A year ago, Sandersons Boutique Department Stores was reporting strong trading in November and December 2023. Fast forward to this month and the latest news is a lot less positive. 

The retailer has announced it is to close its Sheffield store following a review of its business. It comes a week after fellow independent department store Morleys is to shutter one of its London stores, also citing a similar review.

Sandersons, which opened the store on the site of a former steelworks in Sheffield in 2016, said in a media release: “We have made the difficult decision to close the company’s Fox Valley store. Our initial focus will be in assisting all staff affected by our closure to secure new positions, hopefully within the centre”.

The boutique store, which employs 19 staff, will shut in early March.

The spokesman added: “Sandersons will be concentrating its business growth from our store in Stroud and the company’s growing online presence. We have seen significant growth in our online business. We would like to thank our amazing team and all of you who have enjoyed and supported us over the last eight years.

The 28-acre Fox Valley site is owned by Dransfield Properties, which also owns the Sandersons brand.

The closure of the Sandersons Sheffield department store will be a big loss for the city that has seen both Debenhams and John Lewis brands shutter their stores in this decade.