AN ECO-FRIENDLY one-stop shop in Ruthin may be forced to close due to a lack of trade and the cost of parking according to its owner.
Naturally Ethical has been a fixture in Ruthin for six years, offering eco-friendly, zero-waste food and clothing and supporting local producers to offer ethically-made products at affordable prices.
During that time it grew from a small shop on Castle Mews to its current location on St Peter's Square. Owner Jayne Bedford has always run an online shop alongside her physical store but now says she may have to close the shop in Ruthin.
"We are really struggling," she said. "We have some lovely customers who have become friends and who really support us and we have worked hard to listen to feedback and offer the kind of products people want from more responsible sources at the best prices.
"We simply don't get enough customers through the door anymore. Some days we don't take enough to cover the wages that day and we can't go on like that. It's affecting my mental health as I'm worrying about paying the girls and meeting all our costs.
"There are a number of factors, such as the cost of parking, which is double that in Mold and which charges blue badge holders. There are also works ongoing around the square and people are feeling cost pressure - I've seen myself people spotting something they like in-store and pulling out their phone to see if they can find our products cheaper online."
Naturally Ethical is like a mini-department store. It has an extensive refill section - where food, cleaning products and cosmetics can be refilled at a fraction of the price of purchasing pre-packed.
Their washing-up liquid is not only eco-friendly and skin-friendly, but it is actually cheaper than supermarket brands. and if you don't have a reusable container for your zero-waste purchase, Naturally Ethical has plenty.
It also sells ecologically-produced clothing, including clothing made with bamboo, sustainably produced children's toys and baby grows and much more.
They even sell Ruthin's-own Chilly Cow ice cream in cones. But the drop in in-person trade since Covid has made keeping the doors open challenging - and in a Facebook post this week Jayne opened up about those difficulties.
"We keep our prices below retail as much as possible but some products are a little more expensive," said Jayne. "We have something for everyone however.
"I never wanted to speak out about this but if I don't we will simply close. I think people would genuinely be disappointed to lose us, but my view is if we let people know that we are struggling, they can help prevent that by simply shopping with us."
There is hope on the horizon - there are currently works taking place on a number of empty shop units on the square in readiness for new businesses - but Jayne isn't sure Naturally Ethical can hang on until then.
"We are really looking forward to the new shops opening up," she said. "The square has a bright future, we just want to be here to see it.
"We know people have busy lives and a lot of people have messaged us to say they didn't realise how long it had been since they came in. We get that but we are at the point where it is use us or lose us.
"Some of the local producers we work with have also been supportive, highlighting that when people buy from us they also support the local workers who make the products."
Online sales are still good, but they are not enough to keep the physical store open.
"I'm not trying to make a fortune," said Jayne. "I just want to offer people environmentally responsible options at a fair price and to pay fair wages."
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