Managing director Chris Williams has told of the sadness he felt on finally deciding to close a well-known island shop.

He said Lights of Man had become something of an iconic shop on the Spring Valley Trading Estate for more than 30 years.

Speaking from the shop Manxman Mr Williams was trying to come to terms with his sad decision.

He said: ’It was a big decison to make obviously'.

The news comes just a week after the Manx Independent reported the nearby Waltons electrical store nearby on the Isle of Man Business Park had shut suddenly.

Mr Williams said it was a shame that retail shops appeared to be suffering in the island and he added: ’It’s the old adage: ’’If you don’t use them you’ll lose them’’. ’

He made the ’final decision’ about the future for Lights of Man six months ago in the New Year.

’Figures started dropping off about 18 months ago and we felt at the time that we should give it about 12 months to see how it went.

’We are going to try and sell everything in our closing down sale with 50% off everything. We are planning to close round about September.’

Mr Williams explained that the owner, Roger Smith, died in April last year.

’I was a director but after he died I took over as managing director. Mr Smith started the business in 1988 and I came along in about 1995. And then we ran it together.

’After he died I kept running the shop to see how it went on.’

Mr Williams says the decision to close the shop was something that had been tough to make because they had built up loyal customers over the years.

He said: ’Lights of Man has supplied the island’s lighting needs since 1988.

’But there was a dramatic downturn in lighting sales over the past 18 months.’

He added that replacement light bulb sales, which accounted for over 40% of the business, had also also suffered since the introduction of new, better quality, long life LED light bulbs.

’It is not only a sad time for myself but also for the other two members of staff, Neil Furmston and Doug Saxon, who have been with the business for more than 20 years.’

He said: ’This sort of thing is happening to everyone these days but I can’t even say it’s because of the internet.

’If someone came in with an internet quote we matched 99% of them.

’An awful lot of people are coming in and saying: ’’Oh the internet has put you out of business’’ but no I don’t think that is necessarily so.’

’I think it is just the downturn for retail in the Isle of Man.It’s not something we came to lightly but the figures just don’t justify it any more.

’We are now running a closing down sale with 50% off all items in store.’

Mr Williams, who lives in Castletown, said in recent years they had started selling other items in addition to the lighting, including mirrors, rugs, cushions and conservatory and teak furniture.

Customers visitng the shop this week have been wishing Mr Williams and his team the best of luck.

Sue Cunningham from Onchan, said she had been ocming to the shop for years to buy lamps and fittings.

She said: ’I like it here because the staff have always been friendly and had time for the customer.

’They have provided a great service and I will miss the shop when it finally closes.’