Stores adapt to defy high street gloom
BIG changes are taking place across Britain’s high streets. Former retail giants are continuing to fall victim to Covid19, with dozens of well-known brands collapsing in 2020.
Many retailers have had to adapt fast to survive the impact of the national lockdowns, which forced non-essential stores to close.
Although the future may look bleak for some major national chains, it appears to be quite a different story for the country’s independent shops.
In fact, many ‘indies’ are finding innovative ways to continue trading – and are thriving as a result.
According to research from the British Independent Retailers Association and Starling Bank, some 72 per cent of people in the South West plan to buy gifts from independent shops this year – the highest of any UK region or nation.
Bristol, in particular, is well known for its indie vibe.
Bustling Clifton Village is among a number of areas across the city where independent businesses are flourishing. The upmarket part of town is jam-packed with all manner of eateries, shops and bars.
The Bristol Post spoke to just some of the business owners who run stores in the village, to find how they have fared in 2020.
SoleLution
Tanya Marriott opened shoe store SoleLution in Portishead in October 2005, with the Clifton branch following in February 2008.
This year her stores have been closed for a total of four months, but she adapted her business so she could still trade.
The changes included developing an online virtual fitting questionnaire, offering local doorstep fitting and a delivery service.
When her stores reopened, Tanya also added extra safety measures including ‘customer stations’ with screens and sanitising shoes before returning them to the stockroom. She also introduced an appointment system which cut queues.
The business, she said, had its best ‘back to school’ season ever in 2020.
“The appointment system went down a storm during back to school in August – parents and children loved the fact they could turn up and be seen without having to queue as they normally would.”
Tanya says she is finding people are wanting to “shop local” more and more – and is “quietly optimistic” about the future of the high street.
“It is very difficult to buy shoes online, particularly when fitting children,” she said. “It is therefore, really important for us, to have a bricks-and-mortar shop.
She added: “The way that the communities of Portishead and Clifton have supported us during this tough year has been amazing. There is a real feeling that people want their local businesses to not only survive, but thrive.”
The Kitchen Man and Kitchen Artillery
The Kitchen Man showroom was opened by Nick Mitford in 2005, selling bespoke kitchen design, manufacture, and installation.
Kitchen Artillery opened in 2020, as part of The Kitchen Man business, selling kitchenware, cookware, and bakeware, and offering a knife sharpening service.
Nick says there has been a downturn in kitchen sales in 2020, but he decided to open a retail shop and keep his kitchen showroom open – and he is hopeful of a “promising” 2021.
He said: “Kitchen Artillery sells products that, on the whole, are individual or immediately necessary purchases to use for cooking, where internet shopping is not used as frequently in this market due to customers preferring to see and handle items before purchase.”
Nick believes the benefits of having a bricks-and-mortar store, where people can hold tools, “far outweighs” the alternative of buying online.
“Customers have repeatedly said that they like to be able to feel and discuss cookware products, and how they are going to use them, before purchasing,” he said.
According to Nick, Clifton Village is a good place to do business because the presence of coffee shops and eateries means the streets are always busy with people browsing.
“The shops are small and personal, and there is a really good inter-retailer community, supported by BID Clifton which is funded by the businesses themselves.”
He believes “things are changing” for the high street, but says it will always be “needed and necessary”.
Nick added: “As ever, any business constantly needs to look at what they are doing and offering, and that should pave a way for their
future and the future of the high street.”
Chandos Deli
Iain Keith-Smith opened Chandos in 1999. The store sells food and wine, and has a fresh lunchtime takeaway counter.
The business has seen “great growth” in its deli sales and the produce it makes this year, according to Iain.
“Fresh food needs to be talked about and tasted,” he said. “Despite an increase in home deliveries there will always be a need for customers to choose the food they eat in person.”
The business has not been immune to the challenges of 2020, however.
Chandos experienced a drop in fresh fish sales due to difficulties in supply caused by Covid. But the biggest issue, says Iain, has been uncertainty.
“Almost every week has brought changes to the playing field, whether on an international level with Brexit, on a national level with Covid or on a very local level with the proposed pedestrianisation of Clifton village,” he said.
He says Clifton’s sense of community makes it a good place to do business, with residents and traders benefitting from each other’s presence.
“The next few months will be challenging with the recovery from Covid but more importantly thanks to the uncertainty of Brexit.
“With just over a week to go we have no idea if much of the produce we sell will have huge tariffs slapped on or if they will even be available. The mid-term future, however, looks bright and I strongly believe by the summer of 2021 Clifton village will be back to its flourishing self.”
DBM Wines
Davis Bell & McCraith ( DBM Wines) was founded in 2009 by wine experts Richard Davis, Aidan Bell and Susan McCraith.
The company’s first shop opened in Clifton Village in 2013 as an addition to a mail order business.
DBM has grown steadily each year, according to the owners, who moved to their current premises, on Princess Victoria Street, in September.
“Thankfully wine shops are classed as essential businesses, although our original shop was not big enough to open safely during the first lockdown,” said Richard.
“However, we have been doing free delivery in Bristol since March which has been very popular.”
Since moving to the new store, which was able to open during England’s second lockdown, business has been “thriving”, according to Richard.
“A real shop is important as we can talk to people face to face and build trusting relationships which is vital,” he said.
“It also allows customers to browse and see what else is available which is difficult to do online.”
According to Aidan, Clifton Village is a “very special” place to do business.
“It’s rare in that most of the retailers are small independents who are passionate about what they do, which means customers know they will find something different and interesting. The support the businesses give each other is wonderful too.”
And the future of Clifton Village? It’s bright, according to DBM wines.
“It is full of small independent shops that can understand their customers and can quickly cater to their needs,” Richard added. “The vibrant slightly chaotic bustle is enchanting and attracts people from quite a distance.”