While many retailers narrowly avoided disaster during the latest burst of bad weather, one unlucky person was facing a six month nightmare after her store was flooded.
Michelle Firminger, owner of the newly refurbished Ponsanooth Village Stores and Post Office near Falmouth found her shop damaged by floods two days before Christmas, leaving her homeless – and store-less.
“The shop now has to be gutted and won’t be open for six months,” she told Retail Express.
“I’m speaking to the insurers to see if it covers loss of earnings, but I live upstairs and now I need to find somewhere to live. We had a total refit in the summer and only finished refurbishing in September.”
The village community has rallied to offer support, with volunteers helping run a makeshift shop from the pub. The Post Office is looking into setting up a portable office, while a temporary site may be set up on a neighbour’s land.
For many other retailers lashing thunderstorms, gale-force winds and rising tides meant business was slow as customers chose not to brave the worst storms the country has seen for years.
For full coverage of how retailers coped in the stormy weather over the holiday period read Retail Express on January 14.
If any suppliers or other supporters would like to sponsor flood-stricken retailer Michelle Firminger call 020 7689 3379
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