Lighting of Distinction, with its vast range of lamps and light fittings as well as all things electrical from toasters and kettles to radios and clocks, will close no later than May. Following hard on the heels of East it is the latest casualty in Marlborough’s High Street.
Andy Glover and son Alex have owned the shop for eleven years but it has been there for over thirty. Andy told marlborough.news, “A combination of rates, rent, roadworks and competition from the internet have influenced our decision to close down.”
Initially, the Glovers tried to sell the shop as a going concern but without success. So now they are selling current stock items at a 30% discount and will offer a discount on any orders.
“The town will miss the shop,” says Andy. “We have offered an important service. Now there will be nothing left like it in the area which is sad and the reason we would have preferred to sell it. The shop is very busy and would have been a good little business for someone. But it’s a lifestyle thing – you have to like people. We have a huge cross section of people coming in here including celebrities like Nigel Havers and Zoe Wanamaker who live in the area.”
Andy’s personal touch and local knowledge will be missed. He has been known to change light bulbs for elderly customers, make small repairs, fit batteries and recommend other local tradesmen to customers. They in turn would recommend customers to him.
Andy, who has worked in electronics all his life will miss the shop but not the constant competition from discounted goods on the internet. Alex will continue to run the electrical contracting side of the business and can be contacted on electrical@lightingofdistinction.co.uk. The family partnership will continue as Andy will, he says, help out when he can.
