National retail expert backs shopkeepers in Harborough as they gear up to open their doors

A national retail expert is backing shopkeepers in Market Harborough as they gear up to open their doors.

Optimistic Michael Weedon said he is counting on local businesses giving it their “best shot” as they strive to fight back.

The high street specialist spoke as Harborough’s town centre prepares to welcome back shoppers on Monday June 15 after being closed almost three months by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Michael, who lives in Lubenham, told the Harborough Mail: “I am confident that the people here will give it a really good go.

“I am hopeful that it will all work out but we have a long way to go and they will need all the support we can give them.”

He said a new in-depth survey has shown that less than one in 100 businesses nationwide will not re-open as the coronavirus crisis starts to ease.

“That’s a very positive story for Market Harborough.

“One of the many reasons I love living in this area is that I love our town centre in Harborough,” said Michael, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses’ Retail and High Streets Policy Unit.

“We have a fantastic mix of locally-owned independent shops.

“These are people’s livelihoods – so they are committed to making them work.

“We haven’t got many large multiples here, which is good.

“The obvious challenge for retailers here is to get footfall back as they strive to build back up again.

“They have also got to make their stores and businesses as safe as possible by controlling people going in and out, social distancing, regular cleaning and so forth.”

He said one of the toughest hurdles to clear will be ensuring queueing customers are kept apart outside.

“It won’t be easy to keep people two metres away from each other on narrow pavements as they wait to go in.

“I expect that we will see a much wider, more extensive use of appointments in future.

“You have obviously always had to book ahead for a ladies hairdressers,” said Michael.

“Where as men would just turn up at a barber’s to have their hair cut.

“All that might be about to change as we focus on more order, definite time slots and good planning to make everything work.

“People will also have to be sensible and kinder to each other in this new ‘normal’.

“It’s absolutely vital that we get all of our much-loved shops and businesses back and running.

“They are right at the heart of the local economy in Harborough, they create jobs and they help to make our fine market town what it is.

“But businessmen and women have been very creative during the lockdown by introducing new customer options such as click and collect and home delivery.

“And I’m sure they will continue to be just as innovative, responsive and energetic as they begin to re-open.”

Meanwhile, Harborough MP Neil O’Brien is calling on residents to shop locally to fire up the town’s trade.

“It’s been a difficult time for retailers who have been unable to open their doors to customers over recent weeks and months.

“I hope that as we see shops opening their doors again after this difficult period, people will support local independent businesses.

“Market Harborough is fortunate to have so many independent shops which would ordinarily attract visitors from far and wide,” Neil told the Mail.

“Small businesses have had a particularly hard time and don't have much in the bank.

“If we want to keep small shops we need to support these small, often family-run businesses - more than ever it is a case of ‘use it or lose it’.

“Groups like ‘taste harborough’ and ‘harbs collective’ do a wonderful job of helping to showcase the strength of the local offering.

“So I’d encourage people to visit their websites and social media profiles for further details on when these businesses will be reopening.”