A FAMILY-RUN stationery shop which has been a fixture on Evesham’s High Street for nearly four decades will close its doors with the loss of four jobs.
Owners of OHL Stationers expressed their sadness after making the ‘difficult’ decision to close the shop which has served the people of Evesham for 36 years.
The shop will close next Friday (April 28) and speaking to the Observer, managing director Adrian Lowe said in order for the business to ‘keep moving forward’ they had to move online.
Online Office Products will launch the following Monday (May 1) and Mr Lowe admitted the decision to close wasn’t easy but blamed the falling footfall on the High Street.
The family run shop was set up by Oliver Henry Lowe, who was born locally and a former pupil of Prince Henry’s Grammar School as it was back then, in January 1981.
His daughter, Elaine, joined the firm a year later and remains with the business today as the financial director.
Then in 1988, Adrian Lowe, Oliver’s son, took up his role in the family business as an apprentice who worked his way up through the ranks and is now responsible for the day-to-day running of the firm.
“For more than 35 years OHL has proudly been able to serve its customers from Evesham High Street,” Adrian said.
“During this time we’ve been able to adapt with the inevitable changes that come with new technologies and the changing ways people shop.
“In order to keep moving forward and to continue to meet the needs of our customers, we have decided to make the difficult decision to close our High Street shop and transfer the business online. “We’ve always been proud to be a local, family shop, but the falling footfall on the High Street necessitates this change.
“The directors and staff would like to thank all our customers for their loyal support,” he added.
