Business / ‘No, we are not closing down’- business owner moves to dispel ‘rumours and misinformation’

HOME Furnishing’s main store in Lerwick will continue to operate as before, company owner Ghufar Razaq has confirmed.

Razaq said on Wednesday he felt he needed to make a public statement following “rumours and misinformation” in the wake of a recent consultation into the possible move of the Freefield post office to his premises.

This, it has been confirmed by the Post Office, will now not happen, and Razaq said he is content with that decision.

“It became clear that despite the added disabled access it would have provided, the parking would possibly have been inadequate and therefore another – and in our opinion better – option was followed,” he told Shetland News.

“Home Furnishing’s main store is and will continue to operate as before and is in fact looking forward to expanding its operation online. So, no we are not closing down.”

About a year ago, Razaq put the long established and successful family business on the market after announcing plans to ‘semi-retire’ in the hope of achieving a better work/life balance.

He said negotiations with an interested party have been “paused to allow both the prospective buyer and ourselves to concentrate on completing tasks required beforehand”.

He added: “In the meantime, the furniture shop continues to clear out stock so that it can downsize and concentrate on its main lines of beds, mattresses, suites and chairs for the foreseeable future.”

Razaq also said that due recent retirement of staff he continues to look for several part-time staff.

The Freefield post office meanwhile is set to move within the Toll Clock Shopping Centre to a unit currently occupied by the i’i’ shop.