‘A change in the face of Leeds shopping’ as Topshop and Topman manager closes shop doors for final time

It was announced last week that online fashion giant ASOS had bought out Topshop and Topman, and that all stores would be closed permanently.

And, on Thursday, the Leeds team worked in the store in the Trinity Shopping Centre to finish clearing stock and to bid a final farewell and lock the doors for the very last time.

Vicky Libbish, from Leeds, has worked for Topshop and Topman since 1987 and throughout her career has worked in different locations and different stores across the country - but her most recent role saw her as Leeds’ general manager.

Vicky said that although “everyone felt sad, it was good to be able to spend time together in the store to remember the good things before handing over the keys”.

The manager added: “The closing of the Topshop and Topman stores in Leeds city centre is not just a loss now, but it’s a future loss as well.

“It leaves a huge gap in the city centre and it’s going to make a real change in the face of Leeds shopping.

“You can’t put a restaurant or coffee shop in every empty unit, and there are plenty that are empty at the moment in Victoria Quarter, Victoria Gate and Trinity.

“Of course the units will be filled and something else will spring, but what’s it going to be like when people can go shopping again now?”

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Vicky said that all the Topshop stores have a good social group network, and that they have all been sharing photos and positive stories as they close one by one.

She added: “Every time you see one of those photos you do lose a bit of yourself.

“I think anybody would feel that way if they had worked and grown up with a business just as a lot of people have grown up working at Topshop and Topman.

“The closure of the stores is a loss for us all - it’s a loss for those who are in their 20s and have just started working at the stores but it’s also a loss for lots of people who are, say, in their 40s who are going to struggle with finding new jobs at the moment.

“But, very strangely, the past two weeks have been positive as an experience - we’ve been working as a team, we’ve been strong, we’ve been able to provide support and coaching and offering advice to those that have immediately started looking for jobs.

“It’s been quite cathartic to be able to do that to be honest, and I am just grateful that we got to go back into our store and pack it up as a team rather than having to hand keys back straight away.

“We’ve had the best support from our area manager and LeedsBID have also been really supportive with offering free courses and helping to retrain members of staff so that they can find other jobs.

“And, it’s heartwarming that other retailers have extended their opportunities where they can to Arcadia employees.”

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Vicky said that she thinks there will come a time where there is an equilibrium between shopping online and going shopping.

She added: “It’s a shame that it’s gone the way it’s gone but it’s not inevitable that online has taken over.

“But, it’s not a level playing field and I think you have to get same day delivery within a couple of hours to fully compete with shopping in store.”

The team raised a glass of socially-distanced-prosecco before they left the Trinity stores for good.