Lack of high street browsers means antiques shops are moving upstairs

Antiques shops are increasingly moving upstairs to first floor premises because fewer people are browsing on the high street, an expert has claimed.

Olivia Gerrish sold antique jewellery from Grays in Mayfair, central London, for 35 years before she decided to swap her retail shop for an office where customers can make appointments to buy her wares.

The change was prompted by her son Matt, who also pushed for an online presence to boost sales, instead of relying on passing footfall.

Ms Gerrish said businesses are forced to look elsewhere because of expensive high street rents, while younger customers preferred to research her jewellery online.

She said: “It’s the rates that are killing businesses. The high streets are so expensive.”

That solution – adopted by many others – has been to move up to the first floor of premises rather than pay to have a shop front, said Freya Simms, chief executive of Lapada, the UK’S largest association of art and antiques dealers. Yet alongside the challenges facing dealers, Ms Simms said online trading represented a big opportunity – especially to those using Instagram and Facebook.