AFTER almost 30 years in business, owners of Launceston store ‘…hazard’, Sue and David Issleib will ‘shut up shop’ for the last time when they retire in March, writes Zoé Uglow.

Sue said: “We opened the store in 1993, where we owned a little half shop on Southgate Place, which is now a homebrew store [Cornwall Smallholders Supplies]. The shop was split in two, we owned one half and the other was a knitting wool store I believe. We stayed there for two years before moving to the current premises where we were branded as ‘Whizkidz’.”

Many people who have grown up in Launceston will remember WhizKidz who, among other things, stocked school uniforms for the local college.

After they noticed a gap in the market for a men’s/boy’s clothing outlet in the town they opened up a second store across the road called ‘…hazard’ — where ‘Short Circuit’, the games trading service now operates from.

Sue said: “We opened a shop across the road from Whizkidz, where the comic/games shop is, in around 2002. We called it …hazard and opened it in order to up the men’s side of the business. At that time we also had two stores in Tavistock, under the Whizkidz brand, which we ran for about 16 years.”

Now that …hazard is to close its doors Sue wants to reassure the public that she hopes to sell the business ‘as a going concern’ to hopefully ensure the town continues to receive its supply of school wear and other items the shop currently stocks,

She said: “I am hoping to sell it as a going concern to maintain the sale of school clothing etc. It is a feasible retail business and we have already received some interest.

“We were a main fundraiser for Launceston College for many years, holding special events to raise money for them and have always supported them with their school uniform needs. We used to hold a lot of fundraising fashions shows, including ones held in a field at Launceston Show, it really has been an eventful few years working at …hazard and we will miss it but it is time to pass it on and get some fresh blood into the town.”

They have traded in Launceston for around 24 years, and in that time have thrown themselves into the local community. Sue became the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, a seat she is now planning to give up at the next annual meeting in March.

Sue said: “We are retiring from everything. Unfortunately our priorities have changed over the last twelve months and we feel that now is the time to pass it on to someone else. We have been heavily involved with town projects like the Christmas lights and other events, through the Chamber of Commerce, and, although we have enjoyed it, all things have to come to an end at some point.

“The Chamber of Commerce and the town need new blood and some fresh ideas. I will stay on at the shop if whoever takes it on wants me, to give the public a friendly face during the transition and help with a smooth hand over, but other than that we haven’t really got plans for our retirement.

“However, we are not gone yet and we still have stock until the end of March, there is still plenty to come and look at. Hopefully we will still see some of our loyal customers from time to time and see the new owners of …hazard thrive!”