A retail downturn has swept across our high streets. Last year, the nation’s high streets lost 5585 shops to online giants. Recent victims of this grim reaper include Toys R US, Maplin, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams.
Another victim is Homebase, which is closing both its stores in Merton and 42 nationwide. They were recently sold to Hilco, a restructuring firm, who bought them for £1. Homebase was previously owned by Australian giant Wesfarmers, who purchased the company for £340 million in 2016.
I went to the Homebase on Jubilee Way, Merton and interviewed some of the staff and customers.
Mary who works there used to have a son who went to Whitgift School in Croydon. She isn’t very sad that the store is closing; Sabrina feels the same; she hasn’t worked there for long. This may be because she hasn’t worked there long enough to develop serious feelings for the branch.
Karen has no clue when his branch opened and does not know when it will shut its doors for the last time, even though he is the manager. He blames the thieves for its closing. He doesn’t want to tell anyone what he would say to them. He is not really that sad his branch is closing, even though he has worked there for 4 years. He thinks, that the store would become another DIY store; a nearby FOCUS D.I.Y closed in the mid-2000’s. There is a sense of disorganisation.
The closure of local stores is damaging the local community. There is now another gap in the high street. The elderly will have a worse quality of life and families will one less adult bringing in an income. An elderly gardener is sad that the store is closing; he will no longer be able to locally purchase plants.
Homebase is a wonderful member of the community, lost to a bad economy and more consumers tend to shop with online giants, such as Amazon.
