Click and collect customers at La Cookshop, Blagdon are saying they “can’t wait” for the shop to re-open from April 12. Owner Keith Crowther reports: “People are saying they want to support local businesses, and know how important that is, which is great to hear.”
Keith is now gearing up for reopening, placing orders for delivery from the start of April, while noting: “Suppliers are all warning us of shortages and delays, so it will be interesting to see how much we get.” He explains: “It’s more container and worldwide shipping issues rather than Brexit now. Our European suppliers that suspended shipments in January are now telling us they are back up and running and the system is working.”
Keith acknowledges that coming out of lockdown 3 will be very different to lockdown 2, which was just three weeks before Christmas. “Having missed our busy trade around Mother’s Day and Easter, April and May are usually reasonably quiet for housewares. However, by the end of April, over 40million people will have had a vaccine and we don’t know how that will boost shopper numbers.”
Situated in the destination location of the Milkhope Centre in the Northumberland countryside, Keith observes: “Customers say they feel safe with us. In September, we had shoppers that said that it was the first time they had been out since March.”
La Cookshop was originally situated in Durham City Centre but Keith expresses relief at not having a city location, and not being in a shopping mall. “We have free parking and plenty of outside space between shops; people don’t like wearing masks for a long time, so can take them off outside.”
Keith is “optimistic” for reopening, and keen to see new housewares products. “I’m surprised by the lack of communication from housewares suppliers; there doesn’t seem to much newness, with the exception of Le Creuset. But I’ve just taken on two new greeting card suppliers, which will help the gift side of our business.”
Possibly a good sign for the months ahead, La Cookshop’s online and click and collect business has picked up considerably over the past two weeks. Keith adds: “We need to stay positive as an individual business, as a sector and as a country.”
* Independent cookshops and housewares stockists are urged to share their experiences and views this week in The Retail Barometer (organised by Progressive Housewares and HousewaresNews.net). Please click HERE to start the survey.
Top: Shoppers say they feel safe shopping at The Milkhope Centre – the rural shopping complex includes La Cookshop.
