More closures rock retail trade

Jan 9 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

More closures rock retail trade

WOOLWORTHS closed its doors in Stirling for the final time on Tuesday, bringing an end to its stay in the city which dated back to September 1924.

And the company’s collapse has had a knock-on effect at another local trader.

The administrators of music, games and DVD chain Zavvi have closed 22 of the firm's stores, including its outlet at Sterling Mills in Tillicoultry.

The remaining 92 stores will stay open, including the Stirling branch in the Thistles, with a sale beginning today (Friday).

Zavvi's main supplier was Woolworths' subsidiary Entertainment UK, which went into administration in late November. Since then Zavvi has had difficulties in sourcing stock.

Tom Jack of Zavvi’s administrator Ernst and Young said: “Despite record consumer demand since Christmas, it is no longer possible to support continued trading across all of the Zavvi stores.

“Unfortunately, the current difficulties faced on the UK High Street seem to be discouraging retailers from investing in a significant number of new stores.”