Cost-of-living hits Carlisle toy store attendance in school holidays

Owner Luke Crocker took to social media after noting how quiet the store was over the Easter break.

Due to the low attendance, Luke felt no other choice but to take to Facebook. A day later, the store did get busier.

The Easter break comprised of three weekends and ten working days, including bank holidays, yet the amount of money and guests was equal to that of just three normal weekends, when it is usual the busiest time of the year for BrickStation.

Luke said: "For me, when i'm looking at how I make money I depend on school holidays and I staff accordingly.

"I don't expect to be busy during the normal week.

"I was really upset it was another empty period and had to send staff home."

Following Luke's Facebook post, the shop became busier (Image: Brickstation)

The cost-of-living crisis is straining pockets, which is also biting business's pockets.

Luke said: "It's difficult finanically and people have to make choices.

"It is a sad reflection of the budget that it is children's entertainment that is one of first things that gets crossed off.

"I can't pretend to know and understand people's personal reasons. With my own prices, I am trying to reduce them to encourage people to come, but all my costs have gone up and attendance has gone down.

"It is a double whammy."

BrickStation moved locations in summer, where they initally noted higher attendance, but since the new year this has stalled.

Luke said: "Things have started to bite more in winter, last year, it was a struggle where as now, it has bitten a lot more people much harder.

"I thought hard about how to make it cheaper but I also have to think of my running costs and if I still have the same number of people coming in, it wont make a difference where I stand.

"I don’t see a way out. How does it change with prices continuing to going up?"

BrickStation is located at Atlas Works on the ground floor on Nelson Street in Carlisle.