Hobbycraft has announced that its store in Cirencester’s Love Lane will shut as part of ‘necessary’ changes brought on by ‘the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years’.
It plans to close at least nine stores across the UK , including Cirencester – which only saw its Hobbycraft shop open in October 2021 – in a move affecting up to 126 jobs as part of a restructure.
Cirencester residents have expressed their sadness at the news and are concerned as to where they will be able to source arts and crafts supplies other than online.
Cirencester Chamber of Commerce President Howard Burr said: “Sad news for Cirencester and the employees who will lose their jobs.
“Unfortunately, these large companies make large decisions, based on factors well away from the stores they close.
“There is damage done to the small stores that are impacted and close when they arrive and then the staff and community when they exit.”