AN ENTREPRENEUR is preparing to pull the shutters down on her store after five remarkable years in Petersfield town centre.

Laura Hayward took Refill & Replenish from a market stall to a landmark building on the High Street.

But now she needs a recharge of her own, as five years of running a shop in a time of lockdowns, energy and price rises have taken a toll.

Laura confirmed last week that her “truly amazing” refill shop will close for the final time on March 16.

The retailer has struggled for around a year with Laura outlining plans to turn R&R into a community-run shop in November. Plenty of volunteers came forward but there was less interest in committee places, with Laura deciding over the Christmas break to reluctantly call it a day.

She said: “I just couldn’t carry on thinking ‘let’s give it another month and see what happens’.

“It’s down to a combination of everything: rent, energy bills, the pandemic, the cost of products going up, and sporadic footfall.

“I’ve done it for five years and worked hard but I think the time is right to move on.”

Laura cannot thank her customers, colleagues and supporters enough and hopes the last two months will provide a good send-off, with refills available right to the very end.

Deliveries will be available until Friday, March 8, while the shop will remain stocked with food and other essentials until the first week of its final month.

“I have to be honest, I have run out of energy and must look after myself moving forward,” wrote Laura in an emotional post on social media.

“Refill & Replenish has been truly amazing in so many ways.

“I am proud of what R&R has achieved and the community of customers we have built from the very first day of trading five years ago.

"Thank you for all your support, and thank you for choosing to shop with R&R.”