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Nov 2020

Last Updated: 30/11/2020

Business

Harrogate retailers wait for shopper numbers before opening late

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 30 Nov, 2020

The government has relaxed rules to allow shops to extend their opening hours, but local independents have said they will have to see if it is worth it. Harrogate shops say the profits have to match the additional costs.

Harrogate's independent shops say they are hesitant to stay open late in case there isn't the footfall to make it profitable.

The government is to relax rules on late night opening to help stores recover sales after lockdown.

Store owners are gearing up to reopen on Wednesday but some want to see how many people return to the high street before spending money on additional staff.

In previous years, Harrogate's shops have opened late one night during the week but this year shops are being precautious.

What do the shop owners say?

Louise Chesters, owner of Dizzy Duck in Harrogate, said:

"We'll have to see how we go, if we get busy I will extend them to accordingly. It's hard to tell if we will be inundated so it's just a case of embracing it all. It would also take extra organising to extend the hours so we will have to see how it goes on Wednesday but I'm excited."

Georgie Roberts, owner of Georgie's, said:

"If someone asked I would stay open of course or if someone asks for a private appointment later in the day to feel safe then of course I would accommodate it. I'll be flexible and see what happens but because I am out of the centre late nights tend not to work for me."

Bob Kennedy, owner of G23 and Porters, said:

"Late nights don't always work for us. It could be different this year with people supporting the high street, but I don't know if it would be worth it. We will have to see how shoppers react when we reopen. It has been a difficult year and we need people to support local retail."

After another month of closure the shops were eager to reopen. They are hoping a festive boost in sales can begin to make up for lost time.

Sandra Doherty, Chief Executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, was sceptical of the impact of the new guidelines. She said:

“Permitting shops to open for extra hours will, in a few instances, allow the retailers to benefit from a potential increase in trade, however, in most cases the extra costs in staffing will actually cut into profits.

“The temptation to stay open when others are closed will be tremendous, but there is only so much money to go around, and opening more hours will just spread the ‘spend’ over a longer time frame."