Jobs set to be lost as jeweller’s chain pulls out of Borders

The Channel Street store, which closed alongside all non-essential shops at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, will remain permanently shut.

Signet, which owns H Samuel and Ernest Jones, says 82 of its 477 UK stores will not reopen.

Read an update with the staff’s views here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/business/updated-galashiels-h-samuel-staff-left-feeling-let-down-national-chain-2888744#gsc.tab=0

Staff at the Galashiels jewellers may be offered alternative posts elsewhere, where possible.

A H Samuels spokesman said: “Our H Samuel store in Galashiels is closing.

“It was closed in March with the Covid-19 lockdown and it now won’t reopen.

“We are of course contacting our customers, in order to connect them with any orders or repairs that maybe outstanding from the store.

“The others closes store for customers is in Edinburgh, however they cannot shop there at the moment either due to the fact shops aren’t allowed to reopen yet in Scotland.”

He refused to confirm how many jobs will be affected, though, adding: “We don’t ever discuss issues relating to our store personnel.

“Wherever possible we are doing what we can to relocate our staff. But the outcome for some, sadly in these situations, there won’t be good news for everybody.”

Of the stores closing, 38 are from the Ernest Jones portfolio, while 44 H Samuel boutiques will exit the high street.

The nearest H Samuel store in Edinburgh is on Princes Street.

The company says all customers with outstanding repairs or orders to collect are being contacted directly.

Earlier this week Clark’s shoe shop announced the closure of it’s Galashiels store and Travis Perkins builder merchants called the future of its depots in Kelso and Newtown into doubt.