Blacks, one of the UK’s leading outdoor and camping retailers, has confirmed the closure of two more stores, adding to the growing number of high street businesses facing restructuring. The affected locations in Bury St Edmunds and Sheffield have already begun their closing-down sales, offering discounts of up to 30% on outdoor clothing and equipment.
Despite the closures, there is a silver lining for customers. Rather than leaving empty retail spaces, both stores will be converted into GO Outdoors branches, a brand that, like Blacks, is owned by JD Sports. The Bury St Edmunds store is set to reopen as a GO Outdoors Express by the end of the month, while the Sheffield location will be transformed by May 2025.
This restructuring follows a similar move at another Blacks location last year, which was also converted into a GO Outdoors store. While customers can still purchase Blacks products online and at other store locations, these closures reflect larger economic challenges facing UK retailers.
Why Is Blacks Closing More Stores?
Blacks is not alone in making tough decisions about its retail footprint. A combination of rising costs, shifting shopping habits, and economic pressures has led to a wave of store closures across the UK.
According to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), over 17,000 retail sites are expected to close in 2025, as businesses struggle with:
- Higher operational costs – Rising rent, energy prices, and wages have put financial pressure on retailers.
- Changing consumer habits – More shoppers are choosing online retail, reducing foot traffic in physical stores.
- Government policy changes – Increased employer National Insurance contributions are expected to cost the retail sector £2.3 billion, making it harder for businesses to remain profitable.
Retail experts predict that more well-known brands could be forced to shut stores or restructure in the near future.
What Happens to These Locations Next?
For shoppers concerned about empty high streets, there is some good news—Blacks has confirmed that the closed stores will not remain vacant. Instead, they will be converted into GO Outdoors locations, ensuring that the retail spaces remain active.
The Bury St Edmunds location will transition into a GO Outdoors Express store by the end of the month, while the Sheffield store will complete its transformation by May 2025.
This move aligns with JD Sports’ broader strategy of rebranding and consolidating its outdoor retail chains, ensuring that the company continues to serve outdoor and adventure enthusiasts while adapting to changing retail conditions.
Wider Impact on UK Retail
Beyond Blacks, several major retailers have also announced store closures in response to economic challenges. Some of the most notable recent closures include:
- Dobbies Garden Centres – Closed 12 stores in late 2024 due to financial restructuring.
- Homebase – Confirmed six store closures in early 2025, with additional sites expected to shut later in the year.
- Bank Branches – Multiple banks, including Lloyds and Halifax, continue to downsize their physical locations, shifting toward digital banking services.
Retail analysts warn that if current trends continue, thousands of jobs could be at risk, and more high street names may struggle to maintain their presence in brick-and-mortar retail spaces.
What This Means for Shoppers
For customers who regularly shop at Blacks, these closures highlight a continued shift in the outdoor retail industry. While GO Outdoors offers a similar range of products, some shoppers may prefer the original Blacks brand. However, with the company maintaining an online presence and other store locations, its products remain widely accessible.
The broader trend of store closures and retail restructuring suggests that UK shoppers may see fewer standalone brand stores in the future, as companies consolidate under larger parent brands.
As 2025 progresses, shoppers and businesses alike will be watching closely to see whether the high street can recover, or if further closures and restructuring will continue to reshape the UK’s retail landscape.
