A new shop is opening on Knaresborough’s high street this month.

The Clothing Store of Knaresborough will open on October 24 at 58 High Street.

Its owner says the store will “cater for everyone” by offering clothing in sizes eight to 32.

Coronavirus forced high streets to close down, but since shops have reopened a number of businesses have opened up for the first time in the town.

Owner Rebecca Lombardi said:

“I’ve been selling online for quite a while and I really liked the town and the people so it seemed right.

“Obviously it looks like the scariest time to launch something but it’s really important people do things like this because the high streets are impacted otherwise. I am confident enough the online side will cover costs and the shop will be additional.”

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Rebecca is hoping to work with other small businesses in the area, offering those without shop facilities to put their products in hers.

She added:

“I am offering small businesses the option to put their stock in my store too: so far I have two jewellery brands, including one from Yorkshire.”

“I think small businesses can be stronger as one.”

We want to hear your opinions on all things Harrogate. From public transport to shopping, parking to nightlife.

The town is known for its independent shops and wide range of bars and restaurants, ass well as its beautiful scenery across the Stray and beyond.

But, even without covid, times are changing, and some businesses have struggled. The Stray Ferret has reported on several well-known shops having to close down in recent months, with existing struggles compounded by lockdown.

Our big Harrogate survey is still open to everyone over 18 from across the district who uses the town centre for work or leisure.

By clicking here to complete this survey you have the opportunity to give your views on what the town needs, what it can change and what you love about it.

The survey takes about 10 minutes and everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw with free gifts – a Stray Ferret umbrella or a 12 pack of special Stray Ferret beer brewed by Harrogate-based Roosters.

The results will be published on The Stray Ferret website to continue the debate about the future of our town.

A new French-inspired furniture shop is due to open in Killinghall today.

Once Upon A Time, which is being run by two friends, will also sell flowers, candles, coffee and homemade cakes.

Tina Parker, who lived in France for several years, said she and Sian Ross “could possibly be mad” for opening at such a difficult time.

But she thought the impact of coronavirus had made people more appreciative of small independent shops. She added:

“People missed their local shops when they closed and are more willing to support them.

“We want it to be a destination shop where people come and have a coffee and pick up a gift besides looking at the furniture.”

The interior of the new shop

Ms Parker previously owned French Loveliness, which was also in Killinghall and closed last year. The new shop is about 100 metres along Lund Lane, towards Hampsthwaite.

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Ms Parker and Ms Ross, from Summerbridge, share a passion for French-style design.

Their shop will be open from Wednesday to Sunday each week.

A new bakery shop plans to open in Harrogate this month to serve up fresh bread, cakes and sandwiches.

Bakeri Baltzersen is the newest venture from the team behind Baltzersen’s cafe. The bakery will open on the same street as the cafe and coffee shop on Oxford Street.

The owners originally planned to open in May but were forced to put their plans on hold by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Now work has once again started at the Bakeri Baltzersen unit next to Harrogate Theatre and the key cutting and shoe repair shop Timpson.

The sign is up and so are the shelves for the bread as workmen start to decorate the premises in keeping with the Scandinavian style of Baltzersen’s.

Behind the scenes of Bakeri Baltzersen.

In recent months Baltzersen’s has been using part of its cafe as a temporary bakery shop. It will return to being a coffee shop when this new bakery opens.

Paul Rawlinson, the owner of Baltzersen’s, took inspiration from his Norwegian grandmother for the cafe, which opened in 2012. The business expanded in late 2018, opening a coffee shop in the neighbouring unit on Oxford Street.

News of the venture is a boost for the town’s traders at a time when many businesses are struggling to survive as a result of the pandemic,

Business representatives in Knaresborough have said there is a buzz about the town as more companies seek to relocate there.

Despite the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stray Ferret has recently reported a flurry of new shops opening on the high street.

The latest addition – The Knaresborough Lock Centre – opened on Monday.

Owner John Long said:

“The town was lacking a DIY, hardware, lock shop and I felt it was a good time to open up. We have had a warm welcome in the town and are positive about the future.”

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has said the number of empty shops is decreasing, offering further cause for optimism.

Bill Taylor, treasurer of the chamber, said:

“Many people seem to have used the lockdown to develop business ideas and see Knaresborough as a great place to start their new business.

“The chamber had a record month in August for new members and September has started in the same vein. It is a great time to be a business owner in the town, there is a real buzz around now with several new shops about to open and a very low number of empty shops currently being available.“

The number of empty shop fronts has decreased in the town, improving its aesthetic and encouraging more visitors to the town.

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The business and community website, Knaresborough Online, painted a similar picture of an increase in business interest in the area.

“Since the easing of lockdown we have noticed an increase in general enquiries about relocating to Knaresborough. This flurry of interest is supported by the recent opening of a number of new businesses in town, including a new pet shop, Persian rug store, restaurant, butchers and a DIY shop. These are really encouraging signs as we move forward after a difficult few months.”

Today was the first day wearing face masks is mandatory when visiting shops in England.

The Stray Ferret has been asking people how they feel about having to wear face masks in shops.

Kate Baker is a nurse and said:

“I can’t understand it, it makes me said. I think people think its finished and all over and they aren’t realising what can happen. We don’t know whats going to happen in the next few months.

I think we should absolutely be wearing them in shops but for how long is up to the scientists. As a nurse it feels wrong not having one on because I’m used to wearing them at work.”

A nurse from Harrogate said she feels “sad” when she sees people not wearing masks in shops.

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Mask wearing has been called for by some people since shops reopened on last month.

The government has introduced this mandatory rule which could leave people with a £100 fine if they choose not to wear one.

North Yorkshire’s Police (NYP) Federation has said that officers cannot force people to wear face coverings in shops.

The prime minister warned people yesterday that they could be fined up to £100 for failing to wear a covering or facemask from July 24.

Shopkeepers saw a visible increase in people wearing facemasks today following on from the announcement but worry that some may refuse.

If that happens it seems there may be problems with who will enforce the rules.

The Stray Ferret spoke to the local police federation and shopkeepers who said they will not be able to force people to wear face coverings.

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Rob Bowles, chair of the NYP Federation, said:

“I think it would be incredibly difficult for officers to police this. It is just impossible and impratical. North Yorkshire Police do not have the resources to make people wear face coverings in shops. When the lockdown fines came in place there was a lack of clarity back then. It just created tensions.”

Graham Jack, one of the owners at menswear shop G23, said:

“I can’t see it being an issue. If people come in the shop they will have to wear a face mask and if they don’t have one we will provide one. It will put some people off shopping, I am sure it will.”

Gavin Longreach, the manager at jewellers Hugh Rice, said:

“It’s interesting that it’s not for retail employees to enforce these measures. I don’t know why someone would come into the shop without a facemask when it’s there to protect you. We have lots of measures in place here to protect our customers and I think it gives them confidence.”

Clare Nelson, manager at menswear shop Porters, added:

“I would feel uncomfortable telling customers to wear a facecovering. If a big group of lads were to walk in without them I don’t think I would be able to tell them to wear one. It might put people off coming into the shop. I don’t think we would be able to enforce this.”

Knaresborough Delivers continues to grow as it changes its focus to give more back to local businesses and encourage people to shop local.

The scheme was set up to help local businesses sell their products online during the pandemic. It allowed customers to order food parcels and greeting cards amongst other products from the comfort of their homes.

But as lockdown eases its focus has shifted to putting more money back into the local economy. The online shop will continue to serve local people but it will now give back 90% of the price to the local business.

Previously 30% was taken to cover the website and delivery costs but now the customer will pay a small delivery charge. This ensures the local business receives as much profit as they can.

The scheme’s efforts are appreciated by local businesses as they have found a new platform to sell their products. Aron McMahon from Turning Point brewery said:

“Knaresborough Delivers was a revelation for us, we had an online site but we didn’t have the human resources to run it and as a new business to the area people still wouldn’t know us. We’ve done really good out of this and its help us get closer to our local customers which is really important to us and we hope it can keep going.”

Ashleigh Lambert, co-founder of Knaresborough Delivers told The Stray Ferret:

“We are going to start doing recipe boxes, cocktail boxes and protein boxes by working with local chefs. Since the start of lockdwon we have put £50,000 into the local economy and supported 15 local businesses and given work to three local poeple who have been furloughed or out of work. The new pricing strategy means 90% goes straight back to the business and the other 10% will be used to cover our costs.”

The scheme has found ways to support several businesses in the area with themed boxes including afternoon tea.

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James Hirst, owner of Hirsts Bakery who also uses the platform, said:

“It was a really nice addition to what we were doing in the shop, it helped us still get our products to those customers who couldn’t come out.”

Knaresborough Delivers is a scheme that has found a way to prosper through the pandemic and hopes to continue supporting the town’s economy. It plans to move to bigger premises to allow people to have a shop to use as well as the online site.

A number of shops that aren’t in the centre of Harrogate have told The Stray Ferret they lack a voice because of their location.

Retail shops on Skipton Road and Kings Road in Harrogate say they get no publicity compared with the stores in the centre of town – and worry that people don’t know they’re now open.

Anne-Marie Hall, the owner of Little Darlings, a children’s clothes and accessories shop on Church Avenue told The Stray Ferret:

“Now is make or break, especially if you aren’t in the town centre and you don’t get the natural footfall of customers. I just want people to know we are here.”

The shops in the centre of town who pay a levy to the BID, received free social distancing floor markings and posters. The shops owners further out were able to print posters made available by the council but said they had to buy stickers for floor markings.

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Inside Victoria Lane on Kings Road

Similarly, Victoria Lane, the owner of her shop on King’s Road said:

“I don’t think people know about this road, it’s an interesting parade of shops. We feel a bit left out. People can do a lot of shopping here, but they don’t know about it.”

Knaresborough Unlocked is the action plan, set up by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, to help the town reopen following lockdown.

After months of planning by chamber members, the Knaresborough Unlocked initiative was formed. Its main aim is to support local businesses as they make preparations to reopen.

The plan has a number of action points including engaging with voluntary organisations such as Knaresborough delivers to arrange a coordinated response from several of the town’s businesses.

The scheme has also allowed the chamber to keep businesses informed on funding opportunities, including discretionary grants, to ensure they receive all the necessary support. The main message that has been promoted throughout planning has been ‘shop local stay safe’.

A further focus of the action plan was to offer expert health and safety advice for smaller businesses who may not have formal training. The chamber partnered with local health and safety experts Cenheard to create a coronavirus safe pack which offers free health and safety training, guidance and posters for all local business owners.

These measures have been rolled out throughout the town to encourage its visitors and workers to social distance. Bill Taylor added:

“There’s still work to do and people’s behaviour towards the 2 metre distance is changing. There are so many questions about the distance and even though it might change its so important to keep it in the front of people’s mind. We’ve encouraged our shop owners to take part in the formal health and safety training to make sure the return is as safe as it can be.”

The Knaresborough Unlocked scheme aims to keep business owners and visitors safe.

Read more:

• Shop owners are optimistic in Knaresborough as non-essential shops reopen. 
• Community vows to fight back as new leisure plans could include a new leisure centre in Knaresborough.

To promote their ‘shop local’ message further, the chamber has offered their support to a ‘Shopappy’ initiative set up by York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which will be live in the coming weeks. This scheme gives the town a portal in which local businesses can sell their products or services online.

Bill Taylor, Secretary and Treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade told The Stray Ferret:

“Shopappy allows customers to buy direct from them or arrange to click and collect from the store. The local enterprise partnership supports towns such as Knaresborough and offers the portal for free for a year. It is great because those businesses without an online platform are given the chance to get orders online.”