Much-loved independent fashion retailer launches closing down sale ahead of shutting down in weeks
A BELOVED clothing store that has been in business for nearly 50 years has launched a massive sale ahead of its closure.
Ginger, in Norwich, will shut for good on June 7 after the owners were forced to make an "incredibly difficult decision".
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The shop was founded by David and Rodger Kingsley in 1978 following the success of their sister company Jonathan Trumbull in 1971.
Beckie Kingsley broke the sad news on social media that her family's shop was soon to be no more.
The store manager blamed the current economic climate and the aftermath of Covid-19 for the business's hardship.
"It's with truly heavy hearts that, after 46 unforgettable years, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors at our beautiful, beloved and historic Timber Hill home.
"We've weathered many storms over the decades, but there's been ongoing challenges of today's financial climate - coupled with the lasting impact and huge shifts within the retail landscape since Covid.
"This led us to ask - does it still work for us? After deep reflection, the answer, sadly, is no.
"We've had the privilege of watching generations grow, celebrating precious life milestones, sharing joys and deepest sorrows.
"Being part of people's stories has been beyond a privilege - more than some may ever know.
"They've always been more than just customers - they've become wonderful friends."
Ginger is one of the city's oldest businesses and loyal customers rushed to share their praise.
"You will be missed! Sending hugs," one wrote.
Another commented with a sad face emoji.
Dozens of shops are set to close across the country before the end of the month in the latest blow to UK high streets.
One of these include Smiggle, known for its colourful, quirky pens, lunchboxes and school bags, which revealed it is shutting up shop at the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury.
Meanwhile, family business B.D Price, a beloved toy and bike store in Dudley, West Midlands, announced its closure after 160 years.
The 84-year-old owner blamed the cost of living crisis for a drop in sales and the costs of running the business skyrocketing.
Rising living costs leaving shoppers with less cash to spend and an increase in online shopping have battered retailers in recent years.
In some cases, landlords are either unwilling or unable to invest in keeping shops open, further speeding up the closures.
Smiggle isn't the only stationary shop shutting its doors, more WHSmiths stores are set to close this month.
Sports Direct axed its Newmarket Road store in Cambridge on April 18 while Red Menswear in Chatham in Medway, Kent, shut for the final time on March 29 after selling men's clothing since 1999.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
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