracted hours
Only until end of April though…
I want to return some of my shopping what will happen to that , will u extended it?
The returns period is extended until we reopen, as long as you have proof of purchase that would be fine.
Hi. Can i still make a orders via website and if yes would delivery araive on agreed time? Thank you
Thanks John for your comment.
I see some people here saying that people who are concerned about making returns should get a life. At these times some of us are worrying about money. It is out of order to judge people who want to make returns without knowing their situation.
I agree with that, hope you all stay safe.
There are lots of store closures, Some Costa’s have shut and are not doing take out only.
Typo were closed today yet Zara were open and we thought the UK stores were shut.
Fenwick is shut to us along with Ask, and Zizzi, British Heart Foundation and Imperial Cancer Research.
To be honest with the virus accelerating and the rest of the UK two to three weeks behind London it makes a lot of sense to shut non essential stores as they are losing money anyway. No one is in the shops.
Only the supermarkets , M and S food and pharmacy and BS and Banks should be open. No one else need open.
Staying safe and stopping the spread of the virus should be the main priority.
We understand main M and S stores will shut with only food operating in those stores or people being redirected to M and S food hall only.
I am really concerned about the returns I have to do .
Nothing on the website saying extended dates for returns .
Sylvia
Hi there,
Could you please let us know if you are going to extent refunds time frame? I have lots of times to be retuned