A Valleys business that's been making its mark on a small town has spoken out about its fears for the future as it's seen electricity bills more than double in the last few months. Stay & Play Coffee Shop opened its doors last July as a café with soft play and toys for kids in Pontypridd town centre.
The business was opened by Shannon Lloyd, 28, from Pontypridd, who had been working in the beauty industry until the pandemic hit and all but closed down her industry. So she turned her attention to opening her dream business, and within the last few months it has thrived.
Ever since she was on her own maternity leave she wanted to set something up to help other parents, and so the business venture was born. You can read more about it here.
But even though business has been "thriving" since she opened the shop doors last year she said the cost of living crisis is causing even popular businesses to struggle, and it's making her fear for the future if costs continue to rise. Speaking about Stay & Play, Shannon said: "It's been doing really, really well. We are having repeat customers now, and we are doing lots of kids parties, so it's going from strength to strength.
"But, with everything going up at the moment, it's much harder to keep the prices low. That's the only thing.
"I have to sit down and review everything. Even the price of food - we have seen a massive difference since last year."
Shannon said the prices of everything have rocketed, and she's especially seen a difference in the business's electricity bill. It's recently gone up to £1,200 a month, which is over double what it was this time last year.
The business owner said she thinks a lot of people don't realise the amount of money that goes into keeping commercial properties running. After having financial help from the government during the pandemic, she said small businesses are starting to see payments creep back in and it's all adding up.
When asked about the electricity bill, she said: "Last year we were paying £400 to £500 and it's gone up to £1,200. We have four heaters and we are paying £3 per heater per hour, and we have to have the heating on really because this is a place for kids.
"It's a massive jump, and the business rates are kicking back in."
Shannon said it's not just Stay and Play that's feeling the burn of the cost of living crisis, as she said various other businesses seem to be expressing similar feelings. The Easter holidays have recently just passed, and the break saw the Lido re-open its doors as well as a fun fair visit the town, but Shannon said it was the quietest holiday period she'd seen since she opened the business.
She said it's clear that everyone is trying to cut back, and save the pennies, as uncertainty remains over bills. People haven't been visiting as much as they used to, and she seems to think it's probably to save money as most people are trying to cut back.
Shannon said: "It was the worst holiday period since we opened. It was quiet compared to how it has been."
The business owner claimed she knows the business will struggle if bills continue to rise later in the year, but she said it would help if the local authorities or the government step in to help if the issue continues to grow.
She said: "If it keeps on going up we are going to have to look at prices, and that will have an effect on our customers, who are already seeing changes with their own bills. It's a whole circle really."
When asked if she's ever thought about the prospect of closing the business if energy prices continue to rise, Shannon added: "If energy prices keep going up as they are. It's not financially viable.
"We are in the Valleys, so we are not going to be able to keep increasing the prices. Even businesses who have been here for 25 to 30 years - they are really struggling at the moment.
"There are a lot of businesses all feeling the same way. We have been doing fantastic - as a business we have been thriving - but it's difficult because energy prices are rising.
"We have to put our prices up, which we don't want to do, because everyone is in the same boat."
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