Oxford store in Cornmarket Street closes after 20 years

Directors took the decision to close the store selling Fair Trade goods 'with heavy hearts' after sales and footfall failed to return to pre-pandemic levels.

They claimed central Oxford was no longer a 'destination of choice' following the relaunch of the Westgate Centre in 2017.

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In February, bosses invited shareholders to an ‘extraordinary’ meeting to discuss the closure of the shop which is in a building next to St Michael at the North Gate church.

While the Fair Trade shop in the basement has closed, the church has its own visitor centre, which remains open.

They also discussed dissolution of the Co-operative running the shop.

The church visitor centre remains open

A statement on the Fair Trade at St Michaels website said: "After careful explanations and discussion, it was unanimously - though very regretfully - agreed to go ahead with the proposed closure. 

"Since the pandemic, neither our sales nor our footfall, have returned to pre-Covid levels. 

"Since the Westgate opened and more businesses are moving or having to close, central Oxford is no longer a destination of choice, leaving us without the retail traffic we once enjoyed. 

"Inflation is ramping up costs and prices both for retailers and shoppers.

"When the directors recognised the scale of the financial challenges, they embarked on a series of external events to inspire a new generation of shoppers, but to no avail.

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"Social media and other digital marketing efforts have not been able to entice new customers to the shop either physically or online. The threat of further issues with local transport - including the imminent closure of Botley Road - does not bode well.

"The directors and staff have considered alternatives including different premises, pop up shops, and reduced opening hours among other ideas, but none were financially viable or ticked our cooperative objectives."

The statement added: "Therefore, after hours of discussions, hundreds of emails, and heavy hearts, the directors had decided that the best port of call was to close now while we can close well: supporting our staff, volunteers, suppliers and of course the Fairtrade producers we all love. 

"If we had attempted to continue for a few more months, or even to the end of 2023, there was a high chance of ending up in an extremely precarious financial position and not able to fulfil our wish to close the shop and cooperative in a positive way."

The church visitor centre remains open

The directors are planning to host a celebration event at some point in early summer.

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A spokesman added: "Although this is an incredibly sad time, it is also a mammoth achievement to have been promoting Fairtrade in Oxford so successfully for 20 years, and one we believe should be celebrated.

"From all of us here at Fairtrade at St Michaels, we thank you for the support you have given us for the last 20 years.

"Your words of encouragement, and most of all, your drive to purchase responsibly and support those who need it the most."

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF