HORLEY'S iconic Collingwood Batchellor store is to close its fashion department as part of a complete rebrand.
The Victoria Road store, which has been in the town for half a century, will be converted into the company's flagship shop offering only homeware items.
From tomorrow the shop will close for four days ahead of a £1 million sale – the biggest in its history – in an attempt to clear all the clothing ahead of the rebranding which begins next month.
Guy Collingwood, who runs the store and four others with his brother Tom, says the change is vital to stay ahead of a rapidly changing market.
He told the Mirror: "I know some people will be unhappy with the change.
"There were people who didn't like it when we closed the toys department.
"But the retail industry is changing and we need to develop with it.
"People aren't going to come to Horley to buy clothes because they want choice and there isn't much.
"We want to create a flagship store which will bring people from further afield into the town, which could help everyone."
The Collingwoods hope to unveil their new-look store at the beginning of July. It's set to feature dedicated sections such as linens, beds and an extended coffee shop.
The change will bring the Horley store in line with the other Collingwood Batchellor branches offering only homeware.
Mr Collingwood said: "Clothing has seen a downturn over recent years with the pull of bigger shopping centres and the internet – we cannot give enough selection.
"We want to be a destination store where people will want to travel from miles around to see it."
When the store reopens on Tuesday there will be a three-day private sale for invited customers, before the public sale begins on May 3.
On June 1, the sale will end and the builders will move in to carry out the refurbishment – however the three-storey shop will not be closing during the work.
Shoppers in the High Street were shocked to hear of the planned change, which Mr Collingwood says had "been in the works for a while".
Valerie Wolleston, 54, has shopped in the town for years.
She said: "It is a terrible shame, it is a wonderful store, I go there quite a lot.
"But it can't be easy bringing people into the town and maybe the store isn't at the moment."
John Tree, 37, said: "It's a part of the town so hearing it's changing is odd.
"It could be good for Horley, we need something to bring a spark back. This might do it.
"People will have to go somewhere else for clothes, though."
No staff are expected to lose their jobs in the change, with the current fashion staff being retrained in homeware.
