Preparing to shut up shop once again
WITH Wales set to go into a fire-break coronavirus lockdown tomorrow, nonessential businesses are preparing to shut their doors — again.
For one business owner planning to open a new shop in Swansea, she has had to delay expanding her company for the second time.
Kylie Repath, from Sketty, is the owner of popular dress shop Kylie Rose Boutique in Queens Arcade, Cardiff.
The 34-year-old said she had been set for an amazing year after working hard to build her business up for two years, after previously being forced to shut her old shop due to disability and illness.
She explained: “I have been in the business of evening dresses for 10 years. I closed my old shop in 2017 due to disability and other illnesses. I reopened in Cardiff two years ago and we were set for an amazing year after working hard to build it up.
“In March we were supposed to open a second shop in Swansea city centre, but that didn’t go ahead because of the lockdown.
“We have now signed the lease for the shop, but obviously we aren’t ready to open just yet, but when we do we are going to open with a bang.
“We still have to pay rent and utilities, so the shop is making a loss, so that can be nerve-wracking.”
Mrs Repath said she has managed to keep afloat by adapting her business.
“We had to adapt straightaway to preserve the business. For the first two weeks of lockdown in March it was quiet so we had to quickly come up with a plan,” she said.
“I put more time into selling online and using social media like Facebook marketplace, as well as exporting more. After two weeks my finances were looking better.
“Our overall losses are down, but we are in such a better place because of the extra work we’ve put in.
“I work all hours of the day to push the business forward online and we also started selling Christmas merchandise — I’m loving it so much. We’ve sold 30 pairs of elf pyjamas so far.
“With the adaptations, it means we have still managed to get the Swansea store up and running.”
With her staff furloughed, she has had to do a lot of the work herself, but got through with the support of the people around her.
She said: “We have three staff and they are all furloughed, but luckily have been kept in their jobs. They will benefit from the new pay scheme and we will be doing more working from home.
“My staff are amazing and I want to keep them in their jobs, they love their jobs. My manager in Cardiff adores the shop. My personal assistant has been so supportive, not just business-wise but bringing me supplies when I was self-isolating at the beginning of lockdown.
“It was quite difficult doing it without my staff. Because of my disability, my back has been in pieces. But my husband has been a great help supporting me.
“There have been times where I’ve felt really exhausted, but I’ve remained positive. I worry more about other people and how they are coping.
“Some people, like the elderly, have it so much worse. If business people have an entrepreneurial spirit, we can adapt.
“The Welsh Government and Business Wales have been supportive — I think in Wales we have better business support.
“It has also been great to see so much support from the community. I’ve seen on Facebook groups, such as Swansea Coronavirus Support, people sharing local businesses to support and help out.”
Mrs Repath said through the government’s Kickstart Scheme, she hopes to employ young Swansea locals when the shop eventually opens, adding: “I feel that it’s important to bring business into Swansea, it’s home to me.”
She hopes to be able to open the shop in January.
“It will be open even if we don’t make anything in the first year.
“There may be a knockon effect on the economy because of Covid, that people won’t want to buy luxury items, and that is a concern.
“However, after the last recession, hairdressers and beauticians saw that they were still getting business because people wanted to pamper themselves, so there is hope.
“I’m very grateful to my regular customers who have continued to support the business. They’re keeping me going.”