As consumers flocked back to high streets and shopping centres on December 2 with the reopening of non-essential stores in England (after the second lockdown), cookshops and housewares stockists were prepared for an intense run-up to Christmas. Independent and multiple housewares stockists are among those extending their trading hours to provide consumers with more time to browse and to relieve queues for a safer shopping experience.
“In the run up to Christmas about two thirds of the Lakeland estate will open for longer than we had originally planned to,” confirmed Lakeland’s chief commercial officer Scott Jefferson. “In most instances this will be where the other retailers nearby are also open – for example in shopping centres – so that customers can fulfil all their shopping missions.”
John Lewis is now offering timed shopping slots, booked up to 14 days in advance, as well as offering shoppers the option of joining a virtual queue, with a timeframe for when they should return to enter the shop.
Woodbridge Kitchen Company in Suffolk is stretching its opening hours, as well as joining forces with fellow independents for late night shopping on Thursdays until 8pm. During the second lockdown, Woodbridge Kitchen Company developed and launched its own online shop, listing over 2,000 products (with a stock status) and providing options for home delivery or click and collect.
In York, Jo Asquith, co-owner of Frankie & Johnny’s Cookshop described trade as “bonkers” on reopening on December 2, with customers delighted to be allowed back in the shop. Frankie & Johnny’s Cookshop introduced a click and collect service during the second lockdown. “It worked really well,” said Jo. The cookshop is likely to hold some late night shopping evenings in the coming weeks. “We won’t be opening 24 hours, although one customer did ask!” Jo exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Daniel O’Neill, ProCook founder commented: “I’m very excited about December trade, I think it’s going to be very positive for ProCook – following lockdown it feels like we are opening 48 brand new stores. We are looking to move our hours slightly longer and later to help Christmas shoppers.”
He also reflected: “This last lockdown was very hard to manage in terms of stores. We hope that the work we put in to highlight the lack of clarity in the Government’s retailer classifications will see kitchen shops correctly categorised as essential retail if we are in the same position again.”
Top: Christmas window at Woodbridge Kitchen Company.
