‘NOT Wilko going into administration… it feels like Woolworths all over again!’: Twitter users react after High Street chain’s dramatic collapse
- High Street chain Wilko was plunged into administration on Thursday morning
- Devastated shoppers have reacted to the news of another chain going bust
News that High Street chain Wilko dramatically collapsed yesterday has been met with a flurry of memes on social media.
The firm, which had been owned by the Wilkinson family since it was established as a single hardware store in Leicester in 1930, was plunged into administration, putting 12,000 jobs and 400 shops at risk.
Wilko has served Brits up and down the country for 93 years – and its collapse has triggered a social media frenzy as shoppers face yet another High Street chain closure.
Liam Andrews shared a clip of EastEnders regular Sharon (Letitia Dean) sobbing with the caption: ‘Not Wilko going into administration’.
Another user, Ant Mella, posted: ‘Wilko has left the mortal world for the big high street in the sky’.
Daniel James shared a previous tweet he had posted when ‘RIP Wilko’ was trending after Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson died in November.
At the time, the social media user had tweeted: ‘I didn’t know the man and RIP but I thought for a second this was Wilko Stores… s*** myself thinking I’d have to pay full price for plug in air fresheners and Flash wipes.
And yesterday, he retweeted that post, writing: ‘Omg it was all my fault. #wilko’.
Wilko was plunged into administration yesterday morning after emergency rescue talks failed
Devastated shoppers have flocked to social media in the wake of High Street chain Wilko’s dramatic collapse yesterday
For decades, Wilko stores have been dotted around town centres, offering Brits stationery, gardening supplies, homeware, cleaning products, or simply a tasty pot of pick-and-mix.
Another devastated Twitter user joked: ‘Where are we going to get the office supplies from?!’
Emily Georgia quipped: ‘Pure gutted about Wilko, where will I get all my stuff and things now ????’
Many Twitter users shared emotional scenes from TV shows, adding captions such as ‘I wake up to hear the death of Wilko’ and ‘Just thinking about living in a country with no Wilko’.
Another altered one of Dr Seuss’ famous quotes to ‘Don’t cry because it’s Wilkover. Smile because it happened’.
Wilko stepped into the high street gap left by the collapse of Woolworths in 2008 and lots of shoppers were quick to compare the two. One said: ‘Not Wilko going into administration, this feels like Woolworths all over again’.
Another shared a clip of frantic shopper stockpiling, posting: ‘Me stocking up on fence paint, scatter cushions, garden pots, rope baskets, storage boxes, the pink stuff, bath mats, power mops, waste paper bins and pic ‘n’ mix before the inevitable happens to Wilko. Don’t tell me I didn’t learn from my regrets with Woolworths.’
Social media users joked that they would be unable to get all their ‘stuff and things’ from Wilko
It comes after Wilko chief Mark Jackson announced that the High Street chain had collapsed in an emotional open letter yesterday morning.
‘We left no stone unturned when it came to preserving this incredible business but must concede that with regret, we’ve no choice but to take the difficult decision to enter into administration,’ he told shoppers and staff.
Wilko has now appointed PwC to see if any businesses can swoop in and save the thousands of jobs and stores.
Those familiar with the ongoing discussions, claim that there is hope between 200 to 300 stores could be saved, adding that two rival discount chains and financial backers have also expressed interest.
Despite a glimmer of hope that some shops can be saved, even if they are bought out there is no guarantee that Wilko would live on in the retail units, the Financial Times reported.
Source: Read Full Article
