White and Bishop to close Northampton shop after 83 years

Website: BBC News
Date: 13/06/2013
Link : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-22888494

An outdoor clothing shop is closing after 83 years in Northampton, saying its online trade now accounts for about 85% of its business.

The White and Bishop store on Bridge Street will close on 27 July but the company's shop in Rugby and online service will continue to trade.

Managing director Steve Moseley said: "As a company we are making a profit.

"But this store, in its present location, with all the staff we need, it's hard to see a future."

Mr Moseley said traffic restrictions caused by a fire at the former Angel Hotel last year had also had an impact, along with the cost of business rates.

"I've been here over 30 years so my heart is here," he said. "I would have loved to remain open.

"We've looked at relocating but when you look at the going rate of properties it is pretty prohibitive."

Mr Moseley says "a couple of staff" will relocate to the Rugby store and two or three others will move to the company's headquarters and warehouse in Daventry.

"There may be one or two redundancies," he said.