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Nov 2020

Business

Ripon retailers stay open until 7pm tonight ahead of lockdown

Published: 4 Nov 2020, 09:00 GMT

by Tim Flanagan

The first COVID-19 lockdown dealt some Ripon retailers a blow from which they never recovered and now there are fears in the city about the impact another period of closure will have.

ripon-2-november-2020-sarah-groom-forbes-gift-shop

Ripon retailers classed as selling 'non-essential' goods are preparing for a second COVID-19 lockdown with trepidation - many staying open late tonight on the last day of trading.

Sarah Groom, owner of the Forbes giftshop on Westgate, told the Stray Ferret:

"For me, the timing could not be worse - the run-up to Christmas is my most important trading period of the year."

She added:

"It's when I make the money that sustains me through the quieter times, like January and February. I just hope that I can reopen in early December to serve customers with the Christmas goods that they want."

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For Sarah, this is the second blow in a key trading period, as the first lockdown left her with Easter stock that she was unable to sell.

Also anticipating a double blow is Peter Wilkinson, owner of The Easy Learning Shop in the Duckhill Shopping Quarter (pictured above).

He said:

"It's annoying to have another break in trade, I personally think that a 6pm curfew would work better than a lockdown."

As well as the potential loss of pre-Christmas sales, items sold in the shop include the Grimm's brand of wooden toys, which are imported from Germany and Peter pointed out:

"In the New Year we will be facing Brexit and tariffs that will make goods imported from Europe more expensive, which won't help."

This week both Forbes and The Easy Learning Shop will be staying open each night until 7pm before the lockdown comes into effect and after this, Peter will be stepping up on his online sales, free delivery and click and collect service.

The attempt to lighten the pre-lockdown mood saw clothes store M&Co in Fishergate go out on social media to encourage retailers in Ripon to offer late night shopping tonight.

Assistant manager Sophie Hattersley, said:

"We are supporters of the Love Local campaign and want to ensure that all of Ripon's retailers get through these difficult times."

She added:

"We have had a good response from other stores and hope that the extra hours of trade will give people a chance to come and shop safely before we shut down for a month."

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Ripon retailers stay open until 7pm tonight ahead of lockdown

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