Hobbycraft is set to close nine more stores this month and in September as part of an ongoing rationalisation of its estate.
The arts and crafts specialist confirmed its shops in Bromborough, Southport, and Stratford-upon-Avon will stop trading this month, while its Wigan, Maidenhead, Chichester, Stafford, Kings Lynn and Crayford locations will close in September.
Hobbycraft chief executive Alex Wilson said: “Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years.
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“Closing stores is always a last resort and this has been an extremely difficult decision.
“Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country,” Wilson added.
It is understood that Hobbycraft is in discussions with landlords at several other locations about revising its rents, The Standard reported.
The closures form part of the retailer’s restructuring plan, which was first unveiled in April and saw the closure of at least nine stores.
Hobbycraft said at the time the store closures and restructure intended to help secure the future of at least 99 of its stores and 1,800 jobs across the business.
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