A model shop in a Buckinghamshire shopping centre is set to close after struggling with high rent, economic difficulties and an increase in shoplifting. 

Collectables R Us Ltd, an independent model car shop in the Eden Shopping Centre, High Wycombe, has announced its imminent closure in the town, following "increased rent, decreased spending and more and more shoplifting incidents".

A spokesperson shared a statement on the closure to the business's website yesterday (March 7), expressing regret that it was "now not viable" to continue trading in the shopping centre.

They added that they are looking for an alternative site in the local area, and reassured customers that they will continue trading through the Collectables R Us Ltd website.

The statement continued: “While this decision was not easy, we believe it is the right step for our business.

"We want to express our deepest gratitude to our employees who have dedicated their time and effort to making Collectables R Us Ltd a special place. In the coming days we will be offering clearance sales and special promotions as we wind down operations in The Eden store.

“All customer pre-orders will be fulfilled regardless of when the store closes. All pre-ordered items will be posted free of charge, or you will be able to collect them from a collection point in High Wycombe, the site of which will be confirmed.”

Darryl Earle, owner of the shop, told the Free Press last October that he didn’t believe shoplifting in Eden was being adequately tackled by Thames Valley Police.

Bucks Free Press:

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Darryl said: “When this kind of thing happens in Poundland and Boots, it just goes to Head Office and prosecution ends up being too much hassle. But (that) sends the wrong message – we have a sign saying, ‘Zero tolerance for shoplifting, we will prosecute you if we watch you’, and we need everyone to be doing that.

“It feels like the way things work is in favour of the shoplifters instead of us, the retailers.”

The independent business’s departure from the shopping centre follows a series of other closures, most recently of popular toy shop Toys UK, prompting residents to criticise the “sorry state” of High Wycombe’s retail scene.

Fast fashion store Zara closed at the end of January, and it was recently announced that The Body Shop is also set to depart The Eden in just a few weeks.

Despite the series of closure announcements, Shopping Centre Director Andrew Norton was optimistic about the future of the complex in December, stating that it was “performing exceptionally well” and that the incoming year “looked bright”.