Happy to be back as traders adapt to new rules
As Covid-19 heads into retreat, the focus is increasingly turning to getting life and the economy back on track after months of lockdown.
The latest easing measures were confirmed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday as she outlined Scotland’s entry into ‘stage two’ of the country’s routemap out of the restrictive way of life imposed to suppress the spread of the virus.
The second phase will allow relaxations including being able to see members of another household indoors for the first time, the return of professional sport and even the restarting of weddings.
But it’s the economic impact of the phase two measures that will be most keenly anticipated, with Thursday’s announcement allowing small retail units to reopen with physical distancing in place from June 29.
The move will allow local shops and retailers across Stirling to once again welcome customers after weeks of hibernation.
The Observer spoke to two businesses within metres of each other in the popular Friars Street in Stirling city centre about keeping their operations running during lockdown and how they plan to adjust to the ‘new normal’ imposed by the coronavirus.
Owner Lisa Davidson has been running the Tinkerbells Emporium gift shop for almost four years and is planning to welcome customers back through the doors as soon as possible. She told the Observer: “I will be taking every measure possible to ensure that my visitors to the shop are safe but I decided to welcome just one
I was able to move things on to that and the website has done well enough that it’s made the difference.
“There’s just huge excitement about bringing people back to the shop, people passing by on the street have been saying how excited they are to come back and people are desperate to get outside and do something.”
Just one shop down from Tinkerbells on Friar Street is kilt hire firm House of Henderson, who have been operating in the city for 97 years.
Director Jordan Henderson has been at the helm for nearly seven years and admits Covid-19 has been one of the biggest challenges the company has faced.
Jordan said: “The majority of what we do is based on large gatherings so having all of those cancelled has had a knock-on effect on us. There has been a lot of postponing bookings not cancellations and so we’re looking forward to a busy one next year with the bookings filling up already.
“We also get a good amount of tourist trade but that’s obviously taken a hit as well, but we’re remaining hopeful of getting some staycation visitors through later in the year if everything remains on the curve.
“It feels like we’re pressing pause on things - we’ve been here 97 years and been through recessions and wars but this is one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced.”
The shop will re-open when possible on an appointment only basis - and the restrictions over social distancing has required Jordan to come up with a fresh potential solution to the measuring-up process.
He said: “Opening for appointments only might be odd for those wanting to pop in, but it allows us to maintain the special service to customers.
“The whole process can be a bit of an event so we’re insisting customers bring just one other person with them to appointments and we’re thinking about possibly having them measure up the customer to our instructions but that’s only a thought at this stage.
“Everybody on the street has been great with each other, popping in and checking if we need anything - the street is a great little community that is different from the hustle and bustle of the town centre.”