Shop closes doors for last time

7:51am Friday 27th June 2008

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MODERN throwaway culture and the rise of cheap electronics has sounded the death-knell of a South-ampton institution.

Shirley electronic component shop Afflecks is to close tomorrow after more than 60 years in business.

Owner Sarwan Kalirai, 64 is to shut up shop for the last time after fierce competition from retail giants and rock bottom prices for CD and DVD players made repairs uneconomic and business dried up.

Founded by a Mr Affleck in 1942, the shop moved to Shirley High Street in the early '70s, before it was bought in 1973 by Indian born Mr Kalirai, who came to the UK from Kenya in 1962 and worked as a bus conductor and driver while studying electronics.

"I have been in business here for 34 years," said Mr Kilirai, who is known to customers as Ben. "It was a very small shop then and we acquired the shop next door and made it one big shop. At one time we also had a shop in Bedford Place. It was a good business.

"Then all the big shops started selling TVs below the trade prices we could get and it was difficult. Eventually it was not worth repairing things. You can buy a new video player for £45 but the average cost of a repair is £45. A DVD player costs £17 and it's not even worth looking at for an engineer."

Ten years ago Mr Kalirai was forced to convert part of the shop into a more profitable off licence. That business is being sold but Afflecks is to disappear tomorrow.

"I'm starting to reach retirement age so obviously I want to wind down but I am sad that Afflecks is retiring with me rather than carrying on, but there's no future in it.

"I want to thank all my customers for their support. People say Shirley won't be the same without us."