BEAUTY retailer, which has 177 stores, has abruptly closed its ‘fun’ store in the town centre.
Local residents said the closure of Dorchester health shop Neal’s Yard Remedies was “very sad news”.
The outlet closed on February 3 after nearly 10 years in the Dorset market town.
It sold high-end beauty and health products made at the Neal’s Yard factory in nearby Gillingham.
The shop also offered Indian head massages, reflexology, facials, manicures, and pedicures.
Neal’s Yard is the latest chain to leave Dorchester, with Clinton’s Cards, M&Co and Ambience all closing their stores since the pandemic.
Town Mayor Alistair Chisholm said: “It’s disappointing to hear that another store is closing, it’s always sad to see that.
“We’ve seen some fairly significant changes in terms of shopping habits, particularly online services and next-day delivery.
“We have to reinvent our town centres, but at the same time we have to try to make the most of what we have and bring something new and exciting to the town. .”
Local salon owner Liz Sedwards said: “It’s very sad news that another shop has closed in Dorchester.”
This comes after the amount of goods retailers sold over Christmas fell at the fastest pace in three years.
Sales volumes fell by 3.2% in December, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This meant the retail sector’s sales declined by the most in December since January 2021, when the country was still under coronavirus restrictions.
The high street has been hit hard in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail, a trend exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Center for Retail Research recently revealed that more than 10,000 stores and approximately 120,000 retail jobs will be lost in 2023.
Many businesses are also forced to close due to rising energy and labor costs.
Additionally, soaring inflation in 2022 and 2023 will squeeze household budgets, leaving retailers with less money to spend and hurting retailers.