Wilko customers bid farewell to Essex stores for final time
Stores across the county are closing over the coming weeks
Wilko customers will be saying goodbye to its Brentwood and Harlow stores as they shut for the final time.
Brentwood's The Baytree Shopping Centre store is due to close after trading today, as well as the Harlow branch in The Harvey Centre shutting for good from Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Wilko's stores in Southend, Colchester and Chelmsford are due to close next month.
But we're told that the closures are partly down to shoppers getting bored.
Dr Cathrine Jansson-Boyd is an associate professor in consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University:
"We're not static as human beings; we need a change, we need evolvement and consumers are incredibly picky these days," she said.
"If it's fun twice, three times, that's not going to keep going because you had the experience, tried it now I want a different experience and that's where Wilko went wrong.
"I think we are going to see those who are surviving on the high street are those who are smaller and independent.
"It's tragic we are seeing bigger chains going down the drain because it affects so many people's lives."
New buyer brings new life to some Wilko stores
Administrators said last week that 111 more stores will serve customers for a final time this week.
The firm will closed 37 stores after trading on Sunday, a further 37 today, Tuesday, September 26 and another 37 on Thursday September 28.
The high street chain, which entered administration last month, started its closure process last week.
All of Wilko's 400 shops will close by early October, according to administrators from PwC.
However, Poundland owner Pepco has agreed to buy up to 71 Wilko stores.