Shocking figures recently unearthed by PwC have suggested that the British high street is in turmoil, with an average of 14 shops disappearing every day.

During the first six months of 2018, a total of 2,692 shops closed, whilst only 1,569 were newly opened. That equates to a net loss of 1,123 in just a short amount of time. It might not come as such a surprise to some people though; with online shopping on the rise, it’s never been easier to find the best deal on a product or service by doing a quick Google search.

One of the industries hit the hardest is electricals, whilst a growing trend in ‘in-home leisure’ means that countless local pubs are also taking a hit.

Some of the UK’s biggest brands fell on hard times during 2018, with the likes of House of Fraser falling into administration and having to be bought out by Sports Direct owner, Mike Ashley, who was still unable to save all of their stores from closure.

Whilst this might just be the way that retail is heading in this day and age, it looks as if things are unlikely to change until something is done to provide further support to the high street shops. Whilst there have been recent packages of support and lower business rates for the smaller retailers, it remains to be seen whether this help will be enough to get the high street back on its feet.

Here at Stax Trade Centres, we are committed to supporting smaller businesses and retailers within the trade and DIY sectors by providing them with the best deals on a huge selection of products.