Cardzone Store Chain is Closing in the UK: What We Know.

According to The Sun: The Cardzone card store, which has over 60 branches in the UK, has announced major sales as part of a 'everything must go' campaign as it prepares to close its store in Houndshill Shopping Centre in Blackpool.

Among the discounts offered is 20% off all products. Consumers who have already noticed this are actively expressing their thoughts on social media.

“Very soon there will be no shops left in Houndshill.”

“I really like it there. It’s so sad to see these shops disappearing.”

“Another one is closing.”

The store's opening hours are from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The official closing date has not yet been confirmed, but according to staff, it may occur at the end of this year or early next year.

The closure of Cardzone will be a loss for the resort town of Blackpool, where two other stores recently closed: New Look at the end of September and Bodycare.

What is Happening with British Stores?

The closure of Cardzone in Blackpool is not an isolated case. For instance, a store on King’s Lynn High Street in Norfolk closed in September of this year. Cardzone stores have also closed in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

Reports indicate that closures of branches in Glasgow and Hinckley are planned.

Cardzone's range includes Yankee candles, Thorntons chocolates, Disney products, and Jelly Cat.

The situation with stores in the UK as a whole is also concerning. Claire's plans to close 145 sites, while Poundland has announced a sale in 18 stores before their closure. The Entertainer store has confirmed the closure of its shop in Urexham.

Retail Challenges in 2025

The British Retail Consortium predicts that increases in National Insurance contributions will lead to a £2.3 billion loss for the retail sector.

Research from the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices before the beginning of April.

Surveys of over 4800 companies revealed that 55% expect price increases in the next three months, a rise from 39% in a similar survey in the second half of 2024.

Many companies are under financial pressure due to rising staff costs. The Centre for Retail Research predicts that around 17,350 retail outlets may close this year.

This is a consequence of a tough 2024, when 13,000 stores closed — a 28% increase compared to the previous year.

Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of CRR, noted: “The results of 2024 show that while the overall closure figures were not as bad as in 2020 or 2022, the situation is still concerning, and worse is yet to come in 2025.”

He also warns of possible job losses of around 202,000 in the sector if business costs continue to rise.

“With rising business running costs and costs per household, it is highly likely that we will see job losses in the retail sector that exceed the pandemic levels of 2020.”