It is with regret that we announce today (19th May 2008) that BritShopS will temporarily cease trading at midnight on 1st June 2008.

When BritShopS was formed, the short term strategy was to run the business solely on the internet with a long term view towards opening a High Street shop. Whilst continuing to operate via the Internet, the shop would give us a footprint, albeit small, on the High Street.

The benefits would have been twofold. Firstly, and most obviously, we would have had a high profile presence which would have helped expand both the business and our reputation. Secondly, the shop premises would have provided a warehouse from which to supply the internet side of the business.

We have taken great care to select our suppliers as well as our market and we have reached individual agreements with each supplier on prices which was fair both to them and to our customers.

Sadly, over recent months, delivery costs have become prohibitively expensive and, in order to maintain a profit margin, we would have had to renegotiate prices with the suppliers. As most of our suppliers are small businesses who are feeling the pinch as much as the rest of us, we were not prepared to try to drive down the supply prices without a significant increase in stock purchase. Hence the need for a warehouse.

Unfortunately we have not been able to find a suitable premises and, disappointingly, we are faced with a stark choice -- run the business at a loss (not a commercially sensibly option) or suspend trading until such time as a suitable property becomes available.

Consequently BritShopS will become dormant at midnight on 1st June 2008 until such a property is acquired.

Please note that all the shops within the site will be closed down with immediate effect EXCEPT the discount store which will continue trading until Thursday 29th May to try to reduce some of the current stock level. Please do make use of the Discount Store while you still can or we will have to eat and drink all that is left!

The www.BritShopS.co.uk website will remain in place and we will provide links and other information about our suppliers so that you can contact them directly, which we would urge you to do.

It is frustrating that we are having to take this action and we thank you for all your support over the last two years. Hopefully this will be just adios and not goodbye.

Kindest Regards
Steve and Alan

Please note:

Some of our products are seasonal. Whilst every effort will be made to supply you with exactly what you have ordered, sometimes a product will become unavailable at short notice. In such cases we will contact you to offer an alternative.

It is our intention to begin shipping outside the UK as soon as we can. However, due to current international restrictions on the transportation of foodstuffs, we are unable to at present.