The Homecrafters buoyed by online training

Online trading has given a welcome boost to Yate Shopping Centre’s The Home Crafters business in West Walk over the last twelve months.

As the business looks forward to opening its doors again next Monday, owner Kirsty Bevan can’t help but express her relief that she will soon be dealing with customers coming through the doors once again: “We're really pleased we had the Internet options to see us through lockdown but will be super-excited to be welcoming our customers back through the doors once more and will be keeping our fingers crossed that this time things will stay that way!”.

Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, has similar feelings: “It is great news that we are able to open the non-essential retail outlets as from next Monday but, at the same, time there must be an air of caution. The Centre Management Team will be working to ensure that both shoppers and traders are able to stay safe and enjoy the new found freedom moving forward.

“There’s a long summer ahead of us and we hope that we will be able to return to the good times, making the Shopping Centre the safe community hub that it has always been.”                                                                                                                  

The Home Crafters, a small independent business, celebrates its sixth year at the Shopping Centre next month. It stocks a wide range of art, craft and haberdashery supplies, whilst also dedicating shop shelf space to other small businesses giving them an opportunity to display and sell their handmade produce to local people.

Kirsty Bevan: “We have a multitude of crafters relying on our operation, to some we are their only outlet, and having our doors closed for such a long period has impacted their families too. 

“If it wasn't for the support of the Shopping Centre Management Team we may never have come through the pandemic. The Team has been super-helpful organising our lease renewal meaning we will be staying in the Shopping Centre for many years to come! This stability has given us the opportunity to employ more staff as we are currently recruiting for a weekend sales assistant and have a new store manager starting with us in May.

“This latest lockdown has felt much longer than the first! If it wasn't for our loyal customers utilising our click & collect and home delivery services we would probably have never come out the other side!

“Thankfully, we are now on countdown to re-open. We've brought in some fantastic new products handmade by local, small businesses and been busy getting the shop ready and COVID-compliant once again.

“Our online sales exploded during lockdown with everyone resorting to the Internet to shop, but we're really hoping that the joy of retail therapy will return to Yate with customers come flooding back to the Shopping Centre and our little shop to help us all bounce back from the impact of having been closed for so long.

“We are inviting all crafters and makers who have been busy creating throughout lockdown to get in touch about getting their products on sale in our shop and website by contacting us”.