ONE of the Island’s oldest retail businesses will close at the end of September after ‘falling sales and rising costs’ made its future ‘unsustainable’.
Heffords shoe shop, in St Peter, originally opened on the site 99 years ago after its founder, Mr A T Hefford, was discharged from the Army.
The company, which also had a store in St Helier for many years, remained in the Hefford family until 2007, when it was sold to Southampton-based Tutte and Thomas Ltd.
Director John Waldron, who has been involved with the store since its sale 15 years ago, said that it was ‘very sad’ that a ‘piece of Island history’ was coming to an end.
‘The shop has been part of life for thousands of Islanders, many of whom remember coming in as children to be measured for their school shoes,’ he said. ‘However, it was very tough to get through Covid. Not only were we forced to close for several weeks but, when we reopened, sales dropped off significantly.
‘While they have improved since, they are only at around 80% of pre-Covid levels and, with operating costs going up and the global situation making people very careful about how they spend their money, it is no longer sustainable to run the business.’
Mr Waldron said that staffing and a growing move towards online shopping had also contributed to the decision.
‘People are very price-conscious and even one of our biggest brands, Clarks, is encouraging parents to buy a measuring gauge online and measure their children’s feet at home, which has put our business under greater threat,’ he said.
With five staff working for the firm, Mr Waldron added: ‘With the employment situation being as it is, I hope, and feel confident, that they will find the right new jobs.
‘I would like to thank both the staff and our customers for their loyalty and support both over the years and following the announcement of our closure.’
Heffords is the second shoe shop with a long Island history to close in recent years, after Beghins – which opened in 1842 – ceased trading in February 2019. The King Street site reopened as a French-style brasserie last month.
No plans have yet been announced for the future of the St Peter site.
