This week there’s been fresh reporting about River Island planning more UK store closures as it reshapes its estate. The exact number and locations may change, but the direction isn’t new. Another big name is pulling back from physical space.
For small businesses, that kind of shift isn’t just background noise. It changes how high streets work in a real and practical way.
Fewer chains can mean more room to breathe
When a large retailer leaves, it often takes a chunk of footfall with it. That’s the worry. But it can also remove a dominant neighbour that soaked up attention and spend.
Independent shops and service businesses often do better when the mix is less uniform. People don’t visit a parade of empty units, but they do notice something different moving in. The first few businesses to adapt usually benefit most.
Landlords become more flexible
Big closures put pressure on landlords fast. Long voids cost them money and make streets look tired.
This is when shorter leases, pop-ups and rent negotiations suddenly become possible. If you’ve ever been told terms are non-negotiable, this is the moment to ask again. Even a temporary presence can be a low-risk way to test a new location.
Services often outperform retail in these gaps
When fashion chains pull back, high streets don’t disappear. They change.
Hair, beauty, repairs, food, healthcare and local services often replace pure retail. These businesses give people a reason to visit the high street in person that online shopping can’t replicate. If you’re service-based and have relied on word of mouth alone, a physical presence may now be more achievable than it was a year ago.
Watch what customers do next
Customers who used to visit River Island won’t vanish. They’ll change habits.
Some will shop online. Others will spend locally on different things. Pay attention to what nearby businesses see in the weeks after a closure. That behaviour is a better guide than national headlines when you’re deciding whether to invest or hold back.
Think small and reversible
The biggest mistake is treating high street change as all or nothing.
A concession, a shared space, a short lease or a pop-up can give you visibility without locking you into high fixed costs. Flexibility matters more than bold statements right now.
A quieter opportunity
Large retailers stepping back is rarely good news in isolation. But it does create openings that don’t exist when every unit is taken by a chain with deep pockets.
For small businesses that know their customers and move carefully, this kind of change can be less of a threat and more of a window. The key is to look past the brand name leaving and focus on what the street becomes next.
