Northampton vintage shop to reopen after lockdown with even more independent traders on board

While many shops are having to shrink to meet social distancing guidelines ahead of being allowed to reopen on Monday (June 15), one in Northampton has actually grown during the coronavirus lockdown.

Vintage Guru will return with a dozen new traders selling their wares, taking the total operating over the two floors of the shop on St Giles Street to 120.

Owner Julie Teckman, who opened the shop almost two years ago with Matthew Lewis, is delighted to be coming back stronger but is unsurprised.

"Vintage Guru is a brilliant opportunity for new and small businesses wanting to get a foothold in retail to establish a brand and get the benefit of a high street presence without the financial implications of opening a traditional shop," she said.

"Although times have been hard for most of us over the last few months, some people have been able to spend more time developing a new idea or expanding on what they were already doing.

"All retailers have suffered during the lockdown and the uncertainty about when we would be able to reopen has tested our nerves.

"But, like so many other shops, we have used the time to make changes, tidy up and create a website for the shop and the traders within it.

"We were very aware that our traders would also be struggling so the Government grant has enabled us to suspend their rent payments and give them a bit of breathing space."

New names joining established traders in the shop include Pintsize Detective cards, Modern Vintage Collectibles, Bumblebee Home Interiors and Handsome Furniture Co.

With a click-and-collect service and delivery available for items reserved or bought from the shop’s social media pages, the Vintage Guru team believes it can make the return to retail a positive experience.

Matthew said a lot of thought has gone into making the shopping experience in Vintage Guru a safe and enjoyable one for all visitors returning to the high street.

‘We know that many people are worried about venturing into shops again and we have undertaken a massive risk assessment to make sure that we can reassure customers as much as possible," he said.

"We will be open seven days a week as we were before but opening times will vary a little to enable members of the public to book private shopping sessions with the shop all to themselves first thing and later in the day.

"We will be providing disposable gloves for all visitors and masks for those who request them, and on busier days we will extend our one-way system in the shop by opening a side door to give a second entrance.

"We will limit numbers in the shop but it is a big shop with lots of space, and even waiting outside should be interesting with visitors able to enjoy our award-winning window displays."