AN EAST Yorkshire interior design firm has closed its doors for the final time after more than 25 years of business.
Modus Interiors, which was taken over by husband and wife team Kelvin and Helen Hall ten years ago, has been forced to close due to lack of trade.
Dave Hooper, of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is very sad to see any business close, especially one that has been trading for more than 25 years.
"It is difficult trading times at the minute and people don't seem to be spending as much as they used to on luxury items like Modus provide."
In 2011, the Cottingham business completed a £150,000 upgrade of its 1,300sq ft showroom – an improvement the owners felt was needed to keep up with current trends and stop potential customers looking further afield.
They decided to embark on the two-year refurbishment at a time when most companies were cutting back on further investments to maintain financial stability.
After the completion of the improvements, which inclu- ded a complete redesign and restock of its showroom, Kelvin said the revamp was needed to compete with rival companies.
"When times are hard, you can take two views," he said.
"You either sit back and shrink out of view and everyone forgets about you, or you take action and drive things forward like we have.
"We were getting people coming in who had seen things in London and abroad that they couldn't find here, so they were going elsewhere.
"We took a conscious decision to try to keep the trade in Yorkshire."
Kelvin and Helen obtained lending for the refurbishment from Royal Bank Of Scotland for the project, despite the bank scaling back its lending.
Modus, which is based in King Street, was launched in 1983 as an interior design firm catering for the hotel and leisure sector.
As the business grew, it focused more on domestic markets.
The company's commitment to the region was rewarded with the acquisition of a number of major contracts throughout the country and overseas.
Some of the company's most prestigious projects included work at The Ritz in London and the fitting out of the Chairman's Suite at the KC Stadium.
Modus also designed the interior for a show home on Beal Homes' Willerby development.
Neither Modus nor the firm's receivers, Jacksons Jolliffe Cork, were available to comment on the closure, despite several attempts by the Mail.
