Skate to be back in our city store
LEISURE SHOP LAUNCHES NEW ERA AFTER COVID COLLAPSE
A POPULAR surf, snow and skate shop in Nottingham has reopened.
Two Seasons went into administration amid the Covid pandemic when the previous owner was unable to keep the store afloat.
But on Saturday it reopened its doors after the founder was able to reacquire the brand.
It was back in August that Nottingham manager and employee of four years, Brett Clarke, received a call telling him to hand his shop keys in the next day.
He said: “It was really scary as many of us in retail live from paycheck to paycheck. Some of us have families - I myself have two kids.”
Unwilling to admit defeat, Stuart Roberts, who set up Two Seasons in 1983, hatched a plan to revive its glory days.
The original store opened in a former video rental shop in Pelham Street and soon became a destination for snowboarders.
This led to expanding the store in 2004 by moving across the road to Fletcher Gate, coinciding with the arrival of the tram.
In 2010 the wall was knocked through into next door doubling the size overnight and the Element skate store moved in. Brett received an unexpected phone call from Stuart after the store closed. Brett said: “He told me he had acquired the e-commerce and wanted to reopen the store, with me as the manager.
“That was around five weeks ago but from last Monday I was officially taken on and we had five days to get the store set up.
“Having been sat empty for months it was pretty dirty and then we got all the deliveries on one day, it was insane.
“But we’ve managed to do it and I’m really proud of the achievement.” Brett and his team of six worked every day to get the shelves and racks fully stocked, as well as making the store Covid-safe before reopening on Saturday.
While it looks much the same as before, Brett said there are plans for a more independent feel to the store now that it is not part of a larger ownership.
He said: “We always tried to be like an indie business, but now we actually are.
“I think it’s hugely important for the Nottingham store to reopen because with these kinds of brands, and what we offer, there is such a strong community around it and we have a lot of regulars.
“This is just phase one, but we are hoping to introduce more smaller, eco brands as we go forward.”
In an open letter thanking customers for their “unwavering support”, Stuart Roberts wrote: “I founded Two Seasons back in 1983, when skateboarding gripped the youth for the very first time in the UK and skinny skis and one-piece ski suits were in fashion – yes, that long ago!
“A new and improved Two Seasons is coming. Myself and a hand selected team have reacquired the Two Seasons brand, as it went into administration under the previous owner - an unfortunate side-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic is all stores had to close.”
He added: “I feel that it’s vital to roll back to the roots and rich heritage of the snow, skate and surf subcultures we operate within.”