Limey: The British Shop in Kelowna and Victoria makes heartfelt plea to keep from going under

Jules Taschereau is being brutally honest.

"We can't keep going like this," said the owner of Limey: The British Shop, which has locations in Kelowna and Victoria.

"It may be too late already, but we're trying to keep alive whatever way we can."

NowMedia Group caught up with Taschereau after she posted a plea to keep the stores afloat on Limey's Facebook page.

"Admitting that we've been struggling for several months does make us vulnerable," said Taschereau, who moved from England to Kelowna in 2009.

"I debated for weeks about whether or not to post that. Of course, you want people to think you are successful. People align with success. But I now don't regret posting. I've put it out there and asked for help and the community has come out in droves to support us and that speaks volumes."

Limey's Facebook page has 3,600 followers and her plea-for-help post has received 204 likes, 170 shares and 109 comments -- many of them expressing surprise, support and vowing to shop, both in-person an online at www.limeyshop.com.

In the three days since she made her appeal online, there's been a bump in business at the stores at 1882 Dayton St. in Kelowna beside the Landmark 6 office tower and 515 Chatham St. in Victoria's Old Town in the base of the Ironworks condominium complex.

Limey stocks the British favourites that ex-pats and Anglo wannabes crave -- crisps (potato chips) in unique flavours like prawn cocktail and pickled onion; Flake, Lion and other English chocolate bars; PG Tips tea bags; sticky toffee pudding; shepherd's pie mix; meat pies; sausages; cookies; jams; marmalades; Heinz baked beans; OXO cubes; Pot Noodle; Bird's custard mix; HP Sauces; Robinson's Fruit Squash; Pears soap; and Union Jack and souvenirs.

"We want those who appreciate what we do to support us," said Taschereau.

"If you take for granted that Limey will always be around, one day we might not be."

Limey Kelowna opened during the pandemic in October 2020.

It was a time that ex-pat Brits living in Kelowna and Victoria couldn't travel to England and get their fix of foods they love from the homeland.

Thus, the stores flourished, a pandemic miracle, if you will.

However, ex-pat Brits living here can now journey home whenever they want, filling up on treats while there and even bring back hordes with them.

The resulting slowdown in sales at the Limey stores combined with inflation and the threatened recession has translated into a trifecta of hurt.

Shipping costs have increased 21%, import duties are up 20% and product costs have jumped 25% to 55%.

Difficulty getting product also means inventory of some key items in the stores is low, such as crisps (potato chips), English chocolate bars and custard mix.

That will be remedied shortly with two big shipments of stock expected in the next few days.

"I don't shop here as often as I should," said customer Helen Taylor in her English accent when she dropped by the Kelowna store to pick up OXO beef stock cubes and some candy for her daughter.

"But, I'll shop here more often now. We have to support each other and I want this nice bit of home to stay open."

Through all the hardship, Limey didn't increase its prices, effectively eroding all its profits.

Which again, brings us to the heartfelt post on Facebook.

"We want to survive and thrive," said Taschereau.

"But we, like so many other businesses, are reaching the point of no return. Tell us what you want, what you need to keep shopping with us."

Taschereau's post also included seven things people can do to save Limey -- shop the shops, tag and share Limey's posts, post positive Google reviews, share the link to the online shop www.limeyshop.com with friends outside Kelowna and Victoria so they can buy too, tell family in the UK about Limey gift certificates and online options, use Skip the Dishes to have Limey treats delivered and tell Limey what you'd like to see in-store and online and always, always give feedback.

Taschereau is an interior designer by trade who previously also had three other businesses in Kelowna -- The Hub Office Furniture, Evolve Design Build and Space Measuring.

After she lost her son last year, she sold The Hub and closed Evolve and Space Measuring.

"I'm concentrating only on Limey now," she said.

By the way, the stores get their name from the 'Limey' nickname Brits earned after British Navy sailors sucked on rations of vitamin C-rich limes to ward off scurvy.

The stores' and the brand's signature colour is, naturally, lime green.