 In 1925 he purchased the Exeter department store Colson & Co. rebranding the store Colsons of Exeter, and in 1932 bought the Clifton department store of Bobby & Co.In 1941, however, Percy was hit by a coal lorry and died at the age of 78.After the war the Exeter store was rebuilt in 1953 and the business continued to operate as an independent company until 1960 when J J Allen took over the Brights brand.