A BELOVED family-run party shop is shutting for good after nearly two decades, marking another sad loss for Britain’s high streets.
Hullaballoon in Hull will close its doors for the final time on May 31.
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The popular business has been brightening up birthdays, weddings and events since 2007, but is now preparing to say goodbye.
Owner Elaine Hakim, 66, first launched the store with her son Mark Carter after selling balloons at Hull Fair.
Over time, the shop became a go-to destination in the city for party supplies, fancy dress, and personalised decorations.
Elaine and her family grew the business from humble beginnings to one with high-profile clients like P&O Ferries, Hull Trains, and Heron Foods.
But sadly, the decision to close was forced by serious ill-health, Elaine revealed.
Speaking to Hull Live: “It’s been a really hard decision,” she said.
“We’ve had lots of loyal, good customers and we’d like to say thank you to them.
“We’ve made lots of people happy over the years.”
Hullaballoon isn’t your average card and party store.
Unlike most online sellers, Elaine and her team delivered and set up decorations at events across the region , even travelling as far as Liverpool.
Elaine’s grandchildren have helped out over the years, including her grandson Jamie, who was working at the shop this week.
But with their own commitments, none of them are able to take the reins.
“The fancy dress side of the shop has also done really well,” Elaine added.
“People order costumes online, then realise they’re too small or poor quality, so they come running to us at the last minute.”
To help clear stock before the final day, Hullaballoon is currently offering 50 per cent off everything, including balloons, cards, partyware, and costumes.
Despite the closure, Elaine says all bookings already made for parties and weddings will still be honoured.
The shop’s closure comes as another hit to the UK’s retail sector, as many family-run businesses are being forced to shut amid rising costs and changing shopping habits.
Earlier this year, Adam Carpets in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, closed after more than 100 years in business.
All 50 staff members were made redundant after bosses said the economic pressure became too much to bear.
Other iconic names have also fallen victim to tough trading conditions.
Huttons gift shop in London, Lancaster’s Bakery in Harrogate, and Marcruss Outdoors in Bristol, which had operated since 1968, have all recently shut down.
In each case, owners blamed a mix of higher costs, falling customer confidence, and changes in government business rates for the closures.
The high street is feeling the pressure, as retail parks and online shopping continue to reshape the landscape of traditional shopping centres.
UK high streets have faced a steady decline in recent years, largely due to the rapid rise of online shopping.
Additionally, high inflation has put extra pressure on consumers’ budgets, further impacting spending habits.
A recent PwC report highlighted the ongoing trend of retailers moving away from high streets in 2024.
The report noted that shops in town and city centres are facing increased closures, while retail parks and locations outside these areas are seeing a rise in new openings.
This shift is largely driven by larger retailers and leisure outlets, which are drawn to the convenience retail parks offer shoppers.
The Centre for Retail Research revealed that over 13,000 high street stores closed in 2024, with even more closures expected in 2025.
The analysis found that 13,479 stores, or roughly 37 each day, permanently shut their doors last year.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
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