Oldham tiles shop future uncertain as Topps Tiles closes 23 stores

The future of Topps Tiles in Royton hangs in the balance after the national retailer announced plans to close 23 stores nationwide. The Laurel Trading Estate branch is among those potentially facing the axe as the company battles rising costs and a sluggish home improvement market.

The Leicestershire-based chain has already shut eight stores since last September, with the remaining 15 closures scheduled over the next six months. While Topps Tiles hasn't confirmed which specific locations will close, the Royton store's fate remains uncertain.

This isn't the first time Topps Tiles has scaled back in Oldham-the company previously operated a store on Oldham Road in Failsworth, which closed sometime between September 2020 and April 2021. The Royton branch would be the only remaining Topps Tiles presence in the borough if it survives the cull.

Chief executive Alex Jensen blamed 'subdued consumer sentiment and geopolitical uncertainty' for the decision, alongside the 'cumulative impact of cost inflation.' The company says the closures are part of 'significant self-help measures' that also include head office savings, though it hasn't disclosed how many jobs might be lost or how much money it hopes to save.

The announcement comes as Topps Tiles reported six-month sales of £142.7 million, down 0.1 per cent overall. However, stripping out the impact of its 2024 acquisition of CTD, sales actually rose 2.1 per cent. The company claims it's outperforming the wider DIY and home improvement market, but investors weren't convinced-shares fell three per cent following the update.