THOUSANDS of workers at major retail stores will take a well-deserved Christmas break this year as more big name brands announce special closures.
High street favourites and supermarkets are among the names to have confirmed they will pull down the shutters on Boxing Day at all shops so staff don’t have to miss out on family time.
Big name shops are among the stores closing on December 26[/caption]
Almost all stores close up on Christmas Day, and traditionally Boxing Day has been a sales extravaganza as shoppers head out to cash in on cut-price goods.
But in recent years more retailers have been closing down on Decemeber 26, delayed customer shopping sprees by another day.
Boxing Day is a Bank Holiday which means hours are already reduced from normal opening hours.
Some stores may also close early on Christmas Eve and other days around the festive period so it’s worth double checking opening hours at this time to avoid a wasted trip out.
Check your local branch opening hours, you can usually do this on store locator tools on respective websites.
Here are the stores that have confirmed closures on Boxing Day…
ALDI
The discounter has said it will close on Boxing Day, as well as being shut on Christmas Day.
Richard Thornton, communications director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is such a special period for many of our colleagues, and by keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day, Aldi gives them more time to spend with their loved ones.
“Customers will have plenty to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas, with exciting Christmas ranges hitting shelves in time for the festive season.”
It’s not the first time Aldi has closed on Boxing Day – the discounter has now shut up shop on December 26 for the past few years.
The Range and Wilko
The Range and Wilko are owned by parent company CDS Stores which has announced it will close all branches at both brands on December 25, as well the 26.
Alex Simpkin, chief executive officer for CDS, said: “This year’s been another great one for the business.
“We’re grateful to all our incredible team for their dedication and hard work and believe everyone deserves a well-earned rest during the festive season.
“So, in appreciation, we’ll be closing our stores on Boxing Day to give our team the opportunity to enjoy a full two-day break with their families.”
It comes after the brands were also closed last year on Boxing Day.
HOME BARGAINS
Home Bargains has told The Sun all 600 of its stores across the UK will remained closed on Boxing Day after Christmas.
At the same time, all branches will close earlier on Christmas Eve, with trading finishing at 5pm instead of the usual 8pm or 9pm.
The chain also confirmed that shops will be completely shut on New Year’s Day.
A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We know how hard all our colleagues have worked throughout the year.
“Being a family-run business, we recognise the importance of spending quality time with our loved ones.
“Therefore, we feel it is only right to support our valued store teams by giving them extended time off around Christmas and New Year.”
Home Bargains has closed on Boxing Day for the last four years.
John Lewis and Waitrose
The vast majority of Waitrose supermarkets and all standalone John Lewis stores will be shut on Christmas Day and stay closed the following day.
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) which runs the two brands exclusively told The Sun it will shut on December 26.
More than 300 Waitrose branches and 33 John Lewis sites will be shut with just a handful of Waitrose shops attached to petrol stations will remain open on Boxing Day.
And only John Lewis shops within the Trafford and Stratford shopping centres will remain open.
The brand also closed on Boxing Day last year.
More stores are now expected to announce closures on Boxing Day over the coming weeks.
Last year DIY giants Wickes, Homebase and Screwfix all shut their branches on December 26, as well as supermarkets M&S and Lidl.
Poundland, which currently runs over 850 shops in the UK also closed on Boxing Day last year.
Keep an eye on favourite retailer on social media as many often publicise their festive opening hours on X and Facebook.
Why do retailers close on Boxing Day?
BOXING Day is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
So why do retailers decide to close? Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains.
Closing on Boxing Day allows staff to have a well-deserved break after the busy Christmas period.
This can help improve staff morale and reduce burnout.
It also provides them with an opportunity to spend time with their families and friends during the festive season.
For some retailers, the cost of opening on Boxing Day, including staffing and operational expenses, may not be justified by the expected sales revenue, especially if customer footfall is low.
With the rise of online shopping, some retailers may focus on online sales and promotions rather than opening physical stores on Boxing Day.
For some businesses, it may also be a a long-standing tradition for them to remain closed on Boxing Day.
From a practical perspective, the day after Christmas can be used for inventory checks, restocking, and preparing for post-Christmas sales.
This can be more effectively done without the distraction of serving customers.
