Three Harrogate shop owners have spoken of their excitement as they prepare to open their doors to customers once again.

Today marks the end of months of enforced closure as a result of the third national lockdown.

Lots of businesses have moved online to keep the revenue flowing but independent shops often rely on trade brought in by footfall.

Many shops in the town centre have spent the last few days cleaning and restocking the shelves. The Stray Ferret went down to check out how they were getting on.

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The prospect of a lengthy third lockdown with no firm end date in sight is causing serious concern among Knaresborough retailers.

Knaresborough has seen a boom in new businesses lately but the current uncertainty is putting new and old shops in jeopardy.

The town’s streets have been eerily quiet this week after non-essential shops were forced to close again. Many are moving online to try to reduce financial losses.

Additional financial support has been offered by the government but shops say this isn’t enough to cover the money they would have made by staying open.

Country 2 Western, on Castlegate, sells a wide range of American-themed items from cowboy boots to belt buckles. One of its owners, Christine McLeod, said it relies on venues and music festivals to sell its niche products.

She added:

“We’ve been struggling since the first lockdown in March. We had to change what we were selling, we are keeping the American feel but a little different to normal.

“This lockdown is worrying for the future of our business. If music events are still cancelled this year we’d seriously have to re-think what we sell, it’s having a massive effect.”

Ms McLeod said she will focus her efforts on online sales but added it was vital music events were able to continue in summer.

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On the high street, The Clothing Store of Knaresborough only opened a few months before lockdown hit.

Its owner, Rebecca Lombardi, was left “devastated” by the announcement and is worried that the short amount of time she has had to establish the business will impact online sales.

She said:

“There is so much to think about so quickly. It’s scary and there are so many mixed emotions. In the other lockdown we didn’t make much from online sales so this time may not be successful but I’m going to try to build our online presence.

“I’m remaining hopeful for when we do eventually reopen.”

Bill Taylor, treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:

“Many businesses in Knaresborough adapted to survive where they could during the previous lockdowns and it is great to see a similar desire this time round. The town really came together to ensure everyone kept safe.

“Knaresborough chamber will continue to support all of the local businesses however it can, and continue engagement with local authorities to ensure businesses are aware of all of the support that is available.”

People in Harrogate spoke today of their relief about shops reopening after a month-long lockdown.

Today’s easing of covid restrictions allowed businesses to swing open their doors and there were plenty of eager shoppers there to support them.

A strong ‘shop local’ message has been pushed during the pandemic and it seems people in Harrogate today were keen to heed it and keep their high street shops alive.

Beryl Westerman said she was glad to be out again after staying inside for the past month:

“It’s lovely to come out and see people again.”

Beryl was glad to be back out and about again.

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The pandemic has had a huge impact on some retailers.

Huge names such as Debenhams have fallen into administration following losses in trade. Some others won’t be opening their doors again.

The run-up to Christmas will be a crucial time for those that have survived the second lockdown.

The Christmas lights are up, the business owners are ready, now all Knaresborough needs is shoppers.

After a month of lockdown, Knaresborough’s shop owners say they need a huge boost to sales to cover the losses of two lockdowns.

The shopkeepers have been eager to reopen and are encouraging people to venture out and support their local high street.

The whole town is getting in the festive spirit. Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has helped to light up the town by installing 80 trees on the sides of buildings.

Shop owners have also been busy decorating their windows in an effort to encourage more shoppers to visit.

Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography.

Diane Watson, owner of Knitting Pretty on Castlegate, said they’re feeling apprehensive and excited to see what today brings.:

“I’ve been desperate to open but now it’s here I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what to expect, it’s a scary time. This is usually my busiest time of the year so missing out on some of it has really hit me. I have such loyal customers so I am hoping for the best.”

Gill Mitchell, owner of Stomp footwear on Market Place, said:

“I’m raring to go I’m just hoping we can stay open for January, we just have to embrace it while we can. As soon as Boris said we can reopen people have waited to see us properly in store. It’s coming alive here in Knaresborough so hopefully more people will come.”

Over lockdown, many shops have moved online to boost the gap in sales. Tracey Bell at Ruebury Flowers offered a delivery service to ensure she wasn’t losing her annual Christmas customers.

She said:

“This lockdown has been completely different, I’ve been busy with orders and trying to do what I can. I am nervous but that’s because it is a difficult time for everyone but everyone in Knaresborough is remaining positive so let’s hope for a good few weeks of trade.”

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Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has been offering local businesses advice on opening up following the lockdown on their social media and website. Its president, Steve Teggin, said:

“It’s so good we needed this. The town is looking great too and the shopkeepers are really making an effort this tear too, we all want people to come and visit. We have to be careful of course but we can’t wait to reopen.”

Free Sunday buses and free weekday parking after 3pm are being introduced this month to encourage shoppers to spend money in Harrogate’s shops this Christmas.

Harrogate Business Improvement District, which aims to boost the town centre, is behind both projects.

The ‘free after three’ parking initiative allows motorists to park in the Victoria car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays free of charge after 3pm.

It begins on Monday and will run until Christmas Eve.

The ‘Sunday Freeway’ initiative, which returns this year, gives people the chance to catch a free ride on one of Harrogate Bus Company’s electric buses on a Sunday.

It includes the 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 services, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre. The initiative will run through December and into the New Year.

The projects are part of the BID’s Harrogate at Christmas campaign, which encourages shoppers to support local businesses after a difficult year that has seen many closures.

Harrogate BID acting chairman Sara Ferguson said:

“Because of the lockdown, traders in the town have already lost a month’s worth of business and are playing catchup.

“Now we are coming out of the second lockdown, we are launching these two initiatives to bring people into town, via two different modes of transport.”

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The Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby said:

“It’s amazing news for our town – reducing emissions and congestion, while making it easier for everyone to support our local economy and get our town’s traders back on their feet.

“Harrogate’s businesses have had an incredibly tough year, with two lockdowns and continued restrictions impacting everyone. It’s now up to us all to support them as they re-open for the crucial run-up to Christmas by taking advantage of free travel.”

The future of Harrogate’s Jaeger store is uncertain after the company entered administration today.

Parent company Edinburgh Woollen Mill has so far failed to find a buyer for Jaeger and its sister company Peacocks.

The two companies, which between them have 4,700 staff and almost 500 stores, have both gone into administration.

No redundancies or store closures have been announced yet.

At the end of last month, ‘closing down sale’ notices were displayed on the Harrogate shop front window in Cambridge Crescent.

Today’s announcement is another example of the devastating impact of the pandemic on high street retail. Local businesses had warned of the impact of a second lockdown.

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Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Homes also went into administration this month. Both had shops on Ripon high street. They also belong to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group.

Jaeger had not replied to the Stray Ferret by the time of publication.

Lockdown today has left shop owners and stallholders in Knaresborough fearful for the future of their businesses.

Shop owners and a market stallholder agree that it couldn’t have come at a worse time. November and December are their busiest months.

Many are choosing to go online, as they did during the first lockdown, in an attempt to make some of the money they would if they were to stay open.

Michael Baker-Kilburn, co owner of Little Darlings Gifts and Toys on Knaresborough high street, said:

“It’s the busiest time of the year for a toy shop so it’s really disappointing. We have so much stock coming next week, we’ve spent thousands on it. I need to think of our financial stability and I’m having to dip into our savings. I understand why we have to shut but who’s looking after us? This is when I take 50% of my cash for the whole year and I have nothing, who’s going to pay my bills and my rent?”

Similarly, Sonya Johnson who runs a ladies accessories stall on Knaresborough and Ripon markets said:

“It’s not good obviously because it’s the busiest time of the year. We just need to grin and bear it and hope we can reopen for December. It’s come at the worse time ever as November and December are always really busy. We normally have the Christmas trade to tide us over through January and February but if we come back then it could be difficult.”

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Independent businesses owner, Martin Sturdy of Zigzag in Knaresborough , said business had only just recovered from the first lockdown and another one was likely to bring a new set worries.

He said:

“This couldn’t have come at a worse time. I just hope we can reopen soon and we can recover from it when we do. I think people will continue to support us so we will be fine. We do need to be able to open beginning of December because if we miss that run up to December it’s going to be a killer. We have all the stock and we need to make money from it.”

The lockdown is expected to end on December, 2 but business owners suspect, like the previous lockdown, the reopening of different industries will be staggered.

The annual late night shopping event in Boroughbridge has had to be cancelled this year leaving shops without the festive boost in sales.

The popular event normally attracts hundreds of eager shoppers wanting to support local businesses. Community groups and shops also get involved by dressing up and decorating shop windows.

However, this year the Boroughbridge Chamber of Trade has had to cancel the event in order to discourage huge crowds.

During the evening the Christmas tree lights are usually switched on but this year there will be a low-key switch on with the mayor and chamber president, Derek Hufton.

The chamber will still organise the town’s Christmas lights which is match funded by local councils. The budget for the lights this year is £5500.

Derek said:

“It is such a shame, it is one of the highlights for the town. It’s possibly one of the best days of trading for shops in the year. It won’t stop anyone trading throughout the festive season but it is a little extra that they will miss out on.

“We still want people to shop in the town. I think people feel safer here and they know they’re supporting local businesses.”

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The chamber is still encouraging shops to decorate their windows and dress-up for its annual competitions and encourage shoppers.

The Boroughbridge Lions are still hoping to have their annual Santa sleigh fundraiser. Usually it travels through the town at night but the group is currently discussing how it can go ahead safely this year.

A group of independent Harrogate shops have joined forces to raise money for the town’s Trussell Trust food bank by organising a “Giraffle” .

Watermark Gallery, on Royal Parade, came up with the idea and worked with children’s illustrator Jane Ray to get it up and running.

Jane created a five-feet tall paper mache giraffe based on the main character of a book called “Zeraffa Girraffa” in 2014.

Just as the character of that book travelled far to her new home in Paris, Zeraffa is travelling around the Harrogate district in October and November.

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So far she has been seen in the windows of Catherine Smith Vintage, Bespoke Eyewear and Westmorland Sheepskins.

The next stop will be the Little Ripon Bookshop. When her tour comes to an end, Zeraffa will be raffled off to one lucky winner. The tickets will be drawn on December 18.

Tickets to enter the raffle are £5 and are available from Watermark Gallery. A total of 100 tickets have been sold so far and another 100 are on sale.

Liz Hawkes, owner of the Watermark Gallery, hopes that the “Giraffle” will raise £1,000 for charity. She said:

“Zeraffa was a real talking point in the window of our gallery, and we had countless enquiries about buying her. I think people saw her as a ray of sunshine during a somewhat challenging time.

“This gave us the idea of creating an ongoing artwork initiative to unite local independent retailers as well as raising money for a great local cause.”

After 40 years in Masham’s market place, a women’s clothing store has closed its doors for good after failing to find a buyer.

Through The Looking Glass, which was known for its womenswear and window displays, closed last week.

Owner Linda Burrows, said Through The Looking Glass had been a Masham institution for decades.

But she added potential buyers had lost interest since the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Burrows took over the business in May 2007 and had hoped to sell prior to retirement.

But after closing the shop for three months during lockdown, the remaining stock was sold at discounted rates.

She said:

“Just before Christmas I decided to retire, I was quite confident I could sell it as a business. People did show interest but as Covid kicked in no-one was interested.

“I was really living the dream. As a child I always wanted to own a dress shop. It was also a calling place for people to bob in for a chat.”

Many customers have told Ms Burrows they will miss visiting the shop.

Ms Burrows plans to enjoy retirement with her husband and family.

She added:

“It is very sad it has closed because Masham and Through The Looking Glass went together.”

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She suspects more shops will go online or be forced to close following the pandemic. She added:

“It’s the not knowing. Anyone thinking of starting something up new doesn’t know how things are going to be going forward.”