Titanic effort: Comber’s traders united in the fight to keep their businesses afloat
IT is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Thomas Andrews, the Co Down man who designed the Titanic.
And the modern day residents of Comber could be forgiven for having that sinking feeling after nine months of being ravaged by Covid-19.
But unlike their most famous son, the businessmen and women of this picturesque market town are determined not to go down with the ship.
Rather than shutting their doors and giving up, the entrepreneurs in Comber, which is five miles south of Newtownards, have come up with some ingenious ways of making their businesses thrive again.
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention and, under the auspices of the local Chamber of Commerce, the dark grey skies of the last few months are being blown away by blue sky thinking.
Examples include the food and drink businesses doing home deliveries, craft and gift shops developing online businesses, and almost everything you can think of is now available to take away — including Christmas dinners. And despite the obvious pitfalls of the pandemic, three new shops have opened in the town on the northern end of Strangford Lough, exemplifying the confidence in brighter days ahead.
Jim Mullholland, chef owner of No 14, The Georgian House Restaurant, told the Belfast Telegraph how he had devised a ‘local to home’ delivery service, where customers can get a three course meal in a box, with ingredients and instructions on how to cook the main course — the starter and dessert are already fully prepared.
“It has been very difficult at times; we’ve been closed for 26 weeks – exactly half a year,” he said.
“For three months during the first lockdown myself, my wife and my son had no money coming in as we couldn’t work.
“Then, during the last one, I wasn’t allowed to open my tea room; and I had to watch my customers visit thriving coffee shops across the square.
“Sometimes it was hard to stay positive but now I feel that, collectively, the people of this town are on the right track.”
He added: “We’ve created a different model which is helping us keep our business afloat, retain staff and pay the bills.”
Jim has invested in a chiller cabinet in his restaurant and is selling fresh fish and seafood from Portavogie and Kilkeel at the weekends.
Comber Chamber of Commerce is planning a special Christmas shopping day on Saturday December 12 — the day after the current restrictions are lifted — to encourage people to support local shops.
A scavenger hunt is being organised for children, and local UTV celebrity Pamela Ballantine will judge a shop window display competition.
Alderman Deborah Girvan, the chamber’s chairperson, told the Belfast Telegraph that Comber is fighting back against the big online giants and large supermarkets “who’ve made a fortune out of the pandemic”.
“Local businesses keep town centres alive, provide employment and deliver friendly, personal customer service,” she said. “We’re doing everything we can to overcome the challenges posed by Covid.”
Notwithstanding current trading difficulties, Artizan, a quirky crafts and gift shop, and Laza Thai, a takeaway restaurant, have both opened.
So too has the Willowtree Cafe Gallery, a street front property housing both a coffee shop and an art studio.
Artist Craig Kenny, who works alongside sister Lyndsey Kenny, told how they took over the property from an estate agent before refurbishing it.
“Our parents run the restaurant upstairs so it’s now an inhouse family business,” he said.
“I needed gallery space, so I snapped this up when it became vacant and we opened it on October 23.
“Some of the fixtures and fittings were provided free of charge by (the afore-mentioned) Artizan. That’s what Comber is all about — businesses here all try to work together and help each other.”
He added: “People in the town have been very support
ive since we opened and we’ve tried to evolve and bring new life into the area. We’ve been busy with our online website and click and collect service.”
During my mid-morning visit to Comber, which has a population of over 9,000, plenty of people were milling around.
That is because the farmers market — which takes place on the first Thursday of every month — was in full swing, with customers lining up for fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as sodas baked on the spot, among a wide variety of other wares from far and wide.
Opposite that, in the main square, several small Christmas trees were being decorated with fairy lights by Eileen Milligan and Hilary West, two members of Comber Chamber of Commerce, and Ralph Magee, principal of Andrews Memorial Primary School.
Among the businesses that have adapted to counter Covid-19 are Indie Fude, a delicatessen specialising in Irish cheeses, Irish food products and food hampers, which has diversified into home deliveries.
Doghouse Gallery craft and gift shop has developed a new website to sell their jewellery, crafts, and gifts, while Floral Creations is offering a bespoke order and collect for Christmas wreaths, flowers and assorted plants.
Meanwhile, Comber Craft Room and Discovery Glass have set up a link on Etsy website to sell their hand-crafted gifts and Tiffany glass products.
At local designer clothing shop, Winnie Magee, inventor of the posh Linen Rain Collection — waterproof coats for the horsey set throughout Britain and Ireland — remains “very busy with orders”.
She added: “I won’t let the virus win. As Dolly Parton says, ‘We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails’.”
Thomas Andrews would have been proud of them.