Up, Down & Aroundthe High StreetI spent Saturday morning wandering up andback down the High Street, it was a lovelymorning and I’d spent a little too long in thegarden with an extra cup of coffee. I hadbeen hoping to hear the musicians who normallyplay on a Market Day, they would haveacted like Sirenslureing me out ofmy chair a littleearlier.The result of my delaywas that I wasa little late to theparty and missedwhat I was assuredhad been a fairlylarge gathering intheMarket Square, but it was still pleasantlybusy.The reason for my amble with multiple stopovers,was to assess how the High Street traderswere fairing now most of their shop doorsare open again. I called on five of the shops,hopefully a good cross section of our businessesand found both a lamentation and ahopefulness.First stop was Jerry’s Electrical where theyhad kept going through the early lockdownby being online more. With notices in the windowto guide customers they were pleasantlysurprised at how much they’d managed tosell. This would become a recurring theme,while many of us were snoozing, boozingand zooming, the traders were upwith the lark and making the best ofwhat had very suddenly become aterrible situation for footfall basedbusinesses.A little further on up in the newishflorists, Gemma Silvester recalleda very similar story. She said: “Ikept going in the early stages bybeing online and had notices inthe window, in fact I was very busyconsidering the restrictions. Sincewe’ve opened up again thingshave actually been pretty goodtoo, I’m quite hopeful but miss thehands on interaction with customers.”It was an on-going message,‘relaxed interaction’. It’s animportant part of, and one ofthe more enjoyable aspects torunning a shop. Jackie at No43, the Vintage shop as far asI went that morning was morephilosophical, she said: “Whenwe re-opened the first week was terriblybusy, I think people had spotted things in thewindow and a lot were just keen to get outand do some shopping again, let’s be honest,nothing we sell here is essential. The weekssince have been up and down, but steady ina similar way to pre-closure. However, it’ll bewhat it’ll be!”Very true, none of us can predict the futurebut, on the way back down the hill Anna Cuffat Preview was taking steps to be a littlepro-active with her customers. Anna, said:“I’ve been here twenty years now and havea very loyal customer base, some are happyto come in and browse and if anyone triesanything on I quarantine it, so we’re assafe as is possible. There are thoughsome older ladies and they are a littlenervous about coming out so, I’m planningto open an hour earlier and closean hour later, with those times bookedout to them. It might make them feel alittle more comfortable.”My last stop before returning homewas Lovington’s Bakery. Taking over asmanagers just days before ‘lockdown’Nell and Paul had jumped right in atthe deep end. Barely knowing the staffbefore they were all furloughed, theywere allowed to stay open as an essentialbusiness. Still feelingtheir way aroundtrade wasbrisk, Nell, said: “It was manic, great, but sobusy - people were walking up and collectingbread orders for themselves and neighboursin insolation and we had deliveries to get outtoo. Since those early days it’s carried on,we have been very lucky and at the moment Ican’t see it slowing down.”Again, another positive. Overall it felt OK!The shops were ‘busy enough’. We need tokeep supporting them all though and it has tobe a safer place than a large city store - it’sour High Street and my goodness we’d missit if we’re just that little bit too cautious tokeep it alive.Station Road, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BXPromoting a healthy lifestyle naturallywww.healandsole.co.uk Tel: 01963 350639ReflexologyReiki, EFT TappingIndian Head MassageThe Royal Voluntary Service is currently looking to recruit volunteers for a variety of roles within theHome Library Service in Wincanton and the surrounding parishes.The Home library service exists to ensure people who cannot get to the library due to poor health or mobilityor caring responsibilities but still enjoy reading can receive library books free of charge by a RoyalVoluntary Service vvolunteer who will choose, deliver and befriend an individual in their own home.If you would like to know more about volunteering for the Home Library Service please contact kirsty.jenssen@royalvoluntaryservice.org.ukor tel: 07920 250834.
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