A Letchworth stationer is relocating back across the town centre to its former base after five years in Eastcheap.

Arena Stationers, which has been at 13 Eastcheap for the past five years, is closing on Thursday, and is set to reopen at 5 Arena Parade on Wednesday next week.

Mike Newman, who has run the shop alongside his wife Patricia for 11 years, said: “The move is all part of our strategy to meet the changing retail environment. People’s shopping habits have changed considerably and our job is to cater for those changing demands.

“We’re offering a combination of online and good old-fashioned retail. That’s why we’ve installed a new touch-screen system so that customers can walk in and look up any of the 25,000 products we have on our website.

“When they find what they want it’ll either be there on the premises for immediate purchase, or available for collection or delivery the next day.”

He added: “We’re also launching a new personalised product service, whereby customers can have their special message to a loved one or friend put on a variety of things including mugs, coasters in granite, slate and cork back, pet tags and key fobs. We can also print jigsaws from family prints.

“We can pack in all the stationery and office essentials into number 5 and have a wide range of products readily available via the net by the next day.

“We believe we’re fit for purpose for modern retailing, and look forward to a continued mutually rewarding relationship with our customers.”

Letchworth town centre manager Tom Hardy said: “It’s great to see retailers adapting to changing consumer behaviour. With the presence of online shopping, on-street retail can sometimes be a challenge.

“Mike and Patricia have worked hard over the past 11 years, and I hope that this change will see new customers and maintain the successful business they have built up.”

You can find out more at arenastationers.com or by looking up Arena Stationers on Facebook.