Family-run Krafft Jewellers has announced it will close its Chelmsford store after more than 50 years of trading, citing the rise of online shopping and increasing costs as key factors.
The jeweller, established in 1965, said its sole bricks-and-mortar outlet on Duke Street will shut on March 31, 2026. In a statement, the company expressed regret over the decision, noting that the trading climate has become significantly harder in recent years.
“Unfortunately, the advance in online shopping and increasing costs has impacted so many high street businesses, ours included,” the statement read. The closure follows a similar announcement from jewellery brand Miramira, which is shutting its King’s Lynn store on March 27.
Krafft Jewellers thanked its loyal customers, many of whom had become friends over the years. The company’s closure adds to a growing list of high street retailers struggling against the shift to e-commerce.
