It will be a bittersweet moment for Joan Cabral when she closes Hera Boutique later this month.

One the one hand she is responding to a family need that takes precedence over running the women’s clothing outlet in Hamilton.

At the same time she will miss the daily interactions with customers and the feeling of fulfillment that comes from helping them.

“The nicest thing is the feeling of satisfaction that you have in finding something for someone that looks great on them,” she said.

Explaining the decision to close the boutique, which she owns, Ms Cabral said it was the result of a combination of factors.

“Firstly, I find myself in the position of needing to spend more time with an elderly parent due to changing circumstances at home.

“Secondly, the last year has been very difficult for retail sales overall. It has been a journey for the retail sector over the last four years as Bermuda has lost a significant portion of her population since 2010. There have been job losses and residents have seen their disposable income reduced.

She added: “If the last year had been better for my store, I would have been in a position to actually hire someone to fill in for me while I attend to home matters.”

The boutique occupies a cosy corner in Old Cellar Lane, Walker Arcade, which leads off from Front Street. It opened in 2011 offering classic and stylish women’s clothing for baby boomers and middle-aged women.

Ms Cabral’s expertise in the retail sector goes back to her teenaged years. When she was 19 she started working for Trimingham Brothers as ready-to-wear buyer. She was there for a decade before taking a break to bring up her family.

When she returned to the retail sector, it included a stint at The Crown Colony Shop and many years helping run the Animal & Garden House, in Pembroke, which was the family business.

She also studied psychology at Queen’s University, Ontario.

Hera Boutique enjoyed some early success, but the extended, unfavourable economic climate presented a formidable headwind to the business.

Ms Cabral said it had been a risk opening the store during the downturn. “I thought things had turned the corner, but last year I noticed that things were not as good as the year before,” she said.

“It was noticeable that people did not have the disposable income that they used to have. There was a lot less spending. Last year was the toughest. If it hadn’t been so hard I could have afforded to hire someone to continue running the shop.”

She also noted that the increasing trend to buy overseas, and particularly online, is hitting Bermuda’s retailers hard. She said retailers would like to see residents offering more support to local business to help them stay viable.

“We’re not saying that you can’t buy overseas or online. All we are saying is that people, prior to shopping elsewhere, have a look around here in Bermuda.”

Ms Cabral said her priority now is on home life and family, and that means closing the shop on February 14. Hera Boutique has a closing down sale on, with reductions of up to 80 per cent on offer. The store sells blouses, pants, special occasion dresses, linen sportswear and some accessories. Sizes range from six to 18.

Reflecting on the past few years, Ms Cabral said: “I have met some wonderful people through my work.

“The customers are all disappointed. They feel they have only just got to know me and the store, but they understand my reasoning for closing. They have all been really nice people and I would like to thank them for their support.”