H&M to close 250 stores globally as shoppers move online

Fashion giant H&M is closing 250 of its stores globally next year as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to accelerate a major switch to online shopping. 

H&M, which is the world’s second biggest clothing retailer, said that around a quarter of its 5,000 stores are able to renegotiate or exit contracts next year, allowing it to shut around five per cent of its shops for good.

The locations of the shop closures, how many jobs will be axed and whether or not any UK stores will be affected, remains unclear. 

The update came as the Swedish company said it had seen trading continue to recover in September, but sales remained 5 per cent lower than at the same point a year ago.

Shutting shops: Fashion giant H&M is closing 250 of its stores globally next year

H&M’s total sales fell by 16 per cent to £4.4billion for the quarter to August.

Around 900 H&M stores were closed to customers at the start of the period amid global lockdown restrictions.

By the end of the last quarter, around 200 H&M stores around the world remained shut, the group said today.

The retailer also reported that its pre-tax profits fell to £210million for the nine months to 31 August, beating analyst expectations.

H&M said it had taken ‘rapid and decisive action’ to manage the impact of the virus, addressing this with changes to purchasing, investments, rents, staffing and financing.

The company said it was stepping up its transformation plans with increased digital investment after seeing shopper demand rise across its websites.

Helena Helmersson, chief executive of H&M, said: ‘Although the challenges are far from over, we believe that the worst is behind us and we are well placed to come out of the crisis stronger.

‘Demand for good-value, sustainable products is expected to grow in the wake of the pandemic and our customer offering is well positioned for this.

‘We are now accelerating our transformation work so that we continue to add value for our customers.’

On its UK website, H&M says higher demand from shoppers meant its deliveries were taking longer than normal to arrive at people’s homes, with an estimated wait time of between six to eight days.

Different experience: Has the joy of shopping in-store gone now we have to wear face coverings?

Online orders placed between 1 March and 7 June are eligible for an extended return policy of 100 days. But, online orders made outside these dates still have to be be returned within 28 days, H&M said.

While H&M has reopened the vast majority of its stores, the experience of shopping in-store has changed markedly in recent months across the entire sector. 

Fitting rooms remain closed and shoppers and staff are divided with plastic screens at till points. 

In the UK, most people, including retail workers, now have to wear face coverings when shopping, and shops are littered with signs and staff reminding people to socially distance.