One of the best-known retailers within the UK’s party and fancy dress industry will be closing its doors this year unless a buyer can be found to take the Somerset-based business over.
Mike and Terri Burt have been running fancy dress and joke shop The Mad Hatter, for the last 32 years and it has been an important part of the Yeovil town centre for decades.
The couple are looking to retire as their time with the business has ‘run its course’, following an illustrious career featuring magic, jokes and fancy dress and which included sharing a stage with the late Ken Dodd.
The pair hope that someone will buy the business as a going concern and continue to run The Mad Hatter as both a bricks and mortar shop and online business.
“Nothing would sadden me more than coming back into Yeovil and seeing this shop empty,” said Mike. It’s such a bright and fun welcome to the town. And fancy dress is here to stay!”
He added: “For every one person who buys costumes from their armchair, there’s another who loves the shop and wants to come in for a personal service. Our girls are so patient with them and help them try things on until they get exactly what they want.”
Mike and Terri have taken to social media to reassure customers that they won’t be going anywhere soon as they plan to have one final spectacular Halloween before moving on.
