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A gifts and accessories shop has announced it will close, saying it struggled amid the rise of online retail giants offering ultra-low prices like Shein and Temu. Zara Lillys in Dungarvan Shopping Centre, in County Waterford in the southeast of Ireland shared the news in an emotional post on social media, offering a heartfelt thanks to their customers.

They have launched a closing down sale and have urged locals looking for a bargain to pop in. The Facebook post read: "It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the upcoming closure of Zara Lillys in Dungarvan Shopping Centre. "Over the past two years we have done everything possible to keep our doors open.

Unfortunately, the growing challenge of competing with large online retailers such as Temu and Shein has taken its toll, and despite our best efforts we can no longer continue."

The team added that the decision to pull down the shutters for good is "not the outcome we wanted, and we truly tried every possible option to avoid this closure".

"We would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful regular customers who have supported us over the past two years," they added.

"Your loyalty, kind words, and friendly faces have meant so much to us. We would also like to thank our incredible staff who have done an amazing job and represented the shop so well every day.

"To help clear our remaining stock, our Closing Down Sale has started today, with reductions across most product lines.

"If you're looking for a bargain, we would be very grateful if you could call in and visit us. The team said everything must go including shop fixtures and fittings, and they will continue to honour outstanding vouchers during the closing down period.

Locals have previously highlighted what they see as the negative impact of widespread online shopping on bricks and mortar stores.

In February 2025, someone posted on the popular Ask Dungarvan Facebook page about the closure of a New Look branch in the town centre, with people lamenting its departure in the comments.

One wrote: "Shopping local not online saves jobs and businesses. I'm so sorry to hear about new look."

A third added: "Once people continue buying online, we'll have no shops left in our Towns. The same people will say, "What are the Government going to do about the dying Towns" but it's you online shoppers that are causing this, not the Government."

Another wrote simply: "Buy local, buy local, buy local!"