Penzance wool shop struggles to find buyer

A wool shop based in Penzance has struggled to find a buyer and if nobody steps forward soon, it looks like the shop will be forced to close.

Knit Wits in Causewayhead is owned by Julia Hopson, a woman who has worked hard to popularise knitting in the local area in Cornwall and further afield. She also happens to hold the world record for a particularly large pair of knitting needles.

The shop has enjoyed around 30 years of successful trade, however, no buyers have been found in the two years it has been on the market, prompting Ms Hopson to look to close things down.

Despite historically strong trading records, recent years have proved a bit more difficult. Changing shopping and lifestyle habits, coupled with a downturn in general trade in the area have reportedly made the venture less profitable and, given that the current owner is looking for a change in lifestyle, she doesn't appear to be in the right place to invest the time and effort required to get things back on course.

Speaking to The Cornishman, she said: “With the advance of social media I think many people are spending less time on hobbies and more time online – Facebook and other social media sites are the new hobbies.

“This fact, combined with lower footfall in Penzance throughout the recession and the proliferation of cheaper online only stores have all contributed to the decision to close.”