For immediate release. 28.06.2006

LEFT-HANDED SHOP CLOSES IN MOVE TO INTERNET TRADING

After nearly 40 years in the heart of London’s West End, Anything Left-Handed, the famous specialist shop selling left-handed products, is to close its doors for the final time on 30 June 2006. However, lefties need not despair, as an ever-expanding product range of everyday items specifically tailored to left-handers’ needs will continue to be available on the company’s award-winning website www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk.

Anything Left-Handed opened the first ever left-handed shop in the UK in 1968 in London’s Soho and the store was always a haven for left-handers in a back-to-front world. For many visitors it was their first ever chance to try using properly designed tools and gadgets like scissors, fountain pens, corkscrews and bread knives which actually work smoothly and efficiently in the left-hand, and don’t make the user look awkward and clumsy through trying to use right-handed versions backwards. For many junior lefties, it was also where they learned the correct techniques, often overlooked in schools, to improve their writing skills, with guidance from the specially trained, left-handed shop staff.

The increasing financial and administrative burdens being placed on small independent shopkeepers in London have forced owners Keith & Lauren Milsom to close their retail outlet in order to concentrate on their hugely successful online shop, www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk. The website began trading 5 years ago, and is now responsible for 90% of company sales worldwide, as well as being one of the largest sources of information on left-handedness on the internet. With over 50,000 members subscribing to their online community, The Left-Handers Club, Keith and Lauren are confident that the future for left-handed product sales is on the web.

As Keith Milsom explains, “with ever-increasing burdens on the small shopkeeper and the huge advantages of the Internet, it made absolute sense for us to focus all our resources on our web site, where we can help left-handers worldwide rather than just those passing through Soho”. Through the pages of its website Anything Left-Handed can:-

Send products to left-handers worldwide
Explain the benefits of over 200 left-handed products quickly and effectively.
Provide help and advice on issues such as handwriting
Inform customers of special discounts and new products
Establish interest in possible new product ranges through customer feedback

"The gratitude and goodwill we get from our customers is tremendous, and we are committed to expanding our online range to give them even more choice in left-handed equipment.” says Keith.

New additions to the left-handed product range this month include:-

Logitech MX610 Left-Handed Laser Cordless Mouse (£49.95) At last - laser precision for lefties only. The MX610 Left-Hand Laser Cordless Mouse lets left-handed users enjoy the comfort and control of an advanced laser mouse - without compromising their normal work style. This clever mouse is the world's first Smart Mouse that uses onboard intelligence to respond to the state of your PC. It automatically turns itself on and off in sync with your PC. No lefty should be without this fantastic new offering from Logitech, which is jam packed with features such as:- * Advanced laser tracking * Side to side scrolling on roller button plus zoom * Forward back and volume controls * Email and IM notification lights and buttons * USB connection with remote station

Children’s stationery set (£5.95 & p&p) This stationery set provides your little lefty with the best tools for school! The ruler, pencil grip and 2 hole pencil sharpener are all left-handed, and colour co-ordinated with the eraser, pencil and pencil case, to look cool on any desk.

Cambridge left-handed cartridge pen (£12.95 + p&p) Many left-handers avoid using cartridge pens because they smudge and scratch in the left-hand. This new cartridge pen has a left-handed Iridium nib, specially cut to be particularly smooth when writing with the left hand, creating less friction and aiding beautiful effortless writing. Light weight and stylish, it is available in three colours and finished with a metalic lacquer.

All products are available from Anything Left-Handed Ltd via their website:
www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk or by by mail order tel: 020 8770 3722

*** ENDS ***

Further information contact: Lauren Milsom
Email: lauren at anythingleft-handed.co.uk - Telephone: 020 8770 3722
Post: Anything Left-Handed Press Office, Sterling House,18 Avenue Road, Belmont, Surrey, SM2 6JD

Picture Editors: High-res images of featured products are available to download directly from: www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/media.html

Notes to Editors:

• Anything Left-Handed provides left-handed products worldwide, through its website www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk. It is the leading supplier of left-handed products in the U.K. and Europe. This website is also a huge source of advice and information on all topics relating to left-handedness.
• The products range from the traditional left-handed scissors and kitchen implements, through a host of knives, stationery and computer peripherals to some funky and innovative left-handed pens – there’s even a left-handed boomerang!
• The company is owned by the Milsom family, who have been involved in the business for the last 20 years. The directors of the company, Keith and Lauren Milsom, are both left-handed as are all the staff. They also run the Left-Handers Club.
• Anything Left-Handed was the top rated site in the London Regional Finals of the UK E-Commerce Awards 2002