‘Customers are coming to us crying’: staff mourn as Wilko exits high street

The Guardian says There was a mournful, empty feeling in the Wembley High Road branch of Wilko that closed its doors for the last time on Thursday. It was one of 68 stores that the hardware and homeware retailer shut last week, with the final 37 of what was until last month a 400-strong empire closing on Sunday.

With prices cut throughout the day, from 40% to 90% reductions, by 3pm the Wembley shop looked like a homage to a Soviet-era supermarket, the shelves all but bare, save for a few cans of hedgehog feed going at the bargain rate of 13p – Wilko also sells pet food, even if hedgehogs aren’t usually pets.

On whiteboards and noticeboards customers had scrawled emotional farewells: “So sad to see you go,” read one. “The very last of our friendly helpful stores.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/08/wilko-staff-mourn-final-weekend