River Island closing 32 shops in January as buyers say they ‘noticed it coming’
Fashion chain River Island will shut 32 UK stores this month following a £32.3m pre-tax loss and 19% sales decline, with shoppers previously citing overpricing and outdated stores
River Island is closing stores(Image: Getty Images)
British retailer River Island has revealed plans to shut down 32 stores in January as part of a restructuring strategy. The move comes after the fashion brand suffered a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million and a 19% slump in sales.
The high street label cited the surge in online shopping and high operating costs as its main challenges. CEO Ben Lewis stated that despite being “much loved” by UK shoppers, the brand has “a large portfolio of stores no longer aligned to our customers’ needs,”.
Currently, River Island operates 200 stores and employs over 5,000 staff members. These jobs are not under threat, with the company aiming to relocate employees where possible.
The decision to close stores hasn’t shocked UK shoppers, who have witnessed numerous high street closures in recent years.
Some Reddit users had previously speculated about River Island’s survival chances when reports of a potential collapse emerged six months ago, reports the Mirror.
One user commented: “Always found it odd that they were able to outlast Topshop etc. Their stores are all quite old and tired and stuff was always very overpriced for what it is.”
Another agreed, stating: “It’s been overpriced for years so this is hardly surprising. When there’s so much competition you have to up your game and they didn’t.”
A third person weighed in: “HandM are a far better shop. River island can’t compete with online or high street retail.”
Despite the criticism, one individual confessed they felt “sad” about the news, whilst others expressed concern for workers facing redundancy.
The announcement follows Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop tumbling into administration this month, placing 2,500 positions in jeopardy.
Marks and Spencer, Morrisons and Poundland all shuttered outlets last year as well, with numerous closures set to continue through 2026.
River Island stores closing in 2026.
