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Original Factory Shop to close Haverfordwest branch in December

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THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHOP in Haverfordwest has announced it will close its doors on December 14, 2024. This news has left many saddened, with heartfelt tributes pouring in to celebrate the store’s role in the community and the people who made it special.

In a recent social media post, the management of The Original Factory Shop shared their gratitude for the community’s support, stating: “We take this opportunity to thank all of the local community and our store colleagues for their support throughout our time here in Haverfordwest.” The announcement marks the end of an era for a store that has been part of the town’s retail landscape for many years.

Among those reflecting on the closure is Nigel Shinner, a former employee whose journey with The Original Factory Shop began in Haverfordwest. Nigel shared his experience on social media, reminiscing about his time with the store and how it became a meaningful part of his life and career:

“I know there are sadder things happening in the world today, but this makes me sad. This was my point of entry into The Original Factory Shop family. I joined as just a weekender, while I was raising my kids, but it wasn’t long before I became a supervisor and farmed out to help at other stores. I really stepped up a notch when my life took a turn, and I became Head Office staff and part of the new store merchandising team, often working ten-hour days, unloading wagons, building equipment, dressing stores, and training staff. That job took me far and wide, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, from east coast to west, and to many locations across the home nations.”

Local customers also expressed their sadness at the upcoming closure, with comments pouring in on social media. Long-time shopper Julie Parry wrote, “I will be so sad to see this lovely little shop going. Always such friendly, helpful staff. Good luck, ladies, in whatever work you do next.” Another customer, Lyndsey Gould, shared fond memories of shopping at the store, saying, “Awww, such a shame you’re closing. Will miss getting my balloons from you guys.”

The closure of The Original Factory Shop marks another loss for Haverfordwest’s local shopping scene, which has seen several changes in recent years. The community now prepares to say goodbye to a much-loved establishment, with the store welcoming customers for a final visit until December 14.

For those wishing to express their farewells, the store remains open for one last month, inviting the community to visit, reminisce, and say goodbye to the team that has been a part of their shopping experience for years.

Business

Ascona wins at the 2024 Allica Bank Vreat British Entrepreneur Awards

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PEMBROKESHIRE businessman Darren Briggs, founder of petrol station operator Ascona, has been named a winner of the prestigious Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the ‘Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year – Wales’ and the inaugural ‘Randal Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year – Wales’ categories.

Now in its 12th year, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals and businesses driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the UK economy.

This year, the brand new ‘Randal Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year’ award celebrated entrepreneurs whose business embodied The Randal Foundation’s core mission – to save lives, improve life chances, and contribute positively to local communities.  

Ascona has been committed to supporting local communities since its inception, having established The Ascona Foundation in 2020. The success of the Group over the years has enabled Darren and the team to support many charities in the areas in which it operates, with the Company donating over £400,000 to local, national and community organisations since 2017.

Darren Briggs, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ascona Group, commented: “It is a great honour to be recognised for such prestigious awards at this year’s Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

“I am incredibly proud of Ascona and everything we have achieved over the years. This is another milestone for our business and the recognition is a testament to everyone’s hard work, commitment, and ‘Team Ascona’s’ ethos over the years.

“However, I am most proud of our charitable endeavors and the team’s commitment to giving back. It is something that is very close to my heart. We’re committed to supporting our various charity partnerships, including the Wales Air Ambulance this year, as we continue our extensive fundraising initiatives across the Group.”

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Business

Cilgerran cafe could close but a new one could open as plans submitted

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A CALL to convert a Pembrokeshire village café back to a house, while another ongoing scheme in the same village seeks to convert a house to a café, have been submitted to county planners.

David McDonald, through agent Acer Town Planning, seeks permission to change the use of the ground floor of Awelfa, High Street, Cilgerran from a café to being used as part of the attached dwelling.

A supporting statement, through the agent, says Adele’s café at Awelfa, High Street was originally a dwelling but has seen mixed commercial use for decades.

“Prior to opening as Adele’s café by the applicant, the ground floor commercial use had been vacant for around two years having previously been operated as a Chinese takeaway.

“The current owners took over the rental of the property in April 2019 (purchasing in October 2020) and have operated Adele’s café from the premises between June 2019 and August 2024 whilst living in the linked dwellinghouse.

“During this period, the Awelfa, Cilgerran business has been under prolonged and sustained economic pressures from the cost-of-living crisis with the subsequent increases in utility and food costs and minimum wages.

“Summers 2023 and 2024 saw a significant drop in trade from both local customers and, in particular, a drop in the number of tourists visiting the area.  The closure of the toilets and visitors centre at Cilgerran Castle is considered to have contributed to this reduction in visitor numbers.

“The business was closed during January due to low trade and opened again in February for three days a week and then four days a week from April.  Even with reduced opening hours the business has not been viable for the applicant to continue operating.  The reluctant decision was therefore made to sell the property and trading ceased on August 24.”

The statement says was put up for sale with no offers to buy despite several price reductions, with only three viewings in total.

“In order to increase the pool of buyers for the property, the applicant is now applying for the change of use of the café areas back to form part of the residential use of the main dwelling (as per the original building),” the statement adds.

It also references an unrelated application to convert The Old Post House, High Street, owned by nearby village stores Siop Y Pentre, from a dwelling to a café and flat, saying it “could act as a replacement facility for the community”.

Both applications are currently before planners and are expected to be considered at a later date.

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Business

Rising living costs are increasing credit card usage 

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The recent cost of living crisis has affected millions of people across the UK, with 46 million people reporting that their cost of living has increased since November 2021. Costs are continuously on the rise, and unfortunately many people are struggling to pay bills on time, or at all, and afford basic necessities like food, clothes, and heating. 

In order to get by, more and more people are using alternative methods to make ends meet. This includes buy now, pay later schemes, relying on credit cards, or taking out personal loans. Whilst this can work for some in the short term, it has the possibility of leading to long term implications like debt and a bad credit rating. 

Increased reliance on credit cards 

When used responsibly, credit cards can be a great tool for spreading costs and could help with building a better credit score. However, the pressures of inflation has led to a significant growth in credit card usage, with a 0.8% rise in total credit card spending year-on-year in the UK. 

More people are having to use credit cards to get by on a day-to-day basis which is leaving some people in debt. In fact, outstanding credit card debt reached £70.1 billion – an increase of 7.02% in the year to April 2024.

Once you’re in debt it can be incredibly difficult to get out of it. You need to have enough income to cover your living costs and day-to-day expenses as well as your debt in order to start reducing it. Unfortunately, the inflated living costs are making it even more difficult for people to break the cycle of debt, and are leading to poor credit scores.

How a bad credit score can affect you 

Carrying a lot of debt or failing to make payments on time could affect your credit rating. This, in turn, can lead to several complications regarding some financial products or your ability to rent.  

You are less likely to be accepted for mortgages and loans 

Bad credit makes you look less appealing to mainstream lenders, who will be less likely to offer you a loan or accept a mortgage application as they view you as high risk. Similarly, a landlord or estate agent may be unlikely to consider a rent application for the same reason. 

Qualifying for a credit card may be difficult 

Like with loans, lenders will check for debt and a low credit rating. If your credit score is poor and you have a significant amount of debt, it’s much more likely that your credit card application will be refused. 

Getting car finance can be tricky

Getting car finance is another difficulty when you have bad credit. Lenders will be much less inclined to offer you car finance if you have higher risk factors such as debt and a history of missed payments. 

Fortunately, there are still ways to finance a car with bad credit. It’s important to note that whilst it is possible to get car finance even with a bad credit score, you do need to be sensible about it. Always do your research around which car would be suitable for you and what will match your budget. 

You might face larger interest rates 

If you do get accepted for a loan, mortgage, or credit card whilst you have bad credit, it’s not unusual for your repayments to be much higher than that of someone with a good credit rating. Lenders do this as a way to better protect themselves since the risks they are taking are higher when someone has a poor credit history. 

Your car insurance premiums could be higher

A bad credit score could lead to higher auto insurance premiums. Whilst it’s unlikely you’ll ever be rejected for insurance based on your credit score, it is likely you will have less available options and the premiums on offer could be much more costly. 

Financial products can still be beneficial

When used correctly, credit cards, loans, and other financial products can be advantageous in helping you make larger purchases such as cars or houses. However, it’s important to note that whilst they can be a good tool for spreading costs, it’s essential to conduct thorough research when considering a financial product as you are responsible for your own credit. 

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