'It feels like starting a new business all over again': Northampton independent shops welcome back customers

Independent traders in Northampton have been excitedly welcoming back customers as non-essential shops were allowed to reopen today (Monday, June 15).

Montague Jeffery has been selling menswear for nearly 120 years from its shop on St Giles Street but was closed for the first time during the coronavirus lockdown.

Owner Jonathan Williams said: "We've had two customers already and a lot of enquiries.

"It's a great vibe. Lots of people are popping their heads in just to say good luck. This was the first time the shop has been closed in 100 years, even through two world wars

"We've got a system where if a customer tries something on we can take it off the rails and put it next door for a few days.

"It's definitely a positive vibe. We're all in the same boat."

Vintage Guru is handing out disposable gloves to customers so they can touch things in the store.

Clothes that are tried or or returned are taken to a back room, steam cleaned and left alone for 24 hours.

Julie Tackman, co-owner of Vintage Guru, said: "The most important thing to us is that customers feel safe.

"It's difficult to know if you're meeting the guidelines but if our customers say they feel say that's all you can do.

"It felt good to open today and find a queue of customers waiting outside."

Stephen Partington, owner of St Giles Street shoes and barber stockists Dychurch Lifestyle, said he felt like a child starting at a new school as he re-opened the doors this morning.

"I'm excited and apprehensive and nervous all rolled into one," he said.

"It feels like starting a new business all over again. I don't know yet if there's going to be any money in it.

"But people have been very kind people have stopped to say good luck."

Big name brands like Primark and Sports Direct may have had queues of people outside the doors this morning, but for independent shops like Abraxas Cookshop, just a few customers makes all the difference.

Manager of the St Giles Street store, Helen Standing said: "It's really nice to see our regulars again.

"We've had a lot of positive feedback on our social media and on our website these past few weeks.

"We really do thank all our regular customers who have supported us as we open again."

Mooch gift shop on St Giles Street reopened today despite usually being shut on Mondays as a test of its measures to stick to social distancing guidelines, along with two other sister shops.

Co-owner Rachel Roberts was pleasantly surprised with the amount of trade they have done, with some transactions even being done outside if customers knew what they wanted.

"It's been okay, I think it's been quite strange to reopen but we've had a steady flow of customers throughout the day and we've been learning as we go," she said.

"The web has actually been really strong today as lots of people have been shopping online and organising to collect it from the shop, which is great.

"My summary would be it's been better than expected."