A historic British shoe shop chain is understood to be planning a “string of store closures” with dozens of locations and up to 100 jobs being at risk.
Wynsors World of Shoes is reportedly set to go under a major restructuring just six months after being acquired by investment firm Modella Capital.
Reports suggest Modella is currently having talks with landlords at 36 Wynsors World of Shoes stores, which could see many branches axed.
The firm has briefed staff members on plans for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which is often used by businesses to reach a compromise between landlords and creditors.
A major shoe retailer is planning store closures, reports warn
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GETTY / INSTAGRAM / WYNSORS
Sky News reports that the restructuring proposal aims to secure rent cuts at 36 of the 70-year-old shoe retailer’s 47 stores.
Sources close to the negotiations claim that a number of these shops are expected to close for good after talks conclude, as well as two distribution centres.
On top of this, analysts warn that around 100 members of staff are expected to lose their jobs if the CVA is approved by all parties.
The retailer is located primarily in the north of England and is widely famous for its range of children’s school shoes.
Is your favourite shoe shop at risk of closure?
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Claire’s has also left the high street
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In recent years, Modella Capital has become known for its multiple acquisitions of beleaguered retailers, including Claire’s Accessories and The Original Factory Shop.
Both retailers were purchased by the firm last year and found themselves proceeding within a matter of months.
Notably, Modella bought WH Smith, which it controversially rebranded as TG Jones for the retailer’s high street locations.
GB News has contacted Modella Capital.a
Modella Capital famously turned WHSmith into TG Jones
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Here is a full list of the Wynsors World of Shoes stores currently in operation:
- Bacup – Newchurch Road, Bacup, Lancashire OL13 0BL
- Rochdale – 131 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, Greater Manchester OL16 1DS
- Burnley – Market Square, Charter Walk Shopping Centre, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1AX
- Bury – 40 The Mall, Mill Gate Shopping Centre, Bury, Greater Manchester BL9 0QQ
- Oswaldtwistle Mills – Moscow Mill, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle BB5 3DE
- Pendle Village – Pendle Village Mill, Hollin Bank, Nelson BB9 5NG
- Blackburn – Accrington Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 3NJ
- Oldham – 29-31 Ashton Road, Oldham OL8 1JX
- Bolton – Unit 2, 224 Blackburn Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL1 8DT
- Manchester, Newton Heath – 1149/1167 Oldham Road, Newton Heath, Manchester M40 2FU
- Manchester, Swinton – 580 Bolton Road, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4DA
- Halifax – King Cross Street, Halifax HX1 2SH
- Salford – 105-106 Mather Way, Salford, Greater Manchester M6 5HU
- Manchester, Openshaw – Unit 5, Lime Square, Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, Manchester M11 1DA
- Huddersfield – Unit 2B, Castlemore Retail Park, Huddersfield HD1 5DG
- Broadstone Mill – Broadstone Mill, Broadstone Road, Reddish, Stockport SK5 7DL
- Bradford – 339 Thornton Road, Girlington, Bradford, Yorkshire BD8 9ER
- Wigan – Platt Lane, Scholes, Wigan WN1 3NH
- Bradford Tong – Avenue Retail Park, Weaverthorpe Road, Bradford, Yorkshire BD4 9RQ
- Dewsbury, Ravensthorpe – Unit 3, Ravensthorpe Shopping Park, Huddersfield Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF13 3HN
- Manchester, Wythenshawe – Unit 9, The Birtles, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5RF
- Preston – 535 Blackpool Road, Ashton on Ribble, Preston PR2 1EQ
- Stockport – 57/59 London Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 4AX
- Leeds, Middleton – Middleton District Shopping Centre, Middleton, Leeds LS10 4AX
- St Helens – Boundary Road, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 2PX
- Warrington – 74 Warrington Road, Penketh, Warrington WA5 2JZ
- Leeds York Road – 84 York Road, Leeds LS9 9AA
- Wakefield – Stanley Road, Wakefield WF1 4LH
- Macclesfield – Unit 36 Chestergate Mall, The Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Macclesfield SK11 6AJ
- Barnsley – 90 Doncaster Road, Barnsley, Yorkshire S70 1TW
- Liverpool, Knotty Ash – 243/249 East Prescott Road, Liverpool L14 5NA
- Castleford – Enterprise Way, Castleford WF10 1EQ
- Bootle – Unit 52A Medway Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle L20 4SR
- Fleetwood – Dock Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 6JW
- Sheffield – 110 Infirmary Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S6 3DG
- Birkenhead – Unit 3, Europa Centre, Claughton Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 4PF
- Crewe – 97 Earle Street, Crewe CW1 2AH
- Chesterfield – Asda Retail Development, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 8JZ
- Thurcroft, Rotherham – Wynsor House, Woodhouse Green, Thurcroft S66 9AN
- Doncaster – Unit 6A, Centurion Retail Park, York Road, Doncaster DN5 9TP
- Hanley – 151/153 Marsh Street North, Hanley, Stoke, Staffordshire ST1 5HR
- Dalton-In-Furness – Long Lane, Dalton in Furness LA13 0PF
- Scunthorpe – Ex Cross Garage, Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN15 6TP
- Stockton – Parkfield Road, Stockton On Tees TS18 3DJ
- Hull – 438 Hessle Road, Hull, East Yorkshire HU3 3SE
- Hartlepool – Unit 3, Highpoint Retail Park, Marina Way, Hartlepool TS24 0RN