![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-awbvkfm8k-1700693996823-1.webp\")
<\/p>\nA LONG-STANDING charity retailer is to close its doors for the final time after 20 years.<\/p>\n
St Nicholas Hospice Care in Brandon, Suffolk will close for good on Saturday, December 30.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The charity shop on London Road has been a fixture in the town since 2003.<\/p>\n
However, the charity said that after suffering a drop in profits it couldn't afford to run the branch at a loss.<\/p>\n
Local news outlet Suffolk News reports that Karen Fulcher, head of retail and catering at the charity said the decision to close the store was made after "careful consideration".<\/p>\n
She said: "Despite wonderful support from the community, unfortunately, the challenges posed by the current economic climate have made it increasingly difficult for us."<\/p>\n
She added that the charity had an opportunity to come out of the lease next year, and due to a drop in profits "made the difficult decision to close."<\/p>\n Ms Fulcher thanked the shop's dedicated volunteers, staff, and customers for their kindness and said the charity would "remain committed" to supporting the community.<\/p>\n St Nicholas Hospice Care has nine shops across West Suffolk as well as an online eBay and Amazon shop.<\/p>\n The cost of living crisis, high inflation and energy costs are all taking their toll on retailers.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Shops including Poundland, New Look and Homebase are among those pulling the shutters down on locations for the final time in December.<\/p>\n Many shoppers do not have the spare cash to splash on a shopping spree in their local high street, which has left retailers struggling.<\/p>\n Along with the rising fuel costs and expensive parking, it is often cheaper and easier for people to get what they need online.<\/p>\n The latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a record 345,000 businesses closed in 2022 – the highest on record since 2022.<\/p>\n More businesses are closing rather than opening for the first time in 12 years – the height of the global financial crisis – though these figures cover all types of company.<\/p>\n Figures from the\u00a0British Retail Consortium\u00a0(BRC) this\u00a0summer\u00a0found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over a five-year period.<\/p>\n Clothing retailer\u00a0New Look\u00a0is shutting its shop in Shirley, Southampton, on December 3.<\/p>\n In October it closed its branch in Stratford-upon-Avon and in September another\u00a0three branches\u00a0closed for good.<\/p>\n Six\u00a0New Look shops closed\u00a0down across the UK in January and February.<\/p>\n Homebase\u00a0will be closing one of its stores in Banbury,\u00a0Oxford.<\/p>\n The store on Southam Road is set to close its doors for the final time on December 3.<\/p>\n The retailer will also be pulling the shutters down on its shop at the\u00a0O2 Centre on Finchley Road\u00a0in London on December 10.<\/p>\n It also closed down one of its branches in Plymouth in November.<\/p>\n Lacoste is closing its Leicester branch in the Highcross Shopping Centre in the town on December 3.<\/p>\n The fashion brand Lacoste has 20 stores located across the UK.<\/p>\n Bargain retailer Poundland is set to pull down the shutters on its store at the Chineham Shopping Centre near\u00a0Basingstoke\u00a0on December 31.<\/p>\n However, it has been popping up in some new locations recently due to its takeover of 71 ex-Wilko sites, including locations in Newcastle, Leeds and Leicester.<\/p>\n WHSmith is all set to\u00a0close its Market Street store\u00a0in Manchester on December, 2.<\/p>\n Its\u00a0Bicester store also closed\u00a0on August 30 and prior to this, its Newcastle-under-Lyme branch shut permanently in March.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, it is also set to shut its branch in\u00a0Ramsgate, Kent, at the start of 2024.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/f3t55y-cadbury-mini-eggs-whit-389670009.webp?strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1\"\/)
<\/picture>CHOCO LOT<\/span><\/p>\nCadbury fans scream 'yes please' to new Mini Egg flavour hitting the shelves<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/rwmdta-sign-outside-wilkinson-wilco-856975305-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>OPEN UP <\/span><\/p>\nMajor update on future of Wilko shops as first to reopen in DAYS – 'it's good news'<\/h3>\n
Most read in Money<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NEW-OFF-PLATFORM-TEMPLATE-30.png\")
<\/picture>HOLIDAYS ARE COMING <\/span><\/p>\nCoca-Cola Christmas truck tour dates revealed – is it coming to you?<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shopper-uses-self-service-check-799630612.jpg\")
<\/picture>STOP SHOP <\/span><\/p>\nI’ll ‘never shop at Asda again’ over HUGE change to self-checkouts before Xmas<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/f3t55y-cadbury-mini-eggs-whit-389670009.webp?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\"\/)
<\/picture>CHOCO LOT<\/span><\/p>\nCadbury fans scream ‘yes please’ to new Mini Egg flavour hitting the shelves<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NINTCHDBPICT000776684567-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>FESTIVE FLOP <\/span><\/p>\nFears Christmas could be ruined this year due to shortage of dinner must-haves<\/h3>\n
Other store closures coming in December<\/h2>\n
New Look<\/h3>\n
Homebase<\/h3>\n
Lacoste<\/h3>\n
Poundland<\/h3>\n
WHSmith<\/h3>\n