HOMEWARE trial store HomeStore & More in Aylesbury is set to close as a result of the ‘extremely difficult market’.
Argos’ parent Home Retail Group has revealed that it is to close all of its UK HomeStore & More stores, including its shop on Aylesbury Shopping Park.
The store, which employs 32 people, is to be shut by the end of February, ending a trial venture through which the group – which also owns Homebase – had hoped to grow its homewares business.
A spokesman from HomeStore & More said: “We have completed a period of employee consultation for the closure of HomeStore & More in Aylesbury.
“The store, which opened in October 2007, has not achieved the required level of financial return, particularly in light of the extremely difficult market conditions.
“There are 32 colleagues affected by this consultation.
“We will endeavour to redeploy as many as possible of those impacted elsewhere in the Home Retail Group, which includes stores Argos and Homebase.
“There are 450 people working for the group within a 10-mile catchment of Aylesbury.”