Festive trading mixed

INDEPENDENT businesses in Henley say that they have had a mixed trading period in the run-up to Christmas.

Many said that footfall has declined compared to previous years and that the Budget being announced by Government at the end of November may have had an impact on sales and been a “distraction” for potential customers.

Some businesses also added that roadworks in the town centre taking place “one after the other” had an impact on trade.

Elie El-Choueiry, who has owned Henley Menswear in Duke Street for four years, said customers were being more careful with their money.

He said: “Footfall wasn’t like it was in previous years but it was okay. It dropped a little bit, I would say by 20 per cent, from the beginning of December to the week before Christmas.

“I think people had been waiting for the Budget to be announced and then afterwards many tried to cut down on their spending.”

Laurence Morris, who has owned Laurence Menswear, also in Duke Street, for about 14 years, said trading was steady.

He said: “Business over Christmas has been okay. We haven’t broken any records this year but we’ve got a good, loyal customer support.

“I think there’s no question that the economy has suffered. The timing of the Budget in November affected our business during that month because people didn’t know what was going to happen until it was announced.

“Then, after the Budget, people have been very cautious with their money. Turnover has been marginally down compared to previous years and so has footfall. I do put that down to the current state of the economy.”

Alex Cymbaluk, store manager of Laurence Menswear, added: “Henley is very special because you have so many independent businesses and shops and it’s important to keep that. If people stop shopping at independent businesses, the high street will just become coffee shops, charity shops and chains, like everywhere else.

“The chains can look after themselves. It’s the independent businesses that are really here for the locals.”

Sue Jones has owned Calvert Jones, a family-run gift shop in Hart Street for five-and-a-half years and said trade started slowly but then picked up.

She said: “Footfall and turnaround was slower compared to previous years on the run-up to Christmas. But these last weeks of December have been quite busy.

“I would agree that the Budget being announced at the end of November was a mental barrier for people when it came to high street shopping and a big distraction.”

Nicola Chapman owns Elements hair salon, which has been in Bell Street for about 11 years and also sells beauty and hair products. She said: “Footfall has not been great. I always find this end of the high street tends to be a little bit quieter anyway.

“The traffic lights at the top of Bell Street [Northfield End] definitely affected us, because people would cancel their appointments and then move them to the next week.”

Ms Chapman added: “We feel like this end of the high street is often forgotten about, so we do really try to push at Christmastime.”

Sandie Harrow is one of the owners of women’s clothing boutique, Stocks, in Bell Street.

She said: “Footfall has been down a little but, overall, not much different to most years although it has been lower this year than last.

“I would also add that all the roadworks in Bell Street one after another were one of the biggest hindrances to trading.”

However, Elizabeth Hook, the store manager for Biggie Best in Duke Street, which sells vintage-inspired homewares, said that footfall in the run-up to and over Christmas was “very good”.

She said: “The last quarter for us has been very good. Looking at our official figures, footfall was better and sales were actually up from, last year.”

Angelo Dorata founded family-run business, Dorata Hairdressing, which has been in Hart Street for 22 years.

He said: “This Christmas it felt different to start with, but then it was extremely busy during the weeks before.

“Our clientele has been with us for a long time, but we also had the opportunity to meet some new people.

“Our retail is also very strong, and our footfall has been very much the same as last year. We do notice that people tend to book later in December, but we were still busy.”

Lorraine Hillier, owner of the Hot Gossip coffeehouse in Duke Street, said: “A couple of weeks before Christmas, footfall was very poor. It wasn’t great.

“I think that the Budget being announced made people worry and just the overall mood of the country afterwards, I would say, was damaging.”

But Miss Hillier added that footfall “picked up certainly” in the week before Christmas.

She added: “It has been fantastic between Christmas and New Year. I think that as it gets that little bit nearer, a few days before Christmas, people start panicking and going out to the shops for last minute presents.”

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