After eleven years spent tempting shoppers in Wolverton with the quirky and unusual, Mrs B's Emporium is preparing to close its doors for the final time later this month.
After eleven years spent tempting shoppers with the quirky and unusual, Mrs B's Emporium is preparing to close its doors for the final time later this month.
Owner Rebekah Blandamer opened the Wolverton store in 2014: “My parents had recently passed away and my brother and I were left with a fantastic but monstrous collection of vintage furniture and collectables which I thought deserved to be loved again. The shop was closing so I thought I'd give it a go. I signed a three month lease thinking it would not last that long and I had no idea what I was doing,” Rebekah recalled.
Originally stocking vintage items with a 'peppering of new', Mrs B's Emporium grew with her confidence, expanding to include fun and humorous items.
The shop, located on Church Street, also became a favourite spot for anyone seeking an off-kilter, rude greetings card.
But shoppers will soon have to search elsewhere for their unique pieces – the shutters come down at the end of August.
“Running a small, independent bricks and mortar business is never easy but in the current climate it has become increasingly difficult,” Rebekah told MKFM, “Online shopping, especially Amazon and now Temu, have hit sales hard with pricing and convenience that is impossible to compete with.
“The economic downturn and cost of living crisis is the final blow for small businesses with people's finances being squeezed and very little to spare at the end of the month.”
But while this is au revoir, it's not goodbye: “I’m not giving up yet," she promised, "I have decided to downsize to develop my own brand - Skewhiffs candles. I'll be moving down the road to a local workshop and adding a selection of best sellers, paint and greeting cards in a little microshop format.
“I’m determined to fight the good fight for small independents!”
