The closure of non-essential shops from Thursday (November 5) until December 2 has come as an unwelcome blow to retailers, with gift shops among those heavily relying on the run up to Christmas to keep the tills ringing.
“We’re really disappointed having had a great few months since we re-opened and again we are locking down at a time when Christmas seasonal stock is in the shop,” David Lorimer, co-owner of four Brocante shops in Cornwall told GiftsandHome.net. “It was the same as the last lockdown when we had Easter stock in.”
Adds David: “However, I think it’s more difficult this time round as the rules make no sense in the fact that universities and schools are still open, and this is where the biggest increase in transmission is from. Cornwall had a full season of tourism from July onwards and we didn’t have a spike.”
In Bury St Edmunds, Lesley Bancroft, director of gift shop Buy The Light, said the lockdown didn’t come as a surprise, “but here in Suffolk we have one of the lowest infection rates, so from that point of view it’s a bit disappointing. Having said that, for the sake of the country, I believe it is best for us in the long term. However, it couldn’t happen at a worst time for retailers, as the run up to Christmas is vital for the health of the business. We have a website, so we will offer free local delivery, as we did in the previous lockdown, and with the support of our brilliant customers, we will all get through this together.”
Further North in Cheshire, Judy Evans, owner of Williams of Audlem, is hoping the store will be able to stay open, but is devastated for other gift retailers.
“As a mixed product range shop, (newsagents and hardware, as well as gifts and cards), we anticipate that we will remain open. However, we are mortified for other gift retailers, who have gone to so much trouble and expense to comply with the Covid safety guidelines, that they are not being allowed to stay open at such a critical time of year. Unlike in Wales, we understand that English supermarkets WILL be able to sell non- essential goods.While the emphasis must be placed on public safety, just how is this fair, or justified, when it will likely drive more customers – and profits – into the supermarkets? Just another nail in the high street’s coffin, which, in the long run, will be of no benefit to us. Our thoughts are very much with our colleagues in the industry – including the many people working in the gift supply chain too.
Two gift shops were also interviewed for an article in yesterday’s Sunday Times (November 1). “Everything seems relatively normal here at the moment and the rates are very low,” Amy Symons, co-owner of gift shop Moda in Folkestone told the newspaper, “so it does seem almost like we’re being penalised for how things are getting in other parts of the country.” Added David Laity, owner of Morrab Studio in Penzance: “They ought to stick with the localised lockdowns and let the quieter areas that aren’t quite so much affected by the coronavirus carry on, keep the economy going in those areas.”
Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre said: “This second lockdown could not be at a worse time for independent retailers as we approach the crucial festive period. Christmas shopping was already starting and will now end up being carried out online.
Continued Andrew: “Small retailers need support through this lockdown. The furlough scheme should be reinstated, the grant scheme for all small businesses must be re-introduced and start planning for a ‘shop out to help out’ scheme to be available for when shops reopen. We lost 25% of independent retailers after the last lockdown, and without meaningful support the sector will be decimated by further lockdowns.”
Top: Retailers are getting ready for another lockdown this week.
