by Angela Cole
acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

It's been a family-run business for more than 20 years but now even the long-running Oyster Box is shutting up its shell in the face of the tough economic climate.

The gift and collectables shop in the Royal Star Arcade, High Street, Maidstone, is to close in the next couple of months, after management decided not to continue when its lease expires.

Although loyal customers had never deserted the business which has two outlets within the arcade, the trading climate has proved too tough.

The shop's owner Jill Powell, whose father Fred Insole started the business 22 years ago, said it was a sad and emotional time.

She said: “It has been hard during the recession, which is obviously the same for everybody, so we have decided that this is the sensible thing.
“If even big companies like Tesco are struggling it isn’t going to get better quickly.”

She made the decision with her mother, Thelma Insole and her husband Barry, but said it was one her late father would have backed.

She said: "I think he would have been the strongest voice to say it has got to go. He obviously loved the shop dearly but he was a businessman and he would definitely have been of that decision.

“We have a lot of customers we have known very well over the years. Everybody has been really kind.”

Although there is no definite date yet for closure, it will be before Easter. Mrs Powell will continue with the online shop and ebay sales for the time being.