Game closes Bridgewater store, offering 50% off sale

A major high street retailer, Game, is holding a 50% off closing down sale as it prepares to permanently close its store in Bridgewater next month. The shop specializes in video games and related merchandise and will shut its doors for the final time on April 6. Local shoppers have expressed disappointment, describing the store as one of the best in the area with friendly staff. This closure marks the second Game store shut down in Bridgewater, following the closure of another branch in 2018. Recently, Game announced it will also close its store in the Bon Accord shopping center in Aberdeen. Since October 2023, nearly a dozen Game stores in England and Wales have closed. Game, which is owned by Frasers Group, has around 200 locations in the UK. Frasers acquired Game Digital in 2019 for £52 million. The current trend shows that many retailers are struggling, with many closing stores as shoppers increasingly turn to online shopping in addition to facing high business rates and inflation. A report showed that in 2024, over 13,000 stores closed across the UK, and the trend is expected to continue in 2025. Many larger retailers, including New Look, are also planning store closures, potentially affecting thousands of jobs. The British Retail Consortium warns that the recent changes in National Insurance could further impact the retail sector. Experts predict that this year could see over 17,000 retail sites close, leading to significant job losses in the industry. The retail outlook for 2025 remains uncertain, with more challenges expected ahead.