Some of you might be wondering why the Preston store has now been closed for the past few weeks. I’ve had messages asking if it was complications or troubles arising from Preston City Council. This is not the case. Although there have been some bumps, especially with how long it took to finally get the keys & get signage, the council have been wonderful. We had a great deal for a 6 month lease which ends this coming March. I do believe the lack of signage for well over a month hindered the prospects of the shop, but to put it simply, we didn’t get enough people through our doors to be able to continue to run the store. It was a choice between continuing to make Charitable donations each month, or pay for the ever changing train tickets to Preston every day (including the brilliant delays & cancellations that happened nearly every day - Northern Rail).
Sadly, it is looking unlikely that we will be able to re open the shop before our official closing date in March. Most people shopping in Preston walk right past the box market, maybe not even knowing it is there; this is due in part to the design of the indoor market & its placement directly between the bus stop (parking) & the shopping centre. If we had more money for marketing maybe we could have changed that. The deal we had was so good that it would have been silly not to try, so I am glad we went ahead and opened our first store.
Preston has blown me away, the people mostly, but the architecture also. I am looking frantically for a new store, including Preston high street. I don’t really want my journey with Preston to end. I think it’s a gem of a city & it will always hold a special place in my heart due to the support & love we have felt. I will be making some trips to Preston soon on both a professional & personal basis. Finally I will be able to enjoy the Harris Museum & take some time studying the high street & looking for new, more populous premises.
Thank you to the people of Preston. You have treated me, my Brother & Mother with such respect & kindness that it will not be forgotten.
- Jordan