AFTER ten years without one, Cricklade will soon have its own locally-owned hardware store.
The town has had hardware stores over the years, but for a decade the nearest place for locals to get screws, bulbs, fuses and general hardware has been Swindon or Cirencester.
That's why Paul Harris, 61, is set to open Cricklade Hardware, a new store right on the High Street to save people having to make what can be an hour round trip for things they need.
Paul said: "The main focus of the store is to provide varied products required for the home and garden, with items changing on a seasonal basis.
"There are also the core services the business will offer such as key cutting, dry cleaning, rug doctor and house numbers/signs etc.
"Also as standard cleaning, pest control, painting and decorating, hand tools, Kitchenware, locks and security, as well as your day-to-day items such as batteries, lamps, glues and general light building products.
"The main reason for opening the store is to give people the chance to "Shop Local" with Quality products at a fair competitive."
Paul's family are all local business owners in the area, with his wife owning Pure Hair and his daughter owning Pure Beauty, and he is hoping his past experience will allow him to follow in their footsteps with his own retail offering.
"I am a trained electrical/electronic engineer by trade. Having previously run a cable assembly business and sold various electromechanical products across sectors such as Rail, aerospace and defence, marine and audio-visual.
"I have the background and knowledge to help customers make the right choices and decisions. I look forward to welcoming the people of Cricklade and surrounding areas to the shop, and promise them the time, service and advice the bigger stores don't," he said.
Paul is looking to open on November 25, but will have a grand opening on December 2, the day of the Christmas light switch-on.
He said he would be staying open late on that Saturday and 'expects the Christmas decorations are going to sell out fast'.
For more information, visit the 'Cricklade Hardware' Facebook page.
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