Taskers decorative in Formby is closing down at the end of January

Taskers in Formby is set to close its doors at the end of January. Taskers, the home store, will close three of their stores as part of a major restructure to combat tough market conditions. Two of the smaller stores belonging to the Merseyside chain, in Formby and Heswall, will close on January 31.

Unfortunately, as a result of the closures, some jobs will be lost. The staff at the Formby store will be made redundant due to the closure.

The Formby store is a a 5000sq ft outlet, which sells lighting and decorative accessories. Unfortunately, they have never sold a Christmas selection at Taskers in Formby due to space.

Taskers will also be closing their Wavertree store in Janurary, until spring, when the company plans to re-open it with a refurbishment and a rebrand.

In an announcement made to staff, managing director John Tasker said a “difficult economic climate” and “poor trading conditions” meant the company needs to make changes to ensure long-term survival and prosperity.

Taskers currently employs around 400 people across its seven Merseyside locations, including five stores, head office and warehouse.

The announcement said: “It is our intention to re-open the Wavertree site, under a different name in spring 2018, in a much more streamlined operation selling large format clearance and lower specification goods more suited to its geographical position and its local market.

“A small number of staff will be retained to work at this site when it re-opens. All staff will be having individual consultation meeting​s in the coming weeks and we will be offering all the help and assistance we can to those we cannot retain when it re-opens or within other areas of the business.”

The document adds the closure of the stores next year will have “an inevitable ‘knock on effect’” on staff at head office, as well as in the transport, web and maintenance teams.

In the statement, Mr Tasker added: “This means we can focus all our efforts on our Aintree and Hunts Cross stores and on our online business.

“We will have a new warehouse and head office facility which will enable us to become more efficient and better retailers.

“We have exciting plans to expand in our most successful areas and departments and to improve our offer and appeal as a dynamic and unique retailer in our local market.

“This is a strategic move and something we have to do to address a changing market and very challenging conditions.’’