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Jessops to close due to ‘local market conditions’

JESSOPS is closing its store in Guernsey because the local market conditions are no longer good enough, its CEO said.

It is unclear at present how long the High Street shop will remain open. (21304345)
It is unclear at present how long the High Street shop will remain open. (21304345) / Guernsey Press

The photography specialist shop on the High Street closed once before in January 2013, along with UK branches, some of which reopened when the company was bought by Peter Jones of Dragon’s Den fame.

There are now 58 stores still operating in the UK.

Jessops CEO Neil Old said: ‘We are continually reviewing the performance of our Jessops store estate. While we continue to open stores where market conditions allow, unfortunately it is also necessary to close those stores where the local market conditions are no longer sufficient to support a Jessops store.

‘For this reason, after careful review we have taken the difficult decision to close our store on Guernsey.

‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their support over the years that we have operated on the island.’

Islanders on social media were sorry to see the loss of one of Town’s only photographic developers and equipment shops.

‘Whilst I normally get my photographic gear online, I have always found Jessops to be fair and on a couple of occasions I have been asked [by Jessops staff] what I could get it for online. On two occasions they have matched that price, great shame,’ said Graham Skuse.

‘Very helpful staff, friendly, obliging, took a couple of 35mm films in [for] one-hour developing.

‘OK, some were back to front, who’s complaining. Great service,’ said Dave De La Mare.

‘That’s been on the cards for years, but they managed to come back a bit. Unfortunately, what you get on island compared to online can cripple companies,’ said Peter Torode.

It is unclear at present how long the shop will remain open in the High Street.

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