November 19, 2019 1.40 pm This story is over 55 months old

Brexit blamed on closure of Lincoln Bang & Olufsen store

There’ll be a closing down sale
Gavin Sykes took over the business from his dad Geoff. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

A Lincoln shop with nearly 50 years of history on the High Street will be closing soon, and Brexit has been blamed for its demise.

Gavin Sykes took over the Bang & Olufsen shop from his father Geoff, who opened it for the first time as an independent business back in 1969.

The shop has been struggling over the past three years to attract new customers so it will close in the next few weeks.

Before then, the B&O store will hold a big sale from Thursday, November 21 on its remaining stock, which will be discounted by up to 50%.

Some items are marked down in price by up to 50%. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

Brexit has hit its customer’s confidence. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

Gavin told The Lincolnite: “It’s a very high end brand and for the last three years there’s been a lot of uncertainty with the Brexit situation.

“Our customers have, to some degree, been sat on their hands.

“You expect new people to come in, but there’s so much uncertainty, the confidence has been swinging up and down.

Bang & Olufsen is known for its striking design. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

They are now having a big sale. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

“There aren’t any Bang & Olufsen stores in places the size of Lincoln, so we also don’t have nearly as many people to sell to.”

He has also seen more and more people recently use the shop to browse and then try to find the same product cheaper online.

Seven people will lose their full-time jobs because of the closure.

One of the long-standing employees, Carl Houlton, is setting up his own mobile Bang & Olufsen installation business in North Hykeham.