Pick up a bargain	Higham shop frontage

A third generation family business, established back in 1969 by John Coleman and run by his daughter Joanna and granddaughter Tallie. A British business, based in Northamptonshire for so many years, but eventually it stretched its supply chain all over the UK. 

In the spring of 2022, this message was announced on their social media site:

“It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the closure of the Coleman Group. We have traded successfully for over 53 years but unfortunately the combination of online competition, the Corona virus pandemic, and reduced footfall on our High Streets, means that our business is no longer viable.

We can’t thank our customers enough for their loyalty over the years: we will miss you very much.

Colemans of Oundle and the Oundle Bookshop will remain open and the rest of our stores will have closing down sales”.

That was Coleman’s at 28 High Street in Higham, and that became a sad casualty of shop closures in our area, this was at the end of Summer, 2022.

Ready for shop closure	Fun and games

Coleman’s of Higham Ferrers, previously had stationery branches in several local towns. On that list, were Market Harborough, Towcester, Oakham, Stamford, Bedford and Kettering.

And I am sure that those branches will be sadly missed, by their many loyal customers over many years, in those various towns.

Getting a photocopy done in branch on a large scale was possible; the staff were always more than willing to sort everything out for you. And so much better looking than scanning an item on a domestic printer at home.

And anything that needed an answer to an enquiry from a school girl or boy was usually addressed. Coleman’s did offer a 10% student discount too.

Even a question from us more senior customers was sorted out, generally to our satisfaction.

Some of the useful services available were, Laminating, Print from memory stick and email, black and white, and colour photocopying, comb binding, fax service in-house printing, and scanning. All backed up by a free local delivery in their distinctive white vans.

Let us not forget, the craft warehouse, which was very popular with so many talented nimble fingered crafters. At one time this was even open seven days of the week, and was based near to the original Rushden Lidl store.

The Craft Warehouse was at Unit 6 Brindley Close, Rushden, and closed in mid September. Many people made use of the massive discounts of up to 90% being offered on some racking and materials before this date.

Warehouse at Brindley Close	Time running out

In hindsight, on my visit just after Christmas 2021, I did start to think there was a slight touch of the nursery rhyme of “Old Mother Hubbard” starting to appear on the shelves?

Should you wish to contact the Oundle shop, the details are:
Colemans of Oundle
10 New Street
Oundle
PE8 4EA
Tel No. 01832 272868
Fax No. 01832 272760
Email oundle@colemangroup.co.uk