Animal Attraction, located on Buntingford high street in Hertfordshire, is closing down because of dwindling trade in the town centre...
The pet shop has taken the decision after nearly nine years of trading, and it follows the closure of a nearby Italian restaurant.
Manager Hessa Riddett said: “For the last four years it has been a real struggle to keep the shop going. Sales have been going down and down every year and I’ve just been getting more and more in debt, I just had to admit defeat.”
Mrs Riddett said that falling footfall had been the biggest problem for Animal Attraction.
She said: “In the early days of the business we were making some money, enough to employ a few people but now I’m barely paying the bills.
“There are a range of contributing factors, the presence of traffic wardens, limited parking spaces, competition of big retailers and, of course, internet shopping have an impact on the number of people who come through the door.”
According to Mrs Riddett certain shops such as hairdressers can survive because people can’t get their hair cut online.
However small shops that offer services and products which can also be bought in supermarkets will struggle to compete with the larger retailers.
Mrs Riddett added: “If you’re doing your weekly shop in the supermarket why would you go out of your way to pick up a bag of dog food in the pet shop when you can pick it up in the supermarket? Especially when it is even easier and might be cheaper to buy it online and have it delivered.”
The decision to close the pet shop was made after Mrs Riddett’s accountant called to tell her she was barely making enough to cover the bills.
She said: “People come in and say it’s sad that high street shops are closing but people aren’t loyal to their local shops.
“I don’t mean that in a horrible way, after all we all do it. If you can get something cheaper at a supermarket why would you spend more money elsewhere?
“Needless to say I’d like to thank all my customers of the years.”
Chairman of Buntingford’s chamber of commerce, Toby Archer said: “It is sad to see established shops closing, they add to the diversity of the high street and are very much a part of it.”
