British jeweller Beaverbrooks will close all 82 of its stores on Boxing Day, continuing a tradition that has been in place for more than a century. The retailer will also give its 1,200 employees an extra week’s salary in December as part of its annual festive tradition.
All 82 Beaverbrooks Stores Will Close
Beaverbrooks will shut its high street stores on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, meaning none of its 82 locations will take part in the post-Christmas shopping rush.
The closures will also apply to the company’s flagship store at The Trafford Centre in Manchester. All four of the group’s Loupe luxury boutiques will also close during the festive period.
Staff Will Receive An Extra Week’s Salary
The retailer will continue its practice of giving employees an extra week’s salary in December. Beaverbrooks said the payment is intended as a gesture of appreciation for its workforce during the Christmas period.
Around 1,200 employees will benefit from the company’s festive arrangements.
The Tradition Dates Back 107 Years
Beaverbrooks has followed the Christmas and Boxing Day closure tradition for 107 years. The company was founded in 1919 and remains family-run.
Its management says the decision reflects the business’s family values and its approach to giving employees time away from work during the festive period.
Beaverbrooks Urges Other Retailers To Follow Suit
The jeweller has continued to encourage other retailers to give their employees time off over Christmas and Boxing Day. The decision means its staff will be able to spend both days with family and friends rather than working through one of the UK’s busiest retail periods.
Anna Blackburn, managing director of The Beaverbrooks Group, said the company wanted its employees to have time to relax after the Christmas trading period.
She said to The Sun: “Strong family values have always been at the heart of our business, which is why it’s so important to us to give our colleagues some well-deserved time to relax and enjoy quality time with friends and family after a busy festive season.”
The Retailer Is Running An Autumn Sale
While its stores will close over Christmas and Boxing Day, Beaverbrooks is currently running an Autumn sale. Customers can find discounts of up to 40% on selected watches, diamonds and other products.
The retailer’s Christmas closure therefore applies to its festive opening arrangements rather than its wider trading programme.
The Policy Comes Ahead Of The Christmas Shopping Rush
Boxing Day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the UK, with retailers competing for customers looking for post-Christmas deals. Beaverbrooks will sit out that trading period across its entire store network.
The company said its longstanding approach to Christmas closures remains part of how it recognises its employees.
For shoppers, the change means all 82 Beaverbrooks stores will be closed on Boxing Day, while staff will receive the additional December payment as the retailer continues its 107-year tradition.
