'We can't wait': Northampton women's boutique among non-essential shops ready to reopen next week

With all non-essential shops allowed to open on Monday (June 15), Berties women's boutique in Northampton is ready to welcome back customers.

Co-owner Duncan Wild said: "We can't wait to be honest as every week we're closed, we're losing money.

"Although the furlough scheme is good, generally the staffing costs are 30 per cent of our operating costs so we need to open.

"The longer we go into the summer, the less value our stock is going to be worth as we've bought in around 80 per cent of our summer stock already and paid for it.

"But we've had a strong start to the season and internet orders have been strong so we're not doing too badly."

Duncan's wife Leonie Howe opened Berties 27 years ago and they are confident they can get through this period of uncertainty.

But the coronavirus crisis has tested the Guildhall Road business, with their staff all being put on furlough and having to rely on online orders to sell their clothes.

"That's been busy but most of our business is still through the door as we offer personal styling and that's what a lot of customers want and it's hard to replicate that online," Duncan said.

Leonie and Duncan had got Berties ready to reopen at the beginning of June, but it turned out that the 16th would be the day they can open the doors to the public again - it is shut on Mondays.

Changes include having a limit of three customers in the shop at once as they have gone from four to three changing rooms.

Shoppers will have their temperature checked and asked to sanitise their hands before they enter, with a one-way system around the store and everyone will be at least two-metres apart.

When it is not possible to be a safe distance away from the customers, such as for alterations, staff will wear personal protective equipment.

Duncan said: "It's unusual and stressful and we're not sure how people will come back, will they spend as much they did before? We'll have to wait and see."