Connect with us

Business & Technology

Owners break silence as Oxford shop for sale after 60 years

Published

on



It was announced earlier this month that Pens Plus on High Street had been listed on the market for £170,000, with the leasehold property advertised on Rightmove.

The business has been trading since the late 1960s, with owners Paul Major and his wife Kay having taken it over in October 2019.

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed to market Pens Plus, and now Mr and Mrs Major have spoken out about the decision.

READ MORE: Oxford University welcomes record 3.8m tourists in last year

Mr Major said: “Building this business has been one of the great privileges of my life.

“What began as a simple passion for fine writing instruments has grown into a brand with loyal customers both here in Oxford and around the world.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. As I move toward retirement, the time feels right to hand the business over as a thriving going concern.

“I’m confident that the right new owner will continue to nurture its potential and carry the company forward into its next successful chapter.”

READ MORE: Cotswolds firm in liquidation after almost nine years of trading

Markus Grun, a business agent at Christie & Co who is managing the sale, added: “This is a great opportunity to acquire a thriving business with international reach.

“We expect interest from heritage brand operators as well as retailers looking to diversify into the luxury stationery market.

“We encourage all interested parties to get in touch for further information about the opportunity.”

Pens Plus is on the market with an asking price of £170,000 plus stock at value for the leasehold.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business & Technology

UK travel company enters liquidation – all holidays cancelled

Published

on



Ski Yodl Ltd, founded in March 2018, offered ski holiday packages to destinations including the French Alps.

The company’s LinkedIn profile described it as “a collective of ski industry professionals driven to create a customer-centric booking experience with skiing at its core”.

All holiday packages cancelled as Ski Yodl enters liquidation

After eight years, Ski Yodl, based in Norwich, is now set to close, having voluntarily entered liquidation.

A voluntary winding-up order was agreed on July 22, according to The Gazette, with Richard Cacho from RCM Advisory Limited appointed liquidator.

As a result, all package holidays booked through Ski Yodl have been cancelled.



ABTA, one of the UK’s largest travel trade associations, said: “We do not believe that there were any current customer bookings for package holidays at the time of liquidation.

“However, any customers who believe they may be affected should contact ABTA by emailing claimsrequest@abta.co.uk with details of their booking.”

The company also arranged accommodation-only bookings, which were not covered by ABTA protection.

ABTA advised: “Customers that paid by credit or debit card and had accommodation-only bookings will need to contact their card issuer for assistance with obtaining a refund.

“Any customers that paid by other means such as bank transfer will need to register their claim with the liquidator, RCM Advisory Limited, on 01603 331960 or info@rcmadvisory.co.uk.”

Other UK travel companies that have closed in 2026

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation this year:

  • Ascend Airways (liquidation)
  • EcoJet Airlines (liquidation)
  • Zenith Aviation Limited (administration)
  • European Cargo (administration)

Have you booked a holiday with Ski Yodl? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.





Source link

Continue Reading

Business & Technology

March is busiest month for UK startup address sign-ups

Published

on



SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Hoxton Mix has published an analysis of more than 29,000 virtual office and registered address sign-ups, showing that UK industries tend to establish new business presences at different times of year. The data identifies March as the busiest month overall.

The London-based provider examined 29,070 subscriptions recorded between 2017 and May 2026 and grouped businesses across 21 industry sectors by their primary UK Standard Industrial Classification code. The figures suggest there is no single national startup season, with sector patterns differing sharply across the economy.

March produced 2,951 sign-ups and was the peak month for six sectors: Information & Communication, with 892 sign-ups; Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities, with 833; Wholesale & Retail Trade, with 719; Real Estate, with 275; Healthcare, with 125; and Finance, with 107.

That concentration suggests the spring surge was driven mainly by service-led and knowledge-focused parts of the economy. Those sectors account for more than half of the startup activity covered in the analysis.

Different rhythms

Outside March, the pattern becomes more fragmented. May was the annual peak for six further sectors, including Manufacturing, with 127 sign-ups; Transport & Storage, with 101; Agriculture, with 13; Mining & Quarrying, with six; Household Activities, with 24; and Other Service Activities, with 176.

Several industries peaked at other points in the year. Administrative & Support Services reached its highest level in January with 429 sign-ups, while Accommodation & Food Services also peaked that month with 107.

Education and Arts & Recreation followed a different timetable, with both reaching their high point in April. The figures showed 130 sign-ups for Education and 144 for Arts & Recreation in that month.

Construction stood apart from the wider trend, reaching its annual high in August with 228 sign-ups. It was one of the few major sectors not to peak during spring.

Sector timing

The findings point to different operating cycles across industries rather than a single moment when founders are most likely to set up. Businesses tied to project pipelines, seasonal demand or professional services appear to choose different points in the calendar when arranging a registered or virtual office address.

The data is based on subscriptions for virtual offices and registered addresses rather than total UK company incorporations, so it reflects behaviour among firms choosing that type of business presence. Even so, the scale of the dataset offers a view of how timing differs between sectors.

The records span nearly a decade, covering subscription activity from 2017 onwards. Using SIC classifications, Hoxton Mix mapped sign-up volumes against each month of the year to identify recurring peaks.

For information and communication businesses, the numbers suggest spring remains the strongest period for setting up an address presence. Professional services and retail businesses showed a similar pattern, reinforcing March as the busiest point of the year for a large share of service-based activity.

By contrast, January appears to hold more appeal for some operational and customer-facing sectors. Administrative and support services, along with hospitality-related businesses, recorded their highest sign-up levels at the start of the calendar year.

Construction’s August peak marks one of the clearest breaks from that pattern. The timing may reflect the sector’s own commercial cycle, which differs from office-based and consumer-facing businesses.

A brief explanation accompanied the release of the figures.

“New founders often ask when the best time is to start a business, but our data suggests that’s the wrong question. The real question is: when is the best time to start your type of business? Technology founders appear to launch in spring, construction businesses build momentum later in the year and hospitality businesses often favour January. These aren’t random patterns – they reflect the different commercial cycles, customer demand and opportunities within each industry. It’s a reminder that successful founders aren’t simply following the calendar. They’re timing their launch to give themselves the strongest possible start,” said Chris Sees, Chief Executive Officer, Hoxton Mix.



Source link

Continue Reading

Business & Technology

Muscle Food at risk of closing after entering administration

Published

on



Muscle Food has offered customers “quality” meat, high-protein meals, supplements, and more for 13 years (founded in 2013).

The brand has built its reputation on offering “macro-friendly” meal options, calorie-controlled bundles, and nutritional transparency, aiming to support customers’ health and fitness goals.

Its website explains: “Muscle Food brings together high-protein meats, curated hampers, supplements, snacks and functional drinks to support every goal.

“From lean, macro-friendly cuts to calorie-packed bulking options, our range is built to fuel performance, recovery and everyday healthy living.

“We focus on quality, clear nutrition and products that help you stay consistent, and we are always expanding to support your journey!

“Every order is carefully packed for freshness and delivered straight to you, making it easy to stay stocked with the food that powers your progress.

“With dependable delivery and consistent quality, MuscleFood fits seamlessly into your routine so you can focus on your goals.”

Muscle Food falls into administration

After 13 years, Muscle Food has now confirmed it has fallen into administration.

Stuart Kelly and Claire Harsley from Mackay Goodwin Limited were appointed joint administrators on July 21, according to The Gazette.



Despite its financial trouble, the company’s website remains online, along with a notice stating the joint administrators are now managing the business and its assets.

Muscle Food said: “The affairs, business and property are managed by the Joint Administrators, who act as agents of Muscle Foods Limited (In Administration) and without personal liability.”

Customers “very distressed” as Muscle Food at risk of closing

Muscle Food has built up a loyal customer base over the past 13 years, maintaining a 3.7-star rating on Trustpilot.

One long-time customer said: “Brilliant service, from delivery to the quality of the meats bought. My family and I have been using Muscle Food since their start-up.

“I first started buying for my family, and now my daughters have grown and have children of their own and now use Muscle Food too.

“I was VERY distressed to hear that they had gone into administration.

“Keep going Guys. There are thousands of us who appreciate you.”

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

Whitbread recently confirmed it will be closing all its UK restaurants in September:

  • Brewers Fayre (89 locations) – September 7
  • Beefeater (106) – September 10
  • Bar + Block – September 3
  • Table Table – September 3
  • Cookhouse + Pub – September 3

TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also both be closing around 150 stores across the UK.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:



Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:



UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Plus-size clothing brand Evans also returned to the UK high street recently after closing all its stores and concessions in December 2020.

Bodycare has also returned to the UK high street in 2026 after closing all its stores last year, having fallen into administration.

Do you use Muscle Food? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending