JD Sports launches massive Wellgosh closing down Sale

Following this week’s news that JD Sports is closing down street fashion retailer Wellgosh – which it acquired in January 2021 – it has today launched a huge closing down Sale, with up 70% off leading brands including The North Face, Carhartt WIP and Nike.

The 35 year-old business, which was founded in Leicester’s Silver Arcade in 1988 by Peter Turner, will see its three stores in Leicester, Birmingham – which only opened in July 2022 – and Nottingham (added in October 2021) converted into JD’s size? stores, with the Wellgosh e-commerce website soon ceasing to exist.

Having played a major role in the development and growth of a vibrant clothing and sneaker culture, Wellgosh was instrumental in introducing iconic skate brands such as Stüssy, Supreme, Carhartt and Palace to a UK audience.

Following the news that the retailer is set to permanently close in the coming weeks, the following statement was released:

“It is with a heavy heart, that we must announce the closing down of Wellgosh. For over 35 years, Leicester has been the beating heart of our brand and we are grateful to our store teams and the dedicated community that we have created.

“Our online presence will come to a halt with our website closing and our brick-and-mortar stores will transition into size? stores. We are excited to see what our friends at size? have to offer and the exclusive products they will bring to the footwear community.”

In December 2022 it was revealed that JD Group had “divested 15 attractive, but non-core, brands” to its arch-rival Frasers Group for £47.5m, including Cricket, Choice, Giulio, Tessuti, Scotts and Xile, to concentrate on its core sports business. The move to turn the Wellgosh stores in to size? is another indication that JD is focusing on the business it knows best.

Other big brands included in the Wellgosh clearance Sale include Adidas Originals, Vans, New Balance, Edwin, Billionaire Boys Club and New Era.