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Gloucestershire Business News

BREAKING: Shock closure to Cotswold department store

Cirencester's retail landscape has been rocked by the surprise announcement that the town is set to imminently lose its independent homeware store.

With the business dating back to 1825, Gardiner Haskins, on the town's Dyer Street and with a connecting car park and goods yard on Lewis Lane, has traded from the address as the town's largest independent department store since 1979, its chief retail base being in Broad Plains, Bristol.

Amid a "restructure", the company moved its Bristol operation to adjacent premises in 2018 and has stressed that its main business will continue. Punchline-Gloucester.com has been unable to contact the store to determine an exact date for closure or the number of staff affected.

As traders in electrical appliances, beds, DIY materials, home décor and furniture, the Dyer Street store has issued a statement to reasure existing customers that "an orderly closure" will be carried out, with all outstanding customer orders fulfilled.

A spokesperson said staff affected by the closure would be given supported on the basis of an enhanced redundancy package, while the firm would assist with alternative employment opportunities.

Ben Allen, the store's managing director, added that he was "sad" for both staff and the wider community.

Since arriving in the market town, the business developed a positive reputation for supporting local charities and is a past sponsor for Cirencester Town Football Club.

Shoppers reacted in dismay to today's news. Graham O'Connor said: "The most useful shop in Cirencester, such a shame," while Jonathan Palmer added: "So sad, Cirencester getting like a ghost town".

Damian Cox said: "If you tax the backside off business it has consequences. Business rates are killing companies."

● Punchline-Gloucester.com Editor Mark Owen said: "This is so sad. I've been visiting this store for the last 14 years and we regularly left copies of Punchline magazine for the sales counter. The staff have been unfailingly nice and our heart goes out to them all. From a pure business perspective, what we are seeing is the onset of impact from national insurance costs, higher wage bills and spiralling costs. I wish it were not the case, but I feel sure that such news as this is just the start of shops shutting up in 2025."

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