A FAMILY-run menswear retail business based in Colchester has followed up the opening of an additional store with the launch of an online operation.

Baccus, which is based in St Isaac’s Walk, bucked the trend on the high street by opening a second store at the Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock in July last year, and has now introduced an online offer which is specialising in shirts.

Alan Moorcroft and his two sons, Paul and Simon, are confident about the future of both the new enterprises and have already increased staffing levels to a total of 16 people.

Paul, 35, joined his father two years ago as buying director, with a career background in administrative management, and Simon, 23, has taken the reins of the online shopping website since qualifying with a degree in law from Kings College London in August.

“I saw the opportunity of taking the Baccus quality Italian inspired shirt business online”, said Simon, who has funded the project from selling part of his stamp collection.

“The shirt range is called Claudio Lugli and combines modern, quirky styling such as double coloured cuffs and collars with the best traditional features.”

He added: “We are all very exciting about the sales prospects which will hopefully lead to an increase in staffing levels with a distribution point opening later in Colchester.”

The new Baccus outlet at Lakeside has also resulted in a steady upward sales trend.

Alan Moorcroft, managing director, said: “We opened at a very low point in the retail cycle and it was especially challenging when the Olympics effect did not result in increased footfall, but we persevered and now we have the advantage of some very stylish new product ranges.”