LUKE Kaye is urging customers to support local businesses as declining trade saw him make the decision to pull the plug on his town centre pop-up shop.

The Star Wars super fan, who is the force behind Skywalkers Costume Hire in Faringdon Road, came to the difficult decision to close his Canal Walk pop-up shop after trade tailed off in the New Year.

The shop will close at the end of January with all remaining stock transferred to Skywalkers, Faringdon Road.

Luke said the rise of online shopping saw his business take in meagre funds which were not enough to pay the rent.

“This shop was an experiment, to see if it was feasible to have a town centre store and it’s not feasible. “We simply haven’t had the support from the customers because people are going online to buy costumes,” he said.

“What we thought would be the busiest times, Halloween, Christmas and New Year were not what we expected.

“If you come to see us you get the personal service but the internet is now a global marketplace and there’s not a lot we can do.

“Wholesalers are now becoming the retailers and there is no way we can compete with that.”

The Skywalkers megastore was originally launched in October to provide authentic costumes and accessories for Halloween along with a museum for sci-fi fans.

Luke said the Christmas lights switch-on, which saw 16,000 people flock to the town centre, also failed to bring in business

“What should have been the busiest time fell flat. We made around £500 that weekend which is just not enough to pay the rent. I have done what I can.

“People would come to the free events but not enough translated into trade.

“We have people ordering stuff online then coming to us when it hasn’t arrived which is frustrating.”

Luke said he now fears for the future of independent retailers in the town

“To give you an example we are 80 per cent down from this time last year which says it all,” he said.

“I have a very bad feeling for the future and I feel like Swindon is in for a surprise in the near future. Things are going to get worse and worse unless people support local business.”

The imminent closure has seen Luke’s stock reduced to knock-down prices including wigs originally priced at £14.99 falling to £2.50 and Father Christmas costumes retailing at £14.99 reduced to £2.50.

Even with the lure of cut-priced costumes, Luke said business has failed to improve.

He said: “We are appealing to theatre companies or societies to come forward and come to us if they need costumes.

“I really want these costumes, which are good quality, to find new homes.”