Delight and concern from Northampton town centre independent traders after first week back

The response from independent traders in Northampton town centre after the first week of being able to reopen was a mix of relief and worry.

Most report a steady five days of trading but concerns remain about what is to come with fears about customers simply not venturing out if the coronavirus threat remains high.

Stephen Partington, who owns shoes and barber stockists Dychurch Lifestyle on St Giles Street, is eager to see how things go today (Saturday, June 20).

"We did a little bit of business at the start of the week but it wasn't a rush of people coming out to spend money," he told the Chronicle & Echo yesterday (Friday).

"I know what I need to take on a Saturday, pre-lockdown, and it will be interesting to see what happens on the first Saturday of the return.

"The weather is supposed to be all right but I have a strong belief it's going to be around a third of what we normally take."

Stephen said it has been great to be back in the shop and has received some lovely well-wishes from customers but sales have been low.

The shop owner thinks a combination of the death rate remaining relatively high and people not having much money to spend means it will be a tough period for businesses.

"We've taken a bit of money this week which is better than nothing but I think next week and the week after will tell us a lot about what's going to happen in the next quarter," he said.

Stephen believes a six-month VAT holiday would go a long way but ultimately until the threat of Covid-19 is greatly reduced, customers will not have the confidence to go shopping.

Next door at Montague Jeffery, personal tailoring manager Patrick Leonard said they were operating at around 80 per cent of what they would usually do.

"We have been quite buoyant so no complaints at all from me - there has been a good, solid round of customers who we would normally see," he said.

"I think the thing I have found with the customers I have had is because Montague Jeffery is so long-established, having some contact with something that's still here is quite comforting and reassuring."

Being a tailor is very different with social distancing, so Patrick has been relying on his experience to size-up customers rather than a tape measure when partners cannot do it for him.

The main difference for the business is the lack of weddings to cater for, with most postponed until next year, but Patrick said they will be able to cope.

"Hopefully there won't be a second spike but we have no way of knowing so we just have to go with what the Government says and carry on the best we can," he said.

"But customers have been following social distancing, wearing masks and using hand gel so hopefully we won't see the number of infections we saw when Covid first struck."

Over at St Giles Music on St Giles Terrace, founder Phil Job said it has just been nice to be back in work after so long away.

While the music shop is back, Phil hopes the teaching lessons with around 200 pupils will be able to resume soon after being cancelled during the lockdown.

It's been interesting, it started off very busy, a lot busier than we expected," he said.

"And it's not just people going out because they can but the rest of the week has been steady and we've got some more supplies in. It's delightful to be back."