“Brexit” Makes Impact On Powers Road Store

The United Kingdom’s referendum on leaving the European Union, also known as the “Brexit”, has reverberated around the world, including at one store right here in Westford.

British Delights, located on Powers Road, sells nothing but items imported from Ireland and Great Britain. Opened in 1999, the store is run by Sheffield, England native Stephen Murray, who opened the store shortly before emigrating to America.

For Murray, the Brexit has made an impact, albeit a small impact so far.

Following results from the referendum, the British Pound Sterling lost significant value to the U.S. Dollar, dropping to its lowest point in several decades.

For those who use the pound regularly, this drop has been alarming. However, the drop has also made it cheaper for Murray to import items for his business.

However, his view is nuanced and mixed. The short term impact has been helpful for his business. Still, the uncertainty of what’s to come as the UK negotiates its exit from the European Union could have unexpected consequences.

Murray keeps touch with various contacts across the pond, who are still processing the impact of the decision.

He says that his customers seem to feel the same way for the most part.

“Everyone’s a bit concerned, a bit surprised at how the decision went I would say,” said Murray. “But no panic, business as usual, except everyone’s concerned for the future.”

One of those customers is Nashua resident Margaret Judd, who originally hails from Southampton, on the south coast of England.

She hasn’t seen any immediate impacts in her life and doesn’t expect any significant impacts to her life in the future. However, she still is disappointed in the referendum’s result.

“It’s a great pity that it’s happened. I don’t think it’s in the best interests of Britain and Europe, and obviously it’s going to cause a lot of problems in sorting it out.”