Woollat & Coggin in Gilpin House

It has been announced that the Luxuries and Curiosity shop Woollatt & Coggin will be closing their shop on the High Street, ending 164 years of trading in the town.

The shop consolidated their business in August 2005 and relocated to Gilpin House at 84 High Street.

Sales continued to decline and today (25th July) they announced the closure of the shop.

It became apparent that the level of business continued to decline and unfortunately, the forecast was that the trend would continue.

For some time now, InStyle Products Limited, the business behind the Woollatt and Coggin shop, had been supporting a shop that is not commercially viable.

It was with much regret that they had no alternative other than to cease their retail operation and close the shop with effect from 31st August 2007.

Staff at the shop made every effort to increase custom but the pressures from the larger National retailers moving into non-food goods and with Ware High Street, struggling to be a destination town, they could not envisage any likely improvements.

Compulsory redundancies will be necessary but the company will endeavour to offer all of their staff alternative employment within other areas of the company.

Managing Director Darren Osborn said. "In reaching this decision, the Directors have given careful consideration to alternatives to closure but we feel that this action is essential in order for our company to safeguard the job security of the majority of its workforce."

"We would like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support over the years and we look forward to offering the same high level of service through our internet sites."

InStyle Products Limited will continue to trade but concentrate its efforts on the development of its online businesses, www.cookinstyle.co.uk www.giftsinstyle.co.uk www.coolinstyle.co.uk and www.lightinstyle.co.uk.

InStyle Products Limited will continue to offer price discounts to the people of Ware, Hertford and the surrounding villages, via promotional codes posted on the www.wareonline.co.uk website.

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