While the UK reported a fall in shop sales in the run up to Christmas, a blossoming business in Dovercourt is enjoying the sweet taste of success.
Sue Quilter runs Short and Sweet in Dovercourt High Street, where takings were up 15% year on year in December, and she believes independent shops have a vital role in a town centre and the community.
She praised the shopkeeping community in the town for offering mutual support from which everyone benefits.
Dovercourt has won a major investment of £737,000 to boost its town centre as part of the government’s High Street Accelerator Programme. Plans are already in the pipeline for a new website to create a directory of Dovercourt businesses, a grant funded shop front refurbishment scheme and improved CCTV.
Sue, 44, who has run the shop in the High Street for three years, having relocated from nearby Kingsway, said: “I definitely noticed increased footfall in December and I completely sold out of my Christmas stock.
“I do think people support small businesses. I have some really wonderful loyal customers; they come in and have a chat and we have a real rapport.
“That is the difference with a small town centre. Shopkeepers here all look after each other, there is a camaraderie.
“If I don’t have what a customer is after, I’ll send them down to Deli 141 and I know they do the same for me.”
Sue, who was born and bred in the town, said there was a real sense of community in Dovercourt.
“People here are very friendly. Everyone knows everyone and my customers become my friends.”
During the Christmas break, Sue opened up Short and Sweet, which sells sweets, gifts and hair accessories, just so one of her customers could get their favourite sweets to take on holiday.
“There’s a great community here,” she added. “Our independent shops are so important for the people who are lonely or isolated. For some of them, coming shopping is the only time they talk to someone. We have a valuable social role too.”
Paul Milsom, Harwich and Dovercourt Tourism Group chairman, said: “There’s a really positive attitude in Dovercourt which many towns would love to bottle. With the funding available, we will be able to boost the town centre further to look towards a very bright future.”
Anyone wanting to know more about the High Street Accelerator programme and the grants available should go to https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/high-street-accelerator-shop-improvement-grant-dovercourt or call 01255 686345.
