Meet shops doing better than before
SOME businesses have beaten the odds to record even better profits than before the lockdown, The Mirror has found. In Lancashire towns Colne and Burnley, customers have been staying local to help businesses survive. Steve Turner, 54, owner of restaurant Tubbs of Colne, said: “We have been extremely busy since July 4. It was turbo-charged by the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The local community has been fantastic, really supportive.” Wife Jane added: “At times it’s been even better than before lockdown. It’s largely because we’ve got the environment right. We’ve expanded the booth spacing so people feel very secure. The customers have been incredible.” Tony Keogh, co-director of Chosen by Jessica in Colne, began selling homeware, gifts and ladies’ accessories last year. The shop has a cafe.
“We took out the bounce-back loan to pay off bills and invest in new stock, and it’s paid dividends,” he said. “We had to work differently from before and it seems to work.
“We extended our opening hours. We had to reduce the number of tables inside the cafe but now have tables outside so our capacity increased. We tried to create a cosmopolitan feel. Customers appear to like it. There is a great camaraderie among the businesses. If we can keep people away from places like the Trafford Centre, they will buy from businesses here. We appear to be bucking the trend.”
Emma Hartley Bridalwear has seen confidence return. Owner Emma, 55, who has had the shop for 22 years, said: “We are still here, fighting back and doing well. Like other small businesses, we’ve had to learn to work differently and it’s working.”
Katy Harper, 41, who was out in Colne, said: “I prefer to shop locally. Colne has a lot to offer. It has a variety of shops selling goods different to what you find on the high street. It’s an up-and-coming town.”
In Burnley, Carol Beswick, of Florist Lancashire, said business is blooming: “It is as good as ever, if not better. I began working from home selling online and making deliveries. The shop opened on reduced hours and it worked well.” Emma Joyce, owner of Wish Boutique, said: “During lockdown we sold clothing online, offering free delivery. It’s nice to be back in the shop and our customers said they missed us.”
Burnley shopper Linda Wilkinson, 52, is staying local. She said: “Before Covid, I’d be off shopping to Manchester or Leeds. Now, I’d rather stay closer to home. It has everything I really need. The centre is not as busy as the cities and I feel safer.”
Keeley Hope, 29, added: “I’m happy to do my shopping here in Burnley. I’ve not missed going to shopping centres or busy city shops and probably won’t go back until I feel completely safe.”