Wick's latest shop closure blow

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D.R.Simpson's to close this week

A WICK town-centre shop has given notice it's closing – the fourth in a matter of months - blaming the recession and supermarket competition.
D.R.Simpson's, which traded in the High Street, as a newsagents, stationers, coffee shop and fine goods sellers made the shock announcement today and will cease trading on Wednesday.
Proprietor David Moss revealed that the business had struggled hard to keep open in the face of consistent price increases, electricity and gas charges in particular which have risen to over £2,500 a month.
He said that he had hoped the run up to Christmas might have provided a ray of hope but returns were “the worst in the history of the shop” and online sales and bargain offers from the Tesco, Argos and other chains had exacerbated the situation.
Mr Moss said: “On a personal note, we ploughed in every penny of spare cash we had and even borrowed money from some fantastic friends and family. The bank would not support any retail outlet at all and with only its support until June, the closure decision was inevitable.”
He paid tribute to his staff and customers for their loyalty during his nine years in business. D.R. Simpson's which is holding a half-price sale on most of its goods, traded as a hardware store for more than half-a-century before diversifying.
The loss of the shop comes hard on the heels of the imminent demise of the long established D.D. Shoes business in Scotland, including the closure of its Wick shop, a few yards away, in Bridge Street and is currently holding a 40 per cent reduction sale. The company’s Thurso branch is also bowing out with bargain offers.
Two craft shops, one in the High Street the other, in Bridge Street fell victim to the recession in recent months.