A cashmere clothes shop in Harrogate has closed after 28 years.
Hawico on Montellier Parade was the first Hawico shop outside Scotland when it opened in 1995.
It has now closed, with the loss of two jobs, and the unit is vacant.
David Sanderson, a director of Hawico, said the company had been considering the shop’s future for some time. He added:
“We’ve been in Harrogate quite a while but it seems like it’s run its course. We can’t afford for this business not to pay and it got very marginal in Harrogate so we decided not to renew the lease.”
Mr Sanderson said trade at the store had got “harder and harder” in recent years, especially since covid.
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Hawico, a family business that makes clothes at a factory in Hawick, Scotland has 10 stores in Scotland, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.
Mr Sanderson said the site of the Harrogate shop was previously owned by another Scottish clothing company and the unit had provided “a little bit of Scotland in Harrogate for some time”.
It is the latest loss to Harrogate’s high street after the closure of Bijouled, which sold gifts and accessories on Parliament Street and fast fashion brand New Look, which was based in the Victoria Shopping Centre.
Bijouled is now closed
Oliver Bonas set to open in Harrogate this week
Harrogate’s upmarket James Street is set to get a new addition this week with the opening of an Oliver Bonas shop.
The fashion and lifestyle brand has been refurbishing the spacious 3,700-square foot unit formerly used as a discount store.
Next also previously rented the site.
The doors were previously expected to open in September but renovations have been ongoing.
However, sources have indicated Oliver Bonas is finally due to open on Thursday.
The company, which has 85 stores in the UK, is advertising for team members at £9.75 an hour on its website.
The opening will strengthen James Street’s claim to be Harrogate’s premier destination for luxury goods.
Pret A Manger, Ebru Evrim and Carl Scarpa have all joined the street recently and Hotel Chocolat has upsized to larger premises.
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Tom Limbert, director of property consultants, Central Retail, which acted for property owners Countrylarge, previously said James Street had been “reinvigorated”, adding:
Oliver Bonas set to open store in Harrogate“Oliver Bonas will be a great addition to the existing tenant line up on James Street which truly is one of the best high streets in the north of England.”
Oliver Bonas looks set to be unveiled as the latest big name addition to Harrogate’s high street.
The clothing and homeware store is advertising for a store manager and deputy store manager to run a shop in Harrogate.
The Stray Ferret understands it has identified the former Next store on James Street as its home.
There are also rumours that German fashion giant Hugo Boss and USA clothes retailer Anthropologie are considering opening outlets in Harrogate.
The company’s website says:
“We have an amazing opportunity for a store manager to join Team Oliver Bonas in our Harrogate store.”
The salary is described as ‘competitive with benefits’. The website also advertises a deputy store manager vacancy.
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The Stray Ferret has approached Oliver Bonas for further details.
Tom Limbert, director of property consultants Central Retail, said:
“We are very close to letting the former Next store on James Street to a very exciting national lifestyle retailer who will be another great addition to the street.”
Oliver Bonas, which was founded by Oliver Tress, opened its first store in London in 1993. It now has 75 outlets in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The closest ones to Harrogate are currently in Ilkley, Leeds and York.
Accessibility for all becomes top priority for Harrogate shopsA number of Harrogate shop keepers have called in a local charity to help them become more accessible for disabled customers.
Disability Action Yorkshire is working with some retailers on Commercial Street in a move that it is hoped will also make them more profitable.
The spending power of disabled people and their families, known as the purple pound, is estimated to be worth £249 billion and increasing each year.
Josh McCormack, Disability Action Yorkshire’s think access co-ordinator, has been advising businesses.
Mr McCormack recommended the owner of The Cheeseboard, which is a small store and has a step in the entrance, put a sign in the window saying, “If you can’t come into to us, we will come out to you”.
This informs customers with wheelchairs or prams that they are welcome and can get help.
Mr McCormack said:
“More and more businesses are now looking at making their premises accessible to all, particularly as online shopping became a way of life during the three national covid lockdowns.
“In many cases, becoming accessible need not cost a penny. Businesses are starting to realise the value of the purple pound and to become accessible they need someone who can advise them.
“My role at Disability Action Yorkshire is to go into a business, conduct an audit, and them produce a report. Disabled people want to enjoy the same experiences as everybody else, and a business becoming accessible makes complete sense.”
The charity has said it is keen to work with shops across the Harrogate district that want to become more accessible.
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Gemma Aykroyd, the owner of The Cheeseboard, said:
Campaign launched to support Harrogate shops online“I’d like to thank Josh for visiting our shop and speaking to me about what we could do to become more accessible.
“Whilst the limited space and step are a barrier, Josh offered us some very practical and simple advice. This simple measure says we will go that extra mile, ensuring we cater for everyone.”
Harrogate BID has launched a campaign to support local shops as they move online in the run-up to Christmas.
The BID will ask shoppers and business owners to use #ShopHarrogateOnline to spread the word on social media.
It will encourage shoppers to avoid the likes of Amazon, which saw a big increase in sales during the first lockdown.
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The BID also has coronavirus reopening grants, which are match-funded up to £750, to support its levy payers.
Levy payers can use the money to either shift their business online or improve their existing online space.
Sara Ferguson, acting chair for Harrogate BID, said:
“Now is the time to support our home-grown businesses more than ever before. If we don’t, I fear many will never re-open their premises when eventually able to do so. Whilst many businesses have had to physically close to the public, they are still trading their goods and services online.”
She added that local accountants, lawyers, estate agents and other professionals also need support.