H&M to close six stores in Spain, offers to relocate 145 staff workers

Swedish fashion chain H&M has announced it is to close six stores in Spain in the first half of the year to adapt to changes in the market. The company said it will try to relocate affected staff to other stores.

According to the company, the stores are located in the following shopping centres:  Espacio A Coruña in A Coruña, Max Center in Baracaldo, Los Alfares in Talavera de la Reina, Espacio Modoo in Oviedo, South Bay in San Fernando, and on Uría street in Oviedo.

Sources close to the company told Europa Press that 145 staff workers will be affected by the closures, and will be relocated to other stores from the chain where possible.

H&M attributed the closures to the “natural process” derived from the development of the market. “The fashion industry is changing rapidly and we must adapt to the demand of our customers,” said the company, which has always said its strategy is to have a presence in the best retail locations.

During 2018, H&M opened new stores in Melilla, Sevilla and Almeria, and a new COS shop in Madrid. It has also renovated one of its stores in Murcia and reopened its famous store on Velázquez Street in Madrid with a completely new interior and a better customer experience.

There are further plans to open a first store in Alcoy, Alicante in the Alzamora shopping centre in the spring of 2019. “We continue to grow and see potential to open new stores and new brands in the market, as we improve the customer service in our existing stores,” he said.

The firm said it is “proud” of the variety of its stores and its wide online presence, “but to adapt to the retail conditions and meet customer needs, we must constantly review and refine our portfolio, which sometimes means the closure of stores,” it said.