Heartbreak as UK shop closes after not making a penny in three days

A shop in a UK is set to close after its young owner failed to make a penny over three consecutive days. The shop in Huddersfield took only £300 during the whole of February with its owner blaming parking charges in the town on the lack of footfall.

Imperial Cards was opened by 17-year-old Stephen Mallalieu in January. However, it has struggled to turn over a with one Saturday, a typically busy day for the high street, returning just £1.20. As well as local parking costs, Stephen said some shoppers had mentioned the higher costs of stamps was putting them off from buying cards.

He told : "I am closing down; town is not doing well at all. I have tried my best. There's not enough customers and I am behind with my rent, so have decided to close down.

"Since I started in January I have had no wage. I made about £20 a day. All day Saturday I made £1.20 in sales."

He added: "Parking prices going up is not helping." The shop is set to close on Wednesday, June 28 and Stephen hopes to get a job for a theatre box office.

He continued: "I feel disappointed and very sad. Three days in February I had no customers. February was shocking."

Stephen announced the closure on social media: "I am writing this with sadness but Imperial Cards is closing down on 28th June...it's been a lovely pleasure to be part of the Imperial Arcade family but nobody is spending money in Huddersfield.

"I think Kirklees need to put a effort into the town to make a better place to shop. I am 17...trying to do well and make my town a better place; it's not working, very very sad. I want to say thank you for everyone and my family support and one of my best friends ever Zoee Cliffe."

It comes as a number of major retailers across the UK have already closed in 2025. Businesses are feeling the squeeze due to a recent rise in National Insurance contributions and mimimum wage, as well as increasing engery and rent costs.

WHSmith and Homebase are among the retailers that have shut stores already. Other big names such as Starbucks, Greggs and Iceland have closed the doors to sites.

Fashion brands have also struggled with Quiz, Select, Trespass and New Look shutting stores so far this year. Many retailers have pointed to the ongoing cost of living crisis as to why they are closing.