Online future for sewing shop due to corona effect

A SHOP that has been open in a Derbyshire town for 45 years is to shut its doors as it moves online.

Uduit Creative Crafts in Ripley sells everything that sewing and embroidery enthusiasts need.

However, owner Kay Stanton has announced she will be shutting the Church Street store and moving online due to a sharp fall in footfall and the economic impact of coronavirus.

Kay, who took over the business four years ago, said she had not taken the decision lightly.

The 54-year-old said: “There’s been a decline year on year, with footfall down and people spending less.

“Last year there was a big decline in the high street in Ripley.

“The coronavirus has just really finished us off, because our older customers are still not coming out, while the younger ones are shopping online.

“We saw a big decline in September, which should have been a busy period as things normally pick up then after the summer.” Kay said it was difficult to compete with online businesses that don’t pay rent.

“We cannot be competitive when we’ve got a shop compared to online people because we have overheads that they don’t have.

“Speaking to other shops I think we are one of many in the town in this situation.”

Kay said the exact date the store will close depends on the sale of her stock, but she expects it to be between November and the end of the year.

She added: “It’s such a shame – I love talking to the customers and helping them. We won’t get that interaction online.

“A lot of my customers come in for help and advice and that’s what we are going to lose.

“We are hoping to be able to run some classes again when there is a vaccine or this all dies down.”

The store will remain open through its website at www.uduitcreativecrafts. co.uk/ and on Facebook at facebook. com/Uduitcreativecrafts/