Norwich’s independent shops booming thanks to postal strikes

The reason behind the shift in crowds flocking to the high street, they say, is a change in consumer attitudes as thousands faced frustration due to Royal Mail strikes and delivery firms struggling to meet demand.

In Guildhall Hill’s Imeldas, sales assistant Bella Bygrave said that the shoe shop has been busy before and after Christmas.

Bella Bygrave, sales assistant at Imeldas in Guildhall Hill, Norwich (Image: Maya Derrick)

“Having a sale on has kept us busy,” she said.

“We sell brands you can get elsewhere, but I think postal strikes and delays have caused a shift to in-person shopping.

“But these issues have affected the shops themselves as well.

Shoppers in Norwich Lanes on December 29, 2022 (Image: Maya Derrick)

“It’s important to support Norwich’s independents.

“Small businesses are such a key to Norwich as a whole. Shops are what make Norwich.”

Paul Dodd, owner of Elements Clothing in Lower Goat Lane, said that the menswear brand has had its best year in six years.

Denise Kirby, Paul Dodd and Dave Finlay of Elements Clothing in Lower Goat Lane (Image: Maya Derrick)

He said: “We’re really happy with how business is going.

“But shopping attitudes keep changing, we didn’t know what to expect of the Christmas period.

“I think footfall has been driven by issues with post.

Shoppers in Castle Street, Norwich on December 29, 2022 (Image: Maya Derrick)

“We use a next-day courier service so we’ve been okay, but more customers have been coming into the shop rather than spending their money online.”

Lower Goat Lane neighbours Beaujangles have seen business boom following a busy Halloween period – a trend they didn’t expect to see.

Manager Nikki Davison said: “We’ve been really busy.

Nikki Davison, manager at Beaujangles in Lower Goat Lane (Image: Maya Derrick)

“We’ve seen lots of footfall. It’s not all necessarily about people immediately spending money, but people have been coming into our bricks and mortar shop to get ideas for their costumes for the likes of New Year’s Eve.

“In December our fancy dress sales tend to drop – apart from Christmas items – but we’ve seen lots of people coming to us for their outfits.

“These postal strikes have worked out quite well for us.

Shoppers in Castle Street, Norwich on December 29, 2022 (Image: Maya Derrick)

“They like coming in to see the fancy dress and try before they buy.

“We like getting items out of cabinets for people, it’s great for us.”