Falkirk Howgate jewellers H. Samuel closes down

Jewellers H.Samuel operated out of unit 26, opposite the Costa cafe, but on Sunday there were signs up saying the branch was now closed and the nearest alternative was the company’s store in Livingston.

People could be seen in the store doing an inventory of the stock.

The jewellers, part of Signet Jewellers which also has the Ernest Jones brand, has been a mainstay of the town centre for decades. Prior to moving into the shopping centre, it operated from premises in Kirk Wynd.

After the 2020 lockdown the company announced that 82 of its stores would not reopen – around 17 per cent of it’s UK branches and 150 in North America. However, the store in Falkirk did reopen to customers.

A spokesperson for Signet Jewellers said: “Our stores remain central to our long-term growth strategy and we continue to invest in them, ensuring they are in locations where they best serve our customers, keeping in step with their demands, including the many customers who start their shopping journey online.

“Closing a store is not a decision we take lightly and so we’re sorry to be leaving Falkirk. However, our online store www.hsamuel.co.uk is available to welcome customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, where customers can shop and book appointments with our virtual store teams to view products, receive advice, ask questions and place orders.”