While other high streets are a sea of forlorn boarded up shops and ‘to let’ signs, Bewdley in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, along the Severn Valley, is an example of a town that is getting it right when it comes to successful retail.
“There isn’t one empty shop in Bewdley,” Jon May and Luke Jacks, co-owners of Mooch Gifts & Home told GiftsandHome.net.“In fact, there’s a waiting list for shops. “We would love to be able to have a larger shop in the town as we do very well with gifts, as Bewdley is a tourist destination, but there simply aren’t any large outlets available.”
Also helping to boost sales is that Bewdley has an active traders group. “It’s called Shop, Eat, Sleep Bewdley and we have a Facebook page as well as a useful WhatsApp group,” explains Jon. “We talk to each other and pass business. I really do think that our shop local campaign, as well as those that are similar to ours, are starting to pay off.”
In fact, with the new Sherlock Homes movie being filmed in the town, Jon and Luke have been doing a bit of celebrity spotting in recent weeks. “Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr are both staying in Bewdley at the moment, which all adds to the buzz,” adds Jon.
Mooch Gifts & Home, winner of The Greats 2018 Independent Gift Retailer of the Year Midlands & Wales category, celebrates its third anniversary this month. A second Mooch Gifts & Home outlet is based in Stourport-on-Severn.
Top: Bewdley, a popular tourist destination, is continuing to thrive, despite the general retail gloom.
