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The opening of Primark in Llandudno has killed off a local clothes shop according to the owner of the boutique, who says trade “fell off a cliff”.

Clothing giant Primark launched at Parc Llandudno in June and the store has attracted thousands of shoppers through the doors since opening.

But shop owner Faye Egan says the arrival of Primark has decimated her trade - turning the dream of running her own business into a nightmare.

Her shop Sunella in nearby Conwy closed today as she struggled to keep up with rent and bills.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

The mum-of-two said: “I opened in November and we were doing well, we were really busy and always had people in here.

“We were covering our rent and bills and had a bit of profit as well. Then when Primark opened in June, trade fell off a cliff, Primark opening just killed it.

“I went to taking a few hundred pounds to taking less than £30 a day almost overnight.

“We were selling similar things to them but could not compete on their prices, people just stopped coming.

“I thought it would just be a temporary thing but people haven’t come back.”

(Image: David Powell)

Faye, 28, had worked as a carer before taking over the shop unit on Bangor Road.

She said: “It is a shame that big names are killing off small local businesses, it was my dream to open a shop but this has ruined it.

"I had been in care work and now I will have to go back to finding a job again.

“What is frustrating is that it is something out of my hands, it didn’t matter how many hours I was putting in and how hard I worked, I couldn’t change what was happening.”

She added: “The shop is named after my daughter Ella, who is eight, and she is gutted we have to close.

“I have had to let two staff go, which was really difficult.

“I can’t keep going though, the rent and bills still need to be paid and I have no money coming in. I can’t even afford to hang on to see if things change.”