Energy firm SSE is closing all its 37 Scottish Hydro Electric shops across the country, putting 119 jobs at risk.
The stores sell electrical and white goods and most of them are sited in the north of Scotland.
The firm’s Scottish Hydro Electric online shop will also cease trading.
Stephen Forbes, SSE domestic retail director, said changing shopping habits and more customer choice mean the shops have now been loss-making for a number of years.
He said: “Customers’ shopping habits have changed considerably since these shops were first opened with more and more people shopping online, especially for larger electrical items.
“We know some of these shops have been on local high streets for a long time so we did not take this decision lightly, but footfall and sales have reduced considerably and there is, unfortunately, no realistic prospect of that long-term trend reversing.
“Our priority is to ensure our colleagues are fully supported during this time and we will work to redeploy staff within the SSE group where possible.”
SSE has entered into consultation with the 119 employees affected by the planned closures. All 37 shops and the online store are expected to close by May 15.
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