Colchester baby shop Millie and Mabels has closed

A popular baby shop in Colchester has closed after just one year. Owner Katie Marie Naum announced the news on social media, expressing her gratitude for customer support. The store, named Millie and Mabels, offered affordable clothes for toddlers and children up to ten years old. Katie, a student pharmacist and mother of two, started the shop to help parents find budget-friendly clothing. The store focused on second-hand items, preventing over 1,000 garments from ending up in landfills. Although the pop-up shop will not continue, Katie plans to sell products online while seeking a permanent location. Retailers in the UK face challenges as more customers shop online. Rising costs and increased business rates are causing many stores to close. In 2024, over 13,000 stores closed, and this trend may continue in 2025. Major retailers like New Look are also planning to reduce their number of locations. The British Retail Consortium warns that new costs could lead to significant financial pressure in the retail sector. Research shows that many companies plan to raise prices as they struggle with employee costs. Predictions suggest around 17,350 retail sites could shut down this year, with potential job losses reaching 202,000 in the sector.