A family-owned boutique that has branches in Stamford and Oakham to close for the last time this summer.
Colemans has outlets selling stationery and art supplies a few doors down from each other on the town’s main street, St Paul’s Street.
He also has a store in Oakham High Street which will close.
This morning (Friday May 13), Joanna Coleman, General Manager of the Colemans chain, announced the closure “with great sadness and deep regret”.
She said: “Our wonderful company, founded by my father John Coleman in 1969, and of which we are extremely proud, has come to the end of the road.
“For some time our business has struggled to return to pre-covid sales levels.”
“Even before covid, retail as a sector, and particularly in the high streets where we operate, was in decline. Then Covid arrived and we were forced to close all of our stores as non-essential retail – which then remained closed for seven out of 12 months.
“With costs soaring and footfall dropping, our business is no longer viable.”
Joanna emphasized that Colemans has not gone into liquidation and that she will fulfill all of the company’s obligations to its staff, suppliers and owners.
Colemans has been at Stamford for 35 years, having settled in 1987.
“We will leave our main streets with our heads held high,” added Joanna.
“We’ve been in business for 53 years and have created a brand we can be truly proud of thanks to the incredible hard work of our wonderful staff and the loyalty of our fantastic customers whom I want to sincerely thank.”
There will be a shutdown phase over the next three months during which stock will be reduced to empty.
Of the eight Colemans branches across three counties, Colemans of Oundle will remain open and continue to offer framing and printing services.
Oundle Bookstore, part of the Coleman Group, will also remain open.
