Marks and Spencer plans to close a popular high street store - check if you're affected
Marks and Spencer announced on March 15 that it is discussing the proposed closure of its Ilford store
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Marks and Spencer may shut the doors of the Ilford, London M&S for good soon as more people shop online.
The retailer announced on March 15 that it is discussing the proposed closure of its Ilford store and broke the news to staff last week.
The discussions about the closure of the store is in line with the store's 2017 decision to "accelerate [the] store closure programme".
An M&S spokesperson said the sales at the Ilford store in the Exchange shopping centre have been on a "consistent" decline so it is now re-evaluating the store's future.
Nicholas Pucci, M&S regional manager, said: "Shopping habits are changing, so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience.
"As part of this transformation, earlier this month we announced to colleagues our proposal to close the M&S Ilford store.
“Our priority now is to talk to our colleagues about what this announcement means for them. Should the proposals go ahead, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S wherever possible.Is a store closing near you? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk."Over the last two years alone, we have invested over £23million in our stores across Greater London.
"We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in the store, and we will be working hard to keep serving them in our other stores in the local area including M&S Stratford City which offers a wide range of M&S Food and Clothing & Home products and our M&S Foodhall in South Woodford where customers can also Click & Collect purchases from marksandspencer.com.”
The exact date the decision will be made is still unknown but if plans do go ahead the nearest M&S would be at Westfield Stratford City.
Shushila Patel, a regular shopper at Marks and Spencer, told The Sun: “Ilford has changed since I first came here in 1984. Then it changed in 1991, we had the Ilford Exchange.
"Marks and Spencer together with Debenhams and other stores were like a hub where people met on Saturday before shopping.
“I personally really strongly believe that Marks and Spencer has been the cornerstone of our High Road, high street.
"When shops like that go, they leave a void. And for Marks and Spencer to go, it won’t just leave a void, it will be the death of Ilford. I really feel that."
Shushila found out about the closure from staff when she went to pick up her click and collect order in store and said she "couldn't believe it".
She added she fears Ilford will become "a ghost place".
It comes after M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, closed a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers.
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M&S closed a string of branches across the country in a blow for customers
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Since M&S announced closures last year, these stores have already shut down:
- East Kilbride
- Fenchurch Street, London
- Meadowbank Retail Park, Edinburgh)
- Castleford
- Bolton
- Cardiff
- Manchester
- Swindon
- Birmingham city centre
- Barnsley town centre