A toy shop owner has told customers ‘buy local or it’s bye-bye local’ after her business didn’t make a penny for twenty days.
Maggie Tibbenham has been at the helm of the Imagine Toy Shop in Holmfirth for about six years.
But recent months haven’t been too fruitful for her business, with the toy shop making its worst-ever returns.
In the last year, the small business owner revealed her ‘True Aladdin’s Cave’ didn’t make a single dime for around 20 separate weekdays.
However, it wasn’t only business sales that began to plummet as Maggie’s mental health also took a hit from the stress.
In a plea to social media, Maggie Tibbenham – who owns Imagine Toy Shop – told customers to ‘buy local or it’s bye-bye local’
The small business owner dropped the bombshell that she hadn’t made a single penny from the shop in twenty days (pictured: Imagine Toy Shop in Holmfirth)
Not only does the business owner run her toy shop, but she also works lengthy hours whilst attending events where she can also sell her products.
Sometimes Maggie finds herself working 25 consecutive days, according to YorkshireLive.
She told the publication: ‘I am a strong person but mentally I am starting to collapse. I adore my customers and I love my work.’
Reaching her boiling point, Maggie shared a sincere plea to the general public divulging how difficult it has become to run a business.
‘Buy local or it’s bye-bye local,’ the businesswoman quipped.
Longtime customers flooded her comments with support, with some sending her flowers and chocolate – and one particularly kind shopper offering to manage the shop for free for a short period.
Revealing her reaction to the out-pour of generosity, she told YorkshireLive: ‘I was crying my eyes out. I had customers bringing me flowers to cheer me up.
‘A customer said that if I was struggling mentally he would come and run the shop for free. I cried – it was embarrassing. This should not be happening.’
Urging people to buy in person instead of online, Maggie also expressed her concerns about Holmfirth’s transforming high street.
The shop owner is worried there are too many cafes and bars in the town and not enough independent shops meaning consumers don’t venture to the town to shop.
Maggie’s partner Mark Whaley has also revealed sales at his craft and gift shop, which is also located in the town, have taken a nosedive.
The co-owner of Multicraft Cabin dubbed the most recent Christmas and Easter as the ‘worst ever’ in the last 15 years.
Her partner Mark Whaley (pictured) – who also co-owns a gift shop in the town – said his business most recent Christmas and Easter was their worst in the last 15 years
Many customers have visited the town for some time because there is not much to do, according to Mark.
He said the town centre, where some businesses do not open on Mondays and Tuesdays, has been overrun by cafes, charity shops and bars.
The business owner also said the inconsistent opening hours of some shops are contributing to the issue, claiming it makes the town undesirable to fleeting visitors.
However, Mark and Maggie aren’t throwing in the towel anytime soon, with both urging buyers to buy local.
