A long-established Scottish shoe shop that has served customers for more than a century is set to close its doors as staff retirements and difficult trading conditions continue to hit the high street.
Symington Quality Footwear, which trades as Symington Shoes, announced it will most likely close at the end of June after operating on Channel Street in Galashiels for more than 100 years.
The independent retailer has become well known across the Scottish Borders for selling branded footwear and fitting children’s shoes for generations of local families.
The business confirmed the closure plans in a statement shared on social media.
Staff said the decision had been driven by the retirement of three members of the team alongside what the company described as "extremely challenging trading conditions".
In a statement posted online, they said: "With three staff retiring and extremely challenging trading conditions, we have reluctantly decided to close at the end of June".
Symington Shoes has continued promoting its remaining women’s and children’s footwear stock on Facebook ahead of the closure.
The retailer has also launched a closing down sale offering 20 per cent off all spring and summer stock.
Beloved Scottish shoe shop to close after more than 100 years
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The discount excludes products that have already been reduced.
Staff encouraged customers to visit the store before the final closure date.
The announcement prompted an outpouring of support and sadness from customers who reflected on decades of shopping at the business.
One customer wrote: "The end of an Era. Both our kids always had their feet measured and got their shoes there".
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A closing down sale has been launched offering 20 per cent off products
|SYMINGTON SHOES
Another shopper said: "So sad to read this as you're the last good shoe shop in Galashiels. Thank you for your great service over the years. I hope you all enjoy your retirement".
The reactions highlighted the importance of the business within the local community over several generations.
For many families, the shop had become a trusted destination for professionally fitted children’s footwear as independent retailers increasingly disappear from town centres.
The closure also reflects wider concerns about the future of Britain’s independent high street businesses.
Research by Simply Business identified shoe shops as the most endangered independent retailers in the UK.
The study warned that footwear and leather goods retailers could disappear entirely by 2037 if current rates of decline continue.
The findings also suggested as many as 113,350 high street businesses could close over the next two decades without improvement in trading conditions.
Newsagents and stationers were identified as the second most at-risk category, with a projected disappearance date of 2038.
Pubs and bars could also face widespread closures by 2041 under the same projections.
Julie Fisher, UK chief executive of Simply Business, warned about the impact disappearing independent businesses could have on communities.
Ms Fisher said: "These are the businesses that give our high streets their character and our communities their identity".