A GALASHIELS shop has announced it will close its doors in January, with four members of staff expected to lose their jobs.

Wilkies, on Bank Street, has been trading in the town for 28 years, but bosses announced on Wednesday that the store will permanently shut in the new year.

The family-owned department store has started a closing down sale today (November 23), with over £250,000 worth of stock needing to be sold.

Border Telegraph:

The store, which sells clothes and footwear for both men and women, will run the sale until January in order to shift the stock.

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Karen Forret, owner and managing director of Wilkies, says the decision to shut the store “has not been taken lightly”.

“We really have exhausted all avenues over the years, diversified and invested in the store in Bank Street, reduced costs where we could and therefore the decision to close has not been a quick or an easy one,” said Ms Forret.

“However in light of lockdown, post-COVID impact on retail sales and the threat of further closures we simply cannot afford for a store to further impact the viability and strength our business needs at this time.

“The store closing is not a reflection on our team we have and we will be doing what we can to support them at this difficult time.”

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She added: “I would also like to thank our customers in Galashiels and the surrounding areas who have supported us greatly over the years, it has been a pleasure to serve you and I hope that we may see you in our other stores close by.”

There is a Wilkies store in Peebles, as well as one in Edinburgh. The business has been trading since 1898.