Independent shops devastated as brand pulls supply

Jellycat plush toys have been lining the walls at Rumours in Whitby for more than two decades.

At times, they’ve taken up a third of the North Yorkshire gift shop’s total shelf space. “They’ve always been a good seller,” said manager Joe Orrell, whose father owns the store.

But last month, Mr Orrell received an email he “couldn’t quite believe”.

Jellycat, the British soft toy company, told him it would no longer be supplying Rumours. It did not provide a reason.

“We were absolutely gutted,” Mr Orrell said. Sales of the brand’s toys made up a “significant portion” of the shop’s income.

The BBC spoke to owners and managers from four independent shops who said they had been hurt and surprised when Jellycat abruptly told them it would stop supplying them.

“Unfortunately we’re not able to support every shop that wants to stock our products and, after very…