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Published:
August 31, 2006
Gift
shop shuts its Burnham-On-Sea store as it jumps online
A
gift shop in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea shut its doors for the
final time on Thursday (August 31st) - as it became an Internet-only
store instead.
 The
Gift Gallery in Cross Street started trading in April and sold
a wide variety of gifts - from candles and cards, to ornaments
and collectibles.
But
it found the number of visitors to its shop were not high enough
to sustain the 'bricks and mortar' side to its business - so it
has launched on the Web instead.
On
Thursday, its owners, Sue
and Martin Childs, closed
the Cross Street shop, pictured, for the final time.
"We
thank all our customers for their loyal support over the last
few months but sadly cannot sustain the shop any longer,"
Martin told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
"Our loyal customers can continue to buy from us, though,
through our new online store instead." He added that a Web
site featuring all of the shop's products had launched here.
Martin
believes trading conditions in Burnham-On-Sea for small businesses
not located on the High Street are "challenging."
"Shops
who are not based along Burnham's high street are definitely put
at a disadvantage," he said.
"The
peculiar rules in place that disallow advertising boards to be
placed along the high street by firms who are not based there
make it tough for small firms in the side streets to survive."
His
views were echoed by the previous owner of the shop - Crandon
Computer Supplies - which closed its doors last year due to a
low number of customers.
John
Edwards, chairman of the Burnham Chamber Of Trade, told Burnham-On-sea.com:
"I'm very disappointed to hear that another shop has closed
in the town. I completely agree with Martin that shops in the
side streets are at a disadvantage. The town council takes the
stance that shops along the High Street should be able to advertise
because they pay higher business rates, while those in the side
streets pay lower rates and should not."
"Personally,
I think more should be done to encourage customers to go into
Burnham's side streets. The town council did hint at its latest
meeting that it would start considering each application for an
advertising board on its own merit rather than having a blanket
ban, so there is hope. We
need an even playing field for all businesses in Burnham."
RELATED
LINKS:
New
Burnham-On-Sea gift shop opens doors for business
Burnham's Crandon Computer
Supplies shuts its Burnham shop
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