After more than a decade in business, Luxury Gifts Bermuda will be closing their doors for the last time on March 1.

Owner Miranda Conway told The Royal Gazette last night that Covid-19 played a role in the closure of her online store and three boutique physical stores, FH For Him, For Her and Resort Life and Style, at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

Her boutique store Regali, at the Rosewood Bermuda in Hamilton Parish, closed a year ago.

“The ongoing effects of Covid-19 and the restrictions have made it a very discouraging market to operate in,” Ms Conway said. “That was definitely part of what led me to my decision, on top of a lot of personal reasons, and it just being the right time for us.”

She said everything has a trickle-down effect. “It was a very big decision to make,” she said. “But I think it is just what is best for myself and my family. I am looking forward to what comes next.”

Ms Conway did not rule out trying again when Bermuda’s sales climate improved.

“Never say never,” she said. “If the market conditions changed, I would be very open to potentially reopening the store.”

She also closed the businesses to spend more time with her three children, ages three to 11 years old.

In a letter sent to customers yesterday, she wrote: “I am writing with a heavy heart to inform you that I have made the difficult decision to close our family business. As many of you are aware, I founded Luxury Gifts Bermuda in 2011 as a luxury online retail company, as a young new mother.

“Along with a myriad of reasons (such as Covid effects on our local economy including the ongoing heavy restrictions), I have decided that it is time for the next chapter in my life that will allow me to be more family-focused, so that I can better absorb these prime years in my children’s lives.”

She thanked customers for their support over the years, particularly during the pandemic.

“Throughout the pandemic more than ever we have relied on the support of our local community, and you have showed up,” she said.

“It has been an incredible journey to work alongside so many incredible team members (past and present) who have poured their energy into helping us grow from an online retailer to a multi-store operation with several thousand square feet, across all the beautiful properties we have been able to be a part of.”

Luxury Gifts Bermuda is now holding a voluntary liquidation sale in stores to clear existing inventory, fixtures and fittings.

A notice on their Facebook page advertised a 50 per cent off discount on all items in their online and physical stores at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

“We will be sharing large discounts on all inventory including brand new arrivals coming this week,” she said.

Any gift certificates must be used before the store closes on March 1.

Ms Conway, a former banker, launched Luxury Gifts Bermuda as an online store and personal-shopping service.

She said in an earlier interview with The Royal Gazette that she started it looking for a more creative outlet in her working life.

She opened Regali, her first bricks and mortar store, in 2014. Two years later, boutique stores followed at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, representing high-end clothing brands such as Orlebar Brown, Heidi Klein, Island Company and Southern Tide.

She closed Regali at Rosewood, a year ago, after the pandemic began.

Ms Conway said closing would be a bittersweet process for everyone.

“I hope that you and your families will visit us in our final days so that we can bid you final goodbyes,” she wrote.

For more information see www.luxury.bm or call 298-6095.