A Burnham-On-Sea gift shop is closing in the town’s High Street due to a drop in trade caused by discount store B&M, say its owners.
Hidden Treasures is due to shut down at the end of June after three years in the town centre – it was initially located in Burnham’s indoor market and then opened in Regent Street before moving to the High Street.
Owner Jane Jenkins told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Since B&M opened we have lost a huge amount of trade and we have no option but to close.”
“B&M sells a lot of similar products as us, but at considerably cheaper prices, and we just can’t compete We have tried to stay open as long as possible.”
Alex Turco from Burnham Chamber of Trade said: “Hidden Treasures has been a welcome part of the Burnham business community since May 2013 in three different locations and it is sad that the competition from B&M means that the owners have decided to close.”
He added: “However, footfall in this part of the High Street is up substantially compared with this time last year and so it is hoped that this unit might not be vacant for long. Burnham continues to have fewer vacant units in its town centre than the south west and national averages and it is pleasing to see that vacant units at 3 Regent Street and 3 Victoria Street are due to re-open soon.”
He added that May 2017 had 7.2% higher footfall than May 2016, which represents around 13,500 more people movements in the Town Centre.
“We think the success of the Chamber’s project to bring more coaches into the town, the extra marketing the Chamber has done with the publication of the 2017 Shoppers’ & Visitors’ Guide, the opening of B&M, rather than Morrisons being closed this time last year, as well as fair weather, have all contributed.”
He cautioned: “However, this is not a reason to be complacent as businesses still face challenges. Further, the increase is concentrated at the south end of the High Street whereas footfall towards the north end is quite flat compared with last year.”
