A popular card retailer has launched a major closing down sale at one of its Oxfordshire branches, with discounts of up to 50% as it prepares to shut its doors for good next month.
Didcot's Cardzone to close in January 2026
The Cardzone store located in the Didcot Shopping Centre will cease trading on Saturday, 10 January 2026. Signs have appeared in the shop window confirming the final day of business, with one notice facing the street reading: “Store closing. Everything must go. This store will be closing on Saturday, January 10, 2026.”
According to local reports from the Oxford Mail, the retailer has slashed prices on all remaining stock by as much as half to clear inventory before the closure. Cardzone is a family-owned business that was established in 2005 and currently operates approximately 150 stores across the United Kingdom.
Wider retail closures hit River Island and Poundland
The news from Didcot comes amid a wave of further closures across the UK's high streets. Fashion chain River Island is proceeding with plans to shut 33 stores by the end of January as part of a restructure approved by the High Court this summer.
The River Island closures will affect locations in several major cities, including Edinburgh, Leeds, Oxford, Brighton, and Perth. The retailer has already closed branches in Chesterfield, Corby, and Omagh in Northern Ireland this year, which were separate from this latest round. As part of its court-approved proposals, River Island will also reduce rents at another 71 shops.
Poundland continues restructuring with more closures
Discount retailer Poundland has also announced an additional 14 stores will close by early February. This is on top of 19 closures previously confirmed for the coming months.
The chain, which was sold to investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1, has been undergoing a major restructuring. It avoided administration after its rescue plan was approved in the High Court in August, just days before the company was due to run out of money.
By the end of September, Poundland had already closed 57 stores. The company expects its UK estate to reduce from around 800 shops at the start of the restructure to between 650 and 700.
Darren MacDonald, Poundland’s UK country manager, commented on the closures: “We know how disappointing it is when we leave a store, but before we close our doors for a final time, we’re determined to say goodbye by offering even more amazing value to customers.”
He added: “The special reductions, on top of the value we provide in every store, will help us leave locations we’re leaving with pride. And when we close our doors, we look forward to welcoming customers to one of the hundreds of Poundland stores we’ll continue to operate right across the UK.”
