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A Sandbach based company which has customers all over Cheshire and Staffordshire is having to take drastic measures due to soaring energy costs.

Badged uniform warehouse in Love Lane, Sandbach, is closing on a Saturday and asking staff to drop a day after their gas and electricity bill went through the roof.

Badged does uniforms for schools and sports clubs in Sandbach, Alsager and as far as Stoke, plus workwear for around 2,500 businesses in Congleton, Macclesfield, Leek and Biddulph.

Owner Lisa Simpson confirmed it was a temporary measure. They will remain open for five days a week.

The business does corporate clothing, dancewear, school uniform, scouts and guides, sportswear and kits and customised workwear.

Owner, Lisa Simpson, says the monthly bill for gas and electricity has increased from £393 a month to a bumper £1,200 and the company based at Cockayne House on the outskirts of Sandbach has to look at ways of reducing it.

Lisa, who bought the business in 2009 moved Badged to its current premises five years ago and says staff have reacted well to the news and worked around the new arrangement which will mean them reducing their hours.

"It's a big building and it takes a lot of heat. We will be closing from this Saturday and just opening Monday – Friday until March," said Lisa.

The business has a retail shop which is usually open on Saturdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

"Hopefully things with energy prices will improve and we will be in a different situation from March," she added.

"We only have lights on in the rooms we're working in. We're thinking twice about switching lights on." she said.

"The business is going well and we're very busy but we just can't absorb this huge increase in energy prices.

We haven't taken the decision lightly - it been done with a lot of careful thought. 

Badged moved to its current premises five years ago.

"It's only a short-term measure and we will be offering flexible opening hours during the week to fit in anyone who wants to visit us.

"Around 70 per cent of our business is done on line and I can see more going on-line.

"The loyalty that the staff have shown has been marvellous. They are very dedicated and we're lucky to have them."

They're now open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm.

It has an in-house embroidery department plus a large retail warehouse for school uniforms, shoes and workwear upstairs plus dance wear and other uniforms.

Lisa says she will fit around customers who want to visit the premises during the week outside of normal working hours. The company's website can be found at https://www.badged.co.uk/

Manager, Tom Thorley-Fox, normally works four days in the week and a Saturday to fit around childcare.

This will now alter to him working during the week meaning he has to arrange alternative childcare arrangements on Mondays.

Do you think the rising gas and electric prices will see more business reduce opening hours?

"It's a decision we have had to make as a company. It will affect us all in some way," he said.

Another employee, Angela Mills, who works in sales, has found her days have reduced from four to three and she has taken on another job one day a week to make up the hours.

"It's not nice but we all understand why it's happening."

Lisa Simpson fears more businesses will too have to look at ways of reducing energy costs.

An example of their work. You can call them on 01477 500504.

"We will come out of this much stronger. It's only a temporary measure hopefully," she said. 

The business has over 1700 followers on Facebook, and will soon celebrate their 20th anniversary.

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Article by Deborah Bowyer and Alexander Greensmith