Hardware shop closures heartbreaking, say workers

For nearly nine decades, hardware shop Coopers has been a High Street mainstay in Suffolk and Norfolk.

The retail stalwart, which has a head office in Worlingham near Beccles, opened back in 1938.

But, on Saturday at 15:00 BST, trading will cease and the company's stores in Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Harleston, Leiston and Framlingham will close.

Commercial director Stuart Ruskin said the firm, like many other shops, had struggled to attract customers through the doors because of "how the High Street is today".

"Bills were not getting paid, even online was struggling, so it is just not working anymore," he said.

"We will sell what we can and then the doors will close and that will be the end - it'll be a very sad day because our workers are not just colleagues, they are our friends."

Mr Ruskin, who has worked for Coopers for nearly 30 years, said rising bills and wages had also played their part in the decision.

He said departing employees - who had worked for the firm for as much as 40 years - would all be paid and supported.

Bungay shop manager Gary Revell, who is a former on-call firefighter, said: "I am four and a half years off retirement, so it is difficult, and I have no idea what will happen to me.

"We are all devastated. It is a shame for the town and I am going to miss it - I have built up such a friendship with the customers, so it is heartbreaking."

Part-time employee Angie Daglish, who has worked at the Leiston store for three years, said she was "not surprised but shocked" by the impending closure.

"The workers were gutted [when they were told] because some of them have now got to go and look for jobs," she said.

"My son works here and he has a young family, so I worry more about him. It will be horrible and not very nice on Saturday."

The closure has also caused some concern about Post Office provision, given Coopers stores in Halesworth and Leiston each play home to a Post Office branch.

The Post Office said it would need to "review Post Office service provision in the area" due to the company's "unplanned closures".

"We were very sad to hear that Coopers stores are closing this weekend," a spokesperson said.

They pointed out that Leiston had a recently opened banking hub that could do bill payments, plus personal and business banking services.

Other east Suffolk branches that were open included Aldeburgh, Saxmundham and Peasenhall, the Post Office said.

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