A store owner has told how he made just £13 in a full day and is feeling the strain, as he said people hadn't returned to shopping in his London neighbourhood with the cost of living crisis.
Statistics showed small and medium-sized shops have struggled to bounce back after the Covid crisis, and Mohammed Masi, owner of MNS Bedding Clothing and Accessories in Catford, now bluntly claimed: "There is no business here."
Mohammed said the precinct where his shop is based was previously a thriving retail area. But since Covid, he's been told by people they "don't have money to shop", reported MyLondon.
"Last Friday, I worked all day, my shop was open a full day and I made £13," said Mohammed, frowning with exasperation, as he talks about the business he set up five years ago.
"There's no business here, if you checked my bank statement there is nothing."
He said that Covid decimated his business, and pointed to the very few people around in the centre of Catford on an afternoon.
Away from the centre of Catford, there are still busy areas. But inside the precinct where Mohammed's shop sits, it's eerily quiet. The only place that has a consistent string of customers is the cinema and community space a few doors away.
He is worried whether he will be able to pay his rent for March, and said: "Before Covid, [it was] good, normal business, but after Covid, people don't come to this area."
Mohammed will have to pay £4,500 in rent to Lewisham Council this month, and said he's made attempts to get in contact with the council but he's not been successful at reaching them.
"Before Covid it was normal, [paying the] rent and council bills were no problem but after Covid it's a problem. Nobody comes here anymore. I've tried with every item, [keeping prices as cheap as possible] for the customer but there are no more customers," he continued.
"On Friday [February 16], I worked all day, my shop was open a full day and I made £13."
Listing what he sold he on another day February 23 he said: "One customer spent £15, another £13 and one customer spent £3, that's it."
Statistics from the Office for National Statistics confirmed the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that collapsed in London rose to 53,880 in 2022, up sharply from 37,350 in 2017.
When asked about the future of his business Mohammed shook his head and said: "After Covid [and the cost of living crisis] people have stopped coming. I've asked them and they say they don't have money to shop. Suddenly the walk-ins aren't happening, the Catford Centre used to be busy but it's not anymore."
