A ROMSEY businessman has moved to reassure customers their clothes are safe and available for return should they want them amid an ongoing row. 

Simon Wills, owner of Change Of A Dress, has been at the centre of controversy since closing his Bell Street store earlier this year, taking with him items of clothing residents had been hoping to sell through his shop. 

As previoulsy reported, desperate customers looking to recuperate their belongings or cut of the cash say they are "at a loss" after calling, texting and emailing Mr Wills for months on end with little joy. 

Mr Wills insisted he has been plagued by phone and broadband issues for the past 18 months, but said he has been open with his customers about his intentions to move the business online throughout.

The Echo's sister paper the Romsey Advertiser was shown proof of payment and safe return of clothing to several customers during a visit to Mr Wills' stockroom in The Horsefair - where the clothes are currently being stored on racks while the new website is set up.

Mr Wills also stated customers providing incorrect contact details have caused further confusion, with the business owner providing evidence of various attempts to contact a number of complainants. 

Janis Duke, 64, of Bishopstoke was delivered her clothes on Tuesday, September 6 after speaking with the Advertiser. "I was shocked," she said. 

"They were all in clean bags and, aside from being folded, I got them back exactly as I took them in, so I'm pleasantly surprised."

Mr Wills said she had provided two phone numbers and an incorrect name when she first requested her items back, ultimately causing a delay. However, Ms Duke said she still wasn't convinced by his "excuses".

"It was as clear as day," she added. "He had all my details right from the outset. I've never come across anything like it."

Offering a fresh update on the saga, Mr Wills said he would like "nothing more" than to work with customers to resolve the issue, and has set up two new phone numbers to deal with their requests.

READ MORE: Pressure mounts on Change Of A Dress owner, Simon Wills, who issues defiant message to customers of his Romsey business

He said: "We obtained a lease for our retail premises on June 9, 2020 and until May 31, 2022 we built up a large client base of loyal customers who supplied and purchased clothes, bags, shoes and accessories.

"Unfortunately, like so many other high street businesses in the period from December 2, 2020 until our closure we suffered from a 70 to 80 per cent loss of custom.

"Up to the point of closure I had supported the business as far as I could and could go no further. At the end of May 2022 I moved all of the stock to my stockroom in The Horsefair. I left information of closure and contact details on all of the former shop’s windows - nothing could have been clearer. 

Daily Echo: The signs posted on the former Bell Street shop's windows The signs posted on the former Bell Street shop's windows (Image: Simon Wills)

"By this time my staff members were gone - forcing me to do everything myself. Unbeknown to me, our telecom provider hadn’t made the necessary changes which meant incoming phone calls and emails were not being recognised.

"This unfortunate lack of communication became apparent with the publication of a libel on Facebook. Immediately upon publication I contacted Kimberley Barber, the editor of the Romsey Advertiser, and Trading Standards via Citizen’s Advice advising of the pending legal proceedings being taken against the libeler.

"This is not what I wanted, the subsequent deluge of Facebook comments were untruthful and the distorted 'feeding frenzy' became stressful. I set about trying to contact all of the clients to inform them how to make contact. After a very short period the telecom provider again failed - this further frustration did not help my cause.

"I would like nothing more than to be able to work together with all of my customers - everything is perfectly safe and it's just a case of reuniting people with their items. 

"I am operating either an appointment-only collection service or a mutually agreed delivery service. To this end, and to avoid the telecom provider, I am installing two new telephone numbers which go live on Thursday, September 8. These are 07985 272643 and 07985 272647.

"Only this weekend several customers turned up at their appointed time to the stockroom to collect the pieces they wanted."