A beloved high street gift shop in Lanark is set to close its doors for good after just two years of operation. The Wallace Emporium, located on Castlegate, has announced a significant closing down sale, offering discounts of 20% on all items until the store is sold out. The news has left many local customers disheartened, as the shop was known for its wide array of Scottish-made products, including Isle of Skye scented candles and Harris Tweed purses.
The announcement was made via a heartfelt post on the shop's Facebook page, which read: "We're Closing Our Doors. It's time to say goodbye… but not without a thank you! Enjoy 20% OFF everything in-store until we're sold out. Grab your favorites while you still can — once they're gone, they're gone!" The closure comes as part of a troubling trend affecting many small businesses across the UK, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.
Customers have taken to social media to express their sadness over the closure. One fan of the shop commented, "Such a shame this little treasure trove is going to close. Very best of luck for the future whatever ventures/adventures you have." Another wrote, "So sad to be losing you - a great shop with great products!!" The outpouring of support highlights the shop's role as a cherished part of the community.
The Wallace Emporium is not the only shop facing closure in the area. The Woodpecker bar and restaurant in Lanark has also announced that it will permanently shut down on April 27, 2025. This trend of closures is reflective of broader challenges facing retailers, particularly small businesses.
According to recent reports, the retail sector is grappling with rising costs and decreased foot traffic, exacerbated by the ongoing cost of living crisis. The British Retail Consortium has warned that the government’s increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from April 2025 will cost the retail sector a staggering £2.3 billion. Additionally, the minimum wage is set to rise to £12.21 an hour, with the minimum wage for younger workers increasing to £10 an hour, further straining small retailers.
In the past year alone, approximately 13,000 shops closed their doors, marking a 28% increase from the previous year. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) predicts that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down in 2025, with dire forecasts suggesting that as many as 202,000 retail jobs could be lost in the sector. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR, noted, "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household, it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
The situation has been particularly hard for family-owned businesses like A.G. Meek shoe shop, which recently announced the closure of its branch on Eastgate Street in Gloucester after 60 years of trading. The owner, Mr. Meek, cited rapidly rising costs and reduced footfall as key reasons for the closure, stating, "I have been struggling with rapidly rising costs and reduced footfall since the pandemic and the shop has not been covering its costs. I have held off hoping things would improve, but the recent budget is a disaster for small businesses employing lots of part-time staff like ours."
Mr. Meek noted that both National Insurance and business rates would each increase by £5,000 a year from April, making it unsustainable for his shop to continue operating. He lamented that larger retailers have more flexibility to adapt to these changes, while small businesses face insurmountable challenges.
As the Wallace Emporium prepares to close, it serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by small retailers in today’s economic climate. The shop’s commitment to offering unique, locally sourced products resonated with many in the community, and its closure will undoubtedly leave a void in the local shopping landscape.
Local residents have expressed their disappointment over the loss of such a cherished establishment. One community member shared, "So sorry to see another good little shop and a premises closing its doors in the town." The sentiment reflects a broader concern about the future of small businesses in the face of economic pressures and changing consumer behaviors.
As the retail landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how many more businesses will be forced to close their doors. The challenges posed by rising costs, coupled with shifts in consumer habits towards online shopping, have created a precarious environment for high street retailers.
For now, customers are encouraged to visit the Wallace Emporium before it closes its doors for good, taking advantage of the closing down sale and celebrating the unique offerings that have made the shop a beloved fixture in Lanark. The community will surely miss the charm and character that the Wallace Emporium brought to the high street, but its legacy will live on in the hearts of those who cherished it.
