Popular Scots baby store announces shock closure leaving expectant parents out of pocket
Some families have accused the firm of "taking money from people, knowing they were going under"
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EXPECTANT parents claim to have been left out of pocket after a popular Scots baby store shut its doors without warning.
Stirling Pram pulled the shutters down last week after announcing on social media that "despite our best efforts" it had gone bust.
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Stirling Pram announced the shock closure on social media last week
Credit: Stirling Pram
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It was an official stockist of renowned brands like Mamas and Papas
Credit: Stirling Pram
The baby shop, an official stockist of renowned brands such as Mamas and Papas, was a go-to for newborn essentials, including prams, car seats and nursery furniture.
Just days before the closure, Stirling Pram launched a half-price "furniture clearance sale" - claiming it was to make space for new stock.
But shortly afterwards, the store revealed on Facebook that it would be ceasing trading.
In a post on Stirling Pram's now-deleted Facebook account, staff wrote: 'To all our amazing customers, after pouring our hearts into this business it's incredibly difficult to now share that we are closed and going into liquidation.
'Running a physical store in recent years has been more challenging than ever – from the rapid growth of online shopping and price cutting, people increasingly using us just as a showroom for buying online, to the rising costs of rent, utilities, supplies and operations.
'Despite our best efforts, these pressures became too much to bear.'
It added: 'This decision hasn't come easily, and we want to say a heartfelt thank you to every one of you who walked through our doors, supported us, and believed in what we were doing.'
According to The Courier, employees at the Stirling Enterprise Park store learned they were losing their jobs on the same day the closure was announced.
Parents-to-be, who claim to have spent hundreds of pounds on prams and other items, say the company has ignored their attempts to contact them following the announcement.
Several have taken to social media, accusing the firm of "taking money from people, knowing they were going under".
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One wrote: 'Absolutely fuming, ordered pram, changing unit and other stuff from Stirling Pram in Stirling.
'Paid quite a bit in deposits, only to find out when I tried to contact them they'd gone into administration.
'We're lucky, if we can't get a refund from bank… but for some, they've given their money thinking they're giving their unborn child the best and are left with nothing.'
Another added: 'I am very sorry to hear about your shop closing.
'But I'm also very angry as I've have bought and fully paid for my daughter's pram for her first baby, which is currently being held in your store for us until nearer baby's due date.
'I am absolutely disgusted and my daughter at 10 weeks to go certainly does not need this stress of now knowing we have no pram or money to buy another one.'
Stirling Pram claimed it had appointed "insolvency practitioners" who would contact existing customers with "more details on next steps".
The business was put up for sale ten months ago, described as a "well-established business" with an annual turnover of £650,000.
Stirling Pram's website and social media channels have all been deleted.
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