Big names lost from the high street this year

The House of Fraser name was once a jewel of high streets across the country – a department store steeped in history, which typified style and variety.

But like so many before it including Woolworths, Toys R Us and, most recently, Poundworld - it has fallen victim to the rise in discount stores and the shift in consumer habits from physical purchase to online shopping.

The future once looked so bright. A series of marquee acquisitions over a 50-year period in the middle of the

Poundland is another victim of changing consumer habits

20th century saw the company’s portfolio blossom, offering customers an everything-under-one-roof shopping experience that allowed people to browse for wedding gifts, homeware, beauty products and designer clothes, all within the same four walls.

It was a far cry from its humble beginnings as a small drapery shop in Glasgow in 1849, the brainchild of farmer’s son Hugh Fraser and small business owner James Arthur.

The name Arthur & Fraser was born, and could be found on the corner of Argyle Street and Buchanan Street in the city.

A century later, and after the wholesale business splintered from the retail side, the firm had grown to become a national chain known as House of Fraser. House of Fraser is the latest retailer to collapse into administration, and it comes amid extreme turmoil on the high street. Since the beginning of the year, multiple retailers have gone bust or announced closure plans. Homebase The DIY chain is set to close 80 stores, hitting up to 2,000 jobs. It follows a botched takeover by Australia’s Wesfarmers. Poundworld Called in administrators in June in a move affecting 5,100 jobs. The business was hit by falling footfall, alongside rising costs and weak consumer confidence. All stores have now been closed. Toys R Us The toy chain went into administration on the last day of February after failing to find a third-party buyer. It came after HMRC sought to recover £15 million in unpaid VAT and this finally tipped the company into administration. Maplin One of the UK’S biggest electronics retailers collapsed into administration on the same day as Toys R Us after talks with buyers failed to secure a sale. The business faced the slump in the pound after the Brexit vote, weak consumer confidence and a withdrawal of credit insurance. Mothercare The ailing baby goods and maternity retailer is to close 50-60 stores as part of a planned turnaround. Carpetright The embattled flooring firm is embarking on a store closure programme, also part of a restructuring, after announcing heavy losses. New Look The clothing chain announced earlier this year that it would close 60 UK stores and cut 1,000 jobs as part of a financial restructuring. Conviviality Retailing The major drinks and offlicence supplier, which owns Wine Rack and Bargain Booze, went into administration in early April.