AN AWARD-winning Woking business has fallen victim to the cost of living crisis.

Bare + Fair, the zero waste and refill shop in The Peacocks shopping centre, will close on Saturday, June 24, its owner Mel Hemmings said this week. Three part-time positions will be lost.

“Like most of retail, we have really felt the impact of the cost of living crisis on our sales while at the same time having to deal with ever-rising costs,” Mel said.

“We have actually been growing our customer numbers but they’re spending less. Our costs have increased, and the Government has cut its energy help for businesses.

“For us, this time has been worse than the pandemic because then there were Government support packages for business.

“But if there was one issue that was the final straw for us, it was our premises – our present shop unit is no longer affordable.

“We were unable to negotiate a new lease and then I couldn’t find new premises to downsize. It’s difficult because the business demands a certain amount of space, both to present and store stock.

“We have to buy in bulk and I’m always telling anyone who’ll listen that the Government urgently needs to reform business rates, which is based on premises, not the size of the business itself.

“It’s an archaic system which leaves small businesses with bills they can’t afford. Absurdly, you end up with a bidding war for less space because businesses are desperate to downsize to survive.”

Mother-of-three Mel set up Bare + Fair after adopting eco-friendly principles at home and finding it difficult to buy refills and other products locally. She ran Bare + Fair for two years from a stall in Woking market before moving into The Peacocks during the pandemic, and the business has been a popular venue in the two-and-a-half years since.

Mel was named the Sustainability Hero at the inaugural CREST21 Business Awards, launched by the News & Mail in association with the University of Surrey, and has been recognised in the national Family Network Business Awards.

Carol Miller, co-owner and director of CREST Business Awards, said: “Bare + Fair has been a standard bearer for environmentally sustainable business and for the work Mel has done to promote sustainability.

“It is terribly sad that Mel is forced to close. We have heard from a number of former finalists and winners that the cost of living crisis and climate change itself are having a severe impact on their enterprises.’’

For now, Mel plans to take time with her children and regroup, rather than return immediately to the retail arena.

“It’s just so tough out there,” Mel said. “So much of what we embraced is now in the mainstream and being done very well, which is fantastic, but it makes for stiff competition.”

As time runs down on Bare + Fair, Mel has one final target for her ‘‘refillutionaries’’.

“I want to hit 100,000 containers refilled and reused since launching,” she said.

“A huge thank you to all our customers, suppliers, supporters and friends for helping make this dream possible in Woking for the last four-and-a-half years.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure serving you. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep it going longer for you, but let’s go out celebrating the impact we’ve achieved together. I’m immensely proud of that.”