A message from Ken Mosley, Canny Clever General Manager

Over the last month, our Whitley Bay store has been closed. Primarily because of staff illness and the myself undergoing major hospital surgery. Following the surgery, I have been advised to ‘slow down’ as I continue to deal with an ongoing medical issue. I have now decided that this closure will be permanent.

As the owner of Canny Clever Group, I have often wrestled with the question of keeping the Whitley Bay store open, over the last year, sales have been decreasing and retail crime has been increasing exponentially to the point we have lost almost £8000 of stock in three months to shoplifters. When you combine that with the wider economy and changing demographic in the area it became more of a juggling act than a balancing act.

Some of the challenges we faced include NI increases, unfavourable business rates, rising utility costs, increasing salary costs and above all, increasing product costs as well as other local retailers closing their doors, which in turn further reduces foot flow.

However, many of these pressures can be mitigated by a towns businesses working together for the good of all…. I’d like to think we tried to do this, but not every business works in the same way.

I would strongly urge the local community to get behind your local independent businesses before it’s to late. For us (Canny Clever), we have ambitious expansion plans which are already underway, so this is not the end for us, but a chance to gather our thoughts and improve our offer.

Our loyal customers can still visit us at our Morpeth branch, where our Whitley Bay colleagues are now also based. Any customer with enquiries can call our main number (0330 321 4777).

Contacts

• Telephone 0330 321 4777
• Email talk@cannyclever.co.uk