SHOPPERS were left devastated after their beloved gift store announced it will close its doors for good after five decades in business.
The popular J Menzies of Callander revealed a major sale for its loyal customers, who say it’s the “end of an era”.
J Menzies of Callander is a well-known gift store located in the picturesque town of Callander, Scotland.
This family-run business has been a staple in the community for many years, offering a wide range of products that cater to both locals and tourists alike.
I has been praised for its friendly and knowledgeable staff, who are always willing to help customers find the perfect gift or souvenir.
But after decades in business, the much-loved shop on Main Street confirmed its shocking closure on Thursday.
An announcement on the store’s Facebook said: “After over 50 years our family business is closing.
“We wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our lovely and loyal customers who we will miss dearly.
“Come and grab a bargain whilst stocks last, everything must go!
“We close our doors on August 31. Post Office will remain open until January 31.”
The store’s loyal clientele was left devastated, with Facebook users flocking to the comment section to express their sadness.
One person said: ” End of an era. Wishing u all well.”
Another wrote: “Very sad news – will miss all the staff who are really great.
“Thanks for all the great service to the community for such a long time you all will be greatly missed.”
A third added: “Best of luck in the future and I’m sure it will be a big miss in Callander.”
While a fourth replied: “Such sad news.”
The Sun has approached the store for comment.
At J Menzies of Callander, shoppers can find traditional Scottish items such as tartan products, Scottish shortbread, and other locally-made crafts.
The store offers a variety of jewelry and accessories, including pieces that feature traditional Scottish designs.
It also has a section dedicated to books and stationery, offering a selection of local interest books, maps, and guides, which are particularly useful for tourists exploring the area.
Meanwhile, a major retailer with around 300 British stores closed an “essential” outlet for good just days ago.
Another DIY store which boasts 145 branches nationwide pulled down the shutters on one of its stores in April.
Homebase permanently shut the doors on its Syon Lane store – prompting a closing-down sale.
It is important to note that just because a chain is closing a shop, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s struggling.
Meanwhile, a major retailer with around 300 British stores closed an “essential” outlet for good just days ago.
Another DIY store which boasts 145 branches nationwide pulled down the shutters on one of its stores in April.
Homebase permanently shut the doors on its Syon Lane store – prompting a closing-down sale.
It is important to note that just because a chain is closing a shop, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s struggling.
Some retailers have closed a few branches here and there for various reasons, like when a store lease has come to an end.
Other examples of one-off rather than widespread closures is if there are changes in the area, like a shopping centre closing, and in some cases a shop will close to relocate to another area.
Some chains have faced tougher conditions though, forcing them to shut dozens of stores, or all of them in the worst case.
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
Boss Stuart Machin recently said that when it relocated a tired store in Chesterfield to a new big store in a retail park half a mile away, its sales in the area rose by 103 per cent.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Wilko, Debenhams Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Paperchase to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.