Begg Shoes in Inverness reports brisk trade following easing of Covid-19 restrictions; chain, which operates nine stores in Scotland said there was 'pent-up demand' in the Highlands following the coronavirus lockdown
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CUSTOMERS have been hot footing it to an Inverness shoe shop during the first three weeks following the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Begg Shoes, which has nine stores across Scotland including branches in Union Street and Eastgate in the Highland capital, saw good footfall during the first week, a dip during the second week, but things picked up as the weather improved last week.
Donald Begg, the firm’s director from Inverness, said numbers were still down compared with this time last year but added: “There was a pent-up demand – particularly for children’s shoes.”
He said the numbers had surpassed all expectations. “Last week, with the weather warming up, we have seen things picking up. The weather is important, the masks are important and public confidence is important.”
Mr Begg said Inverness had a good mix of city centre businesses and things should start improving now that cafés, restaurants, bars and hairdressers were back in business.
He said that online orders had helped to keep the business going during the pandemic, with online sales up by 89 per cent compared with last year.
And, while there were advantages with online shopping such as free delivery and click and collect, customers still preferred to physically try on the shoes when they got the chance and he encouraged people to “buy local” wherever possible.
Like other shops across the Highlands, Mr Begg said they had spent the two weeks ahead of reopening making sure a number of safety measures were in place, to protect staff and customers, including perspex screens and hand sanitiser.
He said more people, including tourists and visitors, were now starting to return to the city centre as their confidence increased.
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