Fears for the future of Marks & Spencer (M&S) at the heart of our region’s two cities have sparked a flurry of social media comments.
Earlier today, The Press and Journal highlighted M&S’s plans to shut a further 32 stores around the UK.
The high street giant is not at this stage identifying any locations for where the axe may fall.
And its closure plans are part of a strategy that will see it open many new shops in out-of-town retail parks.
But the mere mention of more shops shutting has stoked concerns that Aberdeen, with two city centre M&S stores, may be targeted. Inverness could also be on the hit list.
The Granite City has already suffered the loss of John Lewis – despite a massive show of public support for a campaign to keep it open – and also Debenhams, among others.
Posting on Facebook, Jean Simpson said losing M&S in the city centre would be the “death knell” for Aberdeen.
Patricia Macivor said: “They can’t close Aberdeen – we have nothing as it is.”
Jim Strachan lamented the decline of town and city centres, saying: “Sad times, glad I am old enough to remember when high streets were busy – every shop occupied.”
Karen Gammie said: “There isn’t enough shops in Aberdeen, what with John Lewis etc closed.”
According to Peter Faryma, the writing is on the wall for M&S on St Nicholas Street in Aberdeen.
Mr Faryma added: “The only thing that keeps most M&S stores open is the food.
“They’ve tried and failed to attract a younger audience to the clothing side, but most shop online anyways.
“Unfortunately a store that size is probably at a point that it’s not viable to keep open from an operating cost point of view. Sadly it’s now a case of when it closes, not if.”
‘Mixed messages’
June Wilson said: “Hope the Inverness one is not closing.”
On Twitter, Angus Carl highlighted “mixed messages” coming from M&S.
A few weeks ago the retailer said it remained “committed” to its largest Aberdeen store, but its response to growing speculation later changed to “no comment“.
North-east Conservative MSP Liam Kerr recently met M&S bosses to discuss long-running concerns about the retailer’s future in Aberdeen.
Earlier today, Mr Kerr he had received “assurances” but the planned closures created more uncertainty.
He added: “It would be catastrophic for Aberdeen if our stores were among the 32 closures and I will now be seeking urgent clarity and demanding answers on this.
“St Nicholas Street has been the home of M&S since 1944, making it one of Aberdeen’s longest serving retailers and we want it to remain that way.
“Our city centre simply cannot afford to lose another flagship store.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of business group Aberdeen Inspired said: “The M&S flagship store on St Nicholas Street has been very much part of our city centre fabric over the past few decades and clearly we want to see it remain so.
“Respecting the well-documented challenge to all large towns and city centres across the country, Aberdeen to its credit is now moving forward with exciting regeneration plans.
“We hope M&S can capitalise on these opportunities and remain very much at the heart of our city.”
M&S currently operates from two large sites in the centre of Aberdeen, the full-line store on St Nicholas Street and a food and homeware shop in Union Square shopping centre.
There are also M&S Simply Food stores in Bridge of Don, Cults, Dyce and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, plus a few smaller petrol station convenience stores.
Elsewhere in the north and north-east, there are Simply Food stores in Westhill and Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, Elgin in Moray, and Inverness, Aviemore, Fort William and Oban in the Highlands and Argyll.
Inverness has a full-line branch in Eastgate shopping centre.
In its results statement on Wednesday, M&S said: “Ease of shopping and fast access is critical to competitiveness.
“In many cases we believe the town centre locations have lost impetus as a result of failed local authority or government policy.
“As a result, a high proportion, but not all, of our relocations are to the edge of town.
“The full-line store pipeline already has around 15 new stores planned over the next three years, including seven former Debenhams sites, and we expect this to build further. This will help enable a further 32 store closures.”
Conversation