Stores have already started erecting huge signs reading ‘Store Closing. Everything Must Go’ – with shoppers offered up to 60% off on new kitchens and 40% off furniture
A major DIY chain is closing down several of its stores before Christmas – with discounts worth up to 60% now available to shoppers.
Six Homebase stores are set to close their doors in December, and have huge signs reading: “Store Closing. Everything Must Go.” Stores in Sutton Coldfield, Bromsgrove, Cromer, Fareham, Newark and Rugby will close in December over the busy festive period. A further three sites in Inverurie, Londonderry and Omagh are also due to close later on, but exact dates are yet to be announced.
Brits visiting the affected stores can now make significant savings on everything from kitchens and furniture, to solar lighting and homeware. Homebase’s Bromsgrove store has dropped their pieces for new kitchens by 60%. Meanwhile radiators and solar lighting are 40% cheaper, and furniture, tiles and wallpaper have been discounted by 25%
All 10 stores were sold to Sainsbury’s in a deal which saw the supermarket acquire the sites in August. The move is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs, with the acquisition of the stores and refurbishments costing Sainsbury’s £130 million.
Sainsbury’s plans to open the first of these shiny new stores by next summer. Simon Roberts, chief executive officer of Sainsbury’s, said last month: “Sainsbury’s food business continues to go from strength to strength as we push ahead with our Next Level Sainsbury’s plan.
“We have the best combination of value and quality in the market and that’s winning us customers from all our key competitors and driving consistent growth in volume market share. We want to build on this momentum, which is why we are growing our supermarket footprint.”
The sale of these sites comes after reports surfaced that Homebase’s owner is looking to sell the company. The store is also thought to have been struggling due to soaring costs and the after effects of the pandemic, with shoppers more inclined to cut back on spending.
Homebase was purchased by Hilco Capital from Wesfarmers in 2018 for £1 after Hilco was reportedly approached by The Range. But other retailers have shown an interest in Homebase, including London-listed discount store B&M. Homebase currently operates around 144 sites all over the UK. The leading DIY store was founded in 1979 by the supermarket giant Sainsbury’s and Belgian retailer GB-Inno-BM. Since being taken over by Hilco Capital in 2018, Homebase has closed 106 stores.
