‘I swapped selling aquatics for retro - now my energy bill has fallen from £2.5k to £120’

A shopkeeper has swapped selling aquatics for retro items - and says his energy costs have reduced from a whopping £2,500 to just £120 a month. But Richard Barrett says he should have received more support from the Government to keep his previous shop afloat.

Mr Barrett opened Bath Road Marine on Brislington Hill, taking over a vaping shop, in May 2020. Selling fish, corals and equipment, he said business started very well and his monthly energy bill was initially between £600 and £700.

However, with the recent hikes in prices, his bill went up to £1,700, and then he estimated it would go up again this month to £2,500. He decided to close the store, but then discovered he still had a year to run on his lease.

“The missus said why don’t you sell your retro stuff instead,” the 42-year-old told Bristol World. “It has been something I sell on eBay, and rather than doing nothing and the lease costing me money, I may as well do something inside.”

AIt is so far so good. Mr Barrett says he’s had plenty of interest already, despite the shop not officially opening until later this month. He also says the energy to run the store is costing just £120 - a huge reduction from what he was paying before.

The store will focus on 80s and 90s children’s toys as well as computer games and other ‘interesting items’. He’ll continue selling some dry stock from his former marine shop.

Mr Barrett said: “I’ll see how it goes, if we have success I could decide to remain open past the year.”

He added: “It is still sad to lose the marine shop. Not only did I lose about £20k selling off the equipment but I miss the customers I would talk to. But I just had no help from the Government, it’s happened to many marine shops.

“Time will tell if the new venture pays off.”