HENLEY’S newest traders say they’re delighted to have opened up here.
As we report on the front page today, a total of 25 new businesses have arrived in the town since the launch of the Standard’s Think Local campaign a year ago.
They range from national chains to small independents — but all agree that Henley is good for trade.
“Business has been brilliant,” said Francesca Plant, shop manager of Maison Blanc, a patisserie which opened last summer at the former Toni & Guy hair salon on the corner of Hart Street and Duke Street.
“We’ve got a mix of customers but they’re mainly locals and we have a lot of regulars — we have people who come in every day. It seems much more lively in Henley now and many more shops have opened.”
On the opposite corner of Duke Street and Market Place is Joules, which sells women’s and children’s clothing.
Holly Smithson, the store’s assistant manager, said: “The shop has done really well since it opened last June. We haven’t had a proper summer season here yet but we will soon be finding out how that goes.
“From what I’ve heard, business has been a real struggle for some shops but I get the impression that things are picking up. As far as Think Local goes, anything that can help is great.”
Joules opened in the former Ashworth’s menswear store which shut only two weeks after the launch of the Standard’s campaign.
Proprietor Paul Foxley blamed the recession and rising running costs for the demise of the business after 38 years. Four months later, Mr Foxley opened menswear store Last Man Standing in Hart Street.
Vanessa Sultana, who opened Boutique Rafaella in the former Valley Estates office in Bell Street in October, said: “Business has been good. We’ve had good responses from locals and people visiting.
“It’s the first time I’ve had a boutique so I’m not sure how it’s supposed to be but I’ve loved it and that’s the most important thing.”
Mandy Bowden, who opened Daisy Boutique in Friday Street last autumn, said: “Business has been amazing. It’s lovely that people take the trouble to come to our lovely little street. We get teens, students and very mature ladies coming in, which is great and we get a lot of repeat business from locals.
“A lot of shops have filled up compared with a year ago, which is fantastic. If you’ve got the right product it will sell but you should do your homework before you open. ”
Penny Cole, who opened wool shop Black Hills Yarns in Hart Street in May, said: “Running the store has been fantastic. The biggest problem we’ve got is that we’re a specialist shop so it’s all about getting our name out there.
“People are starting to travel quite a way to us and everyone in Henley has been very supportive, even if they don’t knit, as they just think it’s a lovely shop. You can see the shops in Henley filling up and there’s a much more positive attitude. Long may it continue.”
A few doors away, men’s clothing stores Sullivan and Sykes opened in June.
Owner Tim O’Sullivan said: “The response has been very strong. We have got a lot of regulars who want to shop locally. I think that even when things are a bit slow, places like Henley should be able to recover much more quickly because it has got old money. Henley is coming alive again.”
Martin Newman, consultant at the Horizon Gallery, which opened in a former café in Hart Street in July, said: “If you compare the situation to two years ago, the number of empty shops is so different. The town is coming back to life.
“The Think Local campaign does work. It encourages people to talk about the town. It’s all about sticking together really. The English are very resilient and generally we look on the bright side. I think it’s helping us cope with the recession.”
Penny Badenoch opened Sno and Sun Gear in Market Place Mews in September and was one of the few people happy at the unusually harsh winter weather.
She said: “The shop has been going really well and the snow was a real boost. People who wouldn’t normally shop here came in for gloves, hats, boots and that sort of thing.
“Now we’re going to start a line of ladies’ swimwear, golf clothing for men and women and running gear. Not many places in Henley do that sort of thing. We’re had a lot of compliments and support from locals and lots of encouragement.”
Ms Badenoch, who also runs an outlet at Greys Green Farm in Rotherfield Greys, added: “Let’s face it, business is not where it was a few years ago and people have been careful.
“I think the recession will last at least two or three more years but things are much better and brighter in Henley. There was nothing worse than having loads of empty shops, giving a general feeling of depression, but it’s much improved.” The Henley Barber Shop, also in Market Place Mews, opened almost a year ago in the former Fallen Angel lingerie shop.
Owner Brian Pearce said: “We’ve had real support from local people. They saw that we were locals trying to add to the community and they supported us as a result.
“This alleyway as a whole has improved immensely in a year and Henley has changed totally. The town’s a much more positive place. I think we will have a good summer.”
Revolution in Market Place is one of the latest shops to open and sells second-hand clothes.
Owner Claire McEwan said: “The store has been really popular. Everyone keeps saying it’s the kind of store they’ve been waiting for.
“I think most people are trying to support the town. I came back from a year in Australia last August and was surprised by how many shops were empty. There’s been a noticeable difference since then. Empty shops have been snapped up, although I think the units are too expensive, which is a shame as it encourages the chains rather than independents.”
Maria Martinez de Osaba opened Blue Moon next door, selling toys, nursery equipment, books and clothes, in December.
She said: “We had a great Christmas but January and February were worse than expected because of the poor weather. I think more people are looking rather than buying, so they come in a few times before they spend their money. I’m quite pleased with how things have gone since we opened, though.”
Henley Cycles opened in the former Olives and Lemons café in Reading Road in April. Owner James Miller said: “Generally speaking, I’m happy with business. We’re going to be hiring out bikes in the summer — lots of people were asking for that last year. Good weather is what we need to improve things.”
The Naughty Mutt Nice grooming parlour and pet accessory shop opened next door in October.
Owner Aspen Weatherburn said: “I already feel part of the community. We get such a wide selection of woofers coming through our door every day for grooms, washes or even just to say hello — it’s a dream come true. The Think Local campaign is such a great idea. It is a brilliant way to support new shops and provide encouragement for the more established ones.”
Children’s clothes store Kids-tastik opened in Reading Road in December and trade has been “okay” according to proprietor Rosaline Hoogenberg.
She said: “I’m pleased with the reaction. I think that because so many shops had closed people are trying to support the new ones but they are still watching what they spend. The weather improving will help because people will be more in the mood for spending.”
Temptation Gifts opened in April, replacing the Silvers menswear store, which had traded in Henley for 90 years.
Mike Adams, who started Temptation Gifts in Hertfordshire in 1983 with wife Sheena, said: “I can’t think of a single negative about our time in Henley. We had a very enthusiastic welcome from traders and customers. In the past year a number of excellent outlets have opened. You can see just from looking round that the town is more prosperous and retailers are making the effort with their windows. I think the Think Local campaign has done a great job.”
The nine other stores that have opened in the past year are:
lLaura Ashley in the old Henley Antiques Centre in Reading Road, selling clothes, furniture and home accessories.
lSainsbury’s in Bell Street in the former Woolworths store.
lDomino’s pizza opened in Bell Street in December, replacing the former Slug and Lettuce restaurant.
lThe Rug Shop in Friday Street opened in June.
lBodywise health food shop opened in Market Place, replacing High Health Foods.
lProleasing, a car-leasing business, relocated from Newtown Road to Market Place.
lAsiana Spice, Thai and Indian restaurant and takeaway, opened in Reading Road in June in the former Blue Sea premises.
lK J Smith Solicitors, specialists in family law, opened in Station Road.
lThe Party Shop, selling cards and party accessories, opened in Reading Road in November but will close this month.
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Published on 08 March 2010
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