More than a century of hardware retailing in Shropshire will come to an end this year when an independent shop finally gives up its battle for survival.
The owners of family-run CR Birch & Son in Shrewsbury have watched custom dwindle because of competition from multiples, parking restrictions and increasing isolation from other shops, and now say the business is no longer viable.

CR Birch was established in 1909 by Charlie Birch. When he died in 1959 his son Gordon took over, and when he in turn died in 1972 his wife Margaruite took over. Their sons Peter and Charlie joined the business straight from school at around the same time, and all three are still running the shop today.

Margaruite Birch told diyweek.net that she has many fond memories of life in the shop in those early days. "We had the cattle market across the road from us and we had all the farmers coming in. We were very, very busy," she said.

"We've got big wide double doors front and back, and we had a pig get loose and come in and go out of the back door. We've had a calf and a cow in. We used to look after children as well; customers would say, can you look after him while we go shopping.

"But since all the out-of-town shopping and internet and prices of parking and yellow lines it's all been against us, and they did so much demolition up the road that all the shops went and it's all apartments now.

"We've been running at a loss for some time and we just feel we can't go on any more," she said, but added: "But you can't blame people for going to the big boys because they can park there."

She said that the shop would close either at the end of December or middle of January after the premises have been sold, and that it had not been worth trying to sell the business on.

"It isn't viable any more because there's no trade," she commented. "You can't sell a shop if there's nobody coming. We have our faithful customers who've always come through the years but, bless them, they're not enough."

Mrs Birch said she was "very sad" at having to reach the decision to close the shop. "And Freda [Onions] has been with us since she left school, over 40 years. We all get on so well and we have so much laughter here so we'll miss it terribly but, there again, you can't just live on fresh air."

Mrs Birch, her sons and Ms Onions will all now retire.

Customers posted messages of regret on the Shopshire Star website after it reported news of the closure. "The level of stock and helpfulness is something I have never found anywhere else," said one.

"It really is the end of an era," said another. "I have used the shop occasionally and always enjoyed the experience. When you want something odd it is place to go where a description turns into a search through draws and shelves because they remember something they have had on the shelf for years. Things you just can't buy in a DIY store or you want one and have to buy ten. Always friendly and keen to help. I'm not surprised they don't make money, the service is far too good" [sic]