An Ashford health and refill shop is set to close after just two years, with the owner warning townsfolk: “Use it or lose it.”

Kati Ramsden, 38, only opened Bare Bazaar in Park Mall in 2021, selling dry foods such as granola, rice and pasta, with customers bringing their own containers, to avoid plastic packaging.

The business owner, who founded the company in 2018 at Ashford Farmers’ Market, said the number of customers would have to double, to give her a chance of survival.

She said: “Even if I were to pay no rent for the next five years, I would be making a loss based on current customer numbers.

“It is a case of use it or lose it. We have some lovely independent businesses here but if you do not come into town and buy from them, they will go.”

The mum-of-two says her decision was prompted when she was asked to sign a new lease, and she had a “realistic” look at the figures.

Mrs Ramsden says during her two years, visitors have expressed interest in using her refill stations, but they end up going to Tesco instead.

She went on: “We are all busy so it is a case of priorities. If it is not your priority, you are not going to do it.

“You can advertise everywhere, but if people do not see it, they do not see it. People are still coming in today and saying they did not know I was here.

“I try to advertise as much as I can but I only have a small budget.”

Mrs Ramsden added: “The whole retail sector is changing and people have got far too used to buying it on Amazon.

“It frustrates me when people say there is nothing to come into town for when they probably did not come when there was stuff here.

Issues with Park Mall carpark have also contributed to Bare Bazaar’s lack of footfall.

It is directly behind Bare Bazaar but, has been closed since April as the council carries out “essential maintenance work”.

“I had not got what I set out for here which was a shop with rear access into the car park,” Mrs Ramsden says.

“For half of my time here, Park Mall has been unavailable.”

The entrepreneur hopes to continue providing refill products in some form.

“I want to do something but for me, part of the joy of it is talking to people,” she said.

“People have been asking if I will be going online but I do not have the storage space at home.

“The footfall is an issue anyway here but if I was online the sales would go down more and I would be paying for storage. I also would not have the joy of talking to people, I would just be packing boxes in a windowless room.”