Sedgemoor Furniture Store in Bridgwater set to close after 14 years trading due to 'financial difficulties'

The furniture store on Salmon Parade in Bridgwater will be closing at the end August with the loss of four jobs. 

Formed in 2002, Sedgemoor Furniture Store is a furniture reuse project, and a not-for-profit, self-funded registered charity which helps families on low incomes or benefits to purchase affordable furniture and household electricals.

Steve Austen, chairman of Sedgemoor Furniture Store's board of directors said: "It is with great sadness that the board of directors of Sedgemoor Furniture Store has to announce that the store will close at the end of August.

 "We have regrettably had to make this decision following two to three years of difficult trading conditions caused by a combination of political events and decisions outside of our control, increased competition from the internet, predominately from the rise of buy and sell sites on social media and the introduction of universal credit which has financially crippled our client base.

"This in combination with increasing business costs has resulted in the store no longer being financially viable. 

"We would like to thank all those that have supported us over the years the donators the clients the volunteers and the staff."

The store will close for a week at the beginning of August and will open on August 5 to August 31 for a closing down sale. 

Dee Chisnall, project manager for Sedgemoor Furniture Store said: "We would like to thank all the people who have supported us over the years particularly the public for donating on average 100 tons of re-usable household items a year to the project, keeping good re-usable furniture and white goods out of landfill, all the volunteers that have contributed their time and effort to keep the store running and the staff for all their hard work."