Is there a future for national retailers in the town centre?
IT was announced last week that a major store was set to leave Llanelli in “another blow” to the town centre.
With Wilko being added to the list of shops that have departed the town in recent years, shoppers have voiced concerns over what the future may hold for those left.
Llanelli has a host of independent stores all serving the town well.
But town centres also rely on nationally known names to draw people in – how much longer will they be serving shoppers?
We’ve taken a look at all the big retailers still in Llanelli town centre and considered their futures. Boots: The major high street store has been a staple in Vaughan Street for many years, helping town centre shoppers with their health and beauty needs.
The unit has arguably drawn shoppers into the town centre over the years, but there is also now a branch at out-of-town Parc Trostre.
News broke last month that 200 Boots stores would be closing across the UK over the next 18 months, but it has not yet been confirmed which branches will be affected. Argos: The British catalogue retailer is still based at the St Elli Centre in the centre of the town.
In addition to this store, there is another branch in retail park Parc Pemberton, as well as at Fforestfach and various other locations around Swansea.
Argos was acquired by Sainsbury’s in 2016. There are no reports currently of any proposed store cloChristie Bannon sures, although Argos did announce in May this year that it was cutting the number of middle manager roles in its branches. Sports Direct: Also based in the St Elli Centre, the sportswear store occupies a unit on the second floor of the shopping centre.
It is the only high street sportswear shop to trade in the town centre, with a number of independent sports shops also present.
Nationally, the high street chain founded by Mike Ashley has come under fire for delays in releasing the store’s full year results. Sports Direct blamed the delay on the uncertainty of the future of House of Fraser.
Last week Sports Direct warned that its House of Fraser chain had ‘terminal’ problems, and that it had been hit with a massive £605 million tax bill from the Belgian authorities.
Peacocks: The fashion chain still remains in the town centre despite previously having to leave for two months.
After the company went into administration in 2012, it was quickly announced that the store would be reopening just two months after it left the St Elli Centre.
The store returned to the shopping centre and remains there today. The nearest others branches are in Cross Hands, Swansea and Ammanford. Superdrug: Vaughan Street is home to health and beauty store Superdrug.
Last year it was announced that another store would be opening just a mile away in Parc Trostre, creating 29 jobs.
Profits were reported to have fallen by 5%, despite a 3.3% increase in revenue thanks to new store openings.
The Works: The discount retail chain, which is popular for selling books, stationery, and games, has had a home in Stepney Street for a number of years.
Earlier this year it was announced that the chain had seen a 13.2% increase in revenue, but that profits would be at the lower end of expectations. Fragrance Shop: It was announced in 2005 that the town would be getting a new perfume shop at the St Elli Centre.
The Frangrance Shop, which offers perfume and aftershave brands at a cheaper price, still remains in the shopping centre today.
There are no reports of any issues facing the chain, which has a number of branches in South Wales.
Shoe Zone: Back in 2013 there were worries that the shoe shop would be closing for good, but six years later it’s still going strong in Stepney Street.
Earlier this year it was announced that profits were flat, with revenue having dropped by 1%. Asda: The major supermarket has had a base in Murray Street since the late 1990s and has arguably been one of the biggest sites attracting customers into the town centre.
More recently, an Asda Living store, which offers the chain’s non-food ranges, has opened in Parc Trostre.
There was talk earlier this year of a merger with Sainsbury’s, but the two were told by the Competition and Markets Authority that could not happen for at least 10 years. Home Bargains: The town has two stores within the town centre, with one in Vaughan Street and another in Station Road.
Elsewhere, there are more branches of the discount store in nearby Gorseinon, Fforestfach and other locations around Swansea.
There are no reports of any major issues facing the chain.
Poundland: The high street discount store arrived at the St Elli Centre 10 years ago in 2009.
At the time it created 25 new jobs as the retailer took a lease on two units which were formerly home to the £1+ Store and the Stationery Box.
Since then, the large store is still trading in the town centre despite having another branch close by in Fforestfach.
Earlier this month Retail Gazette reported how the performance of Poundland had led to a double digit surge in halfyear sales and profits for parent company Pepkor Europe.
Card Factory: The Card Factory has a home at the St Elli Centre, as well as nearby Parc Trostre.
In April this year thisismoney.co.uk reported how profits had fallen and like-for-like sales were flat at Card Factory, but how it was continuing to push on with new store openings.