Traders Of The Lost Art

DAWN BIRCH-JAMES
ART IN THE HEART
47 Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1HA

“One of the main strengths of our art gallery and shop Art in the Heart is that it supports, exhibits and sells the best quality work of artists and artisans who live and create within a 20 mile radius of the city centre. We are local. We source locally including all of our printing. Moreover we see ourselves as being on the cutting edge of the significant shift in emphasis with regard to retail demand. The public is crying out for individual independent outlets which are vibrant and interesting. They are getting sick and tired of clone shopping malls and uninspired high streets. We are also acutely aware that if we have an impoverished shopping experience in Peterborough then we shall not be able to compete economically with more affluent nearby cities. This is why it’s important to network with other independent retailers for example through the LIR. Art in the Heart is a truly unique experience and we want to share that.”

https://www.artintheheart.co.uk/

GARY STEPHENS
COSMETICS INC
41 Bridge Street PE1 1HA

As independent retailers we put our heart and soul into creating something special. An environment, a product, and an experience that is truly enjoyable for every one of our customers. We want the people of Peterborough to see a different way to shop, and to embrace all the passion and hard work we do to give them something really special. People spend a lot of time talking about the negative effects of big business and sell-all superstores, but often forget that they need to visit their local high street retailers if they want to keep them, and we’re here to remind them just how much we can offer

https://cosmeticsinc.webplus.net/

GERRY SONDH
THE OCULIST
24 Westgate Arcade PE1 1PY

“The Oculist Opticians is an Independent Opticians in Westgate Arcade. We have been trading for just over five years. I refer to high streets up and down the country as ‘Copycat High Streets’. Let’s face it, when you are walking past the usual high street brands you could be anywhere! They are important – but you could be anywhere…

This scheme will be the catalyst for vibrant independent businesses in Peterborough to get noticed. The strength of the collective will give us presence and power which will result in a better Peterborough for everyone. This independent hub will give the city personality and soul. It will add to the sense of community. This will help us compete with other cities – if we give them the retail mix THEY WILL COME! Buying from independents is all about buying from a face you know and trust. Support the independents and give us all a better Peterborough.”

https://www.theoculist.com/

NATASHA FIERRO
TAHLIA’S CLOSET
2 Fortune Buildings, Cowgate PE1 1LR.

“Starting a new business at any time is a risky thing to do – opening a retail business on the high street mid recession would be considered even riskier. So when I decided to open Tahlias Closet in October 2011 I did so with so much passion and drive for what I was able to provide Peterborough. My love for accessorising and styling comes through in my work every day and I have built a client base that know they can come to me with an image of their dress and be personally styled with matching accessories.

Shopping online is becoming more of a favoured way of buying. However, people always seem to still say they like to shop the high street and look and feel products. If we don’t get our community behind our high street then, in time, there will be no high street with boutiques and individual shops and it will be only companies such as banks estate agents, nail parlours etc! By getting all the independents together we can hopefully have more of a voice to get our point across and keep the high street alive.

https://tahlias-closet.co.uk

MICHELE GUARNACCIA
BARISTA
St Peters Arcade, Bridge Street PE1 1HJ

“I’ve been in the catering industry for 25 years, normally in restaurants. Last year I decided to set up Barista Cafe as an alternative to the mainstream coffee houses we have in the town centre. Our aim is to provide good quality, freshly made pizzas and panini at a reasonable prices – we also kept that theory on the coffee side of the business. After years of trying to get a good cup of coffee in Peterborough I’ve actually found it at Barista!”

www.facebook.com/pages/ Barista/385112651538476

RICHARD & MELANIE MCDONALD
MELANIE RICHARD’S HAIR BOUTIQUE
100 Bridge Street PE1 1DY

“Our interest in joining up with Independent Retailers was to become part of a group that would help us all to get the same attention as the national retailers. It is important to us because as an independent business, we have to put in a lot more effort to get noticed amongst the larger better publicised retailers.

The idea of joining together with other independent retailers enables us to share our knowledge & connections. We can help each other when we encounter the same problems and we can cross promote each other. As there is a lot of national interest in keeping the High Street alive, I think Independent Retailers is a great way to showcase what Peterborough has to offer and in the longer term increase the High Street choice. We can collectively make people aware of the choices in Peterborough that are not available elsewhere and what these Independent Retailers have to offer that the nationals haven’t.”

https://www.melanierichardshairboutique.co.uk/

SANDRA MARSHALL
STYLE JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORIES BOUTIQUE
14 Westgate Arcade PE1 1PY

“At Style Jewellery and Accessories Boutique we firmly believe in the promotion and support of independent retailers. Wherever you go, whether it be out of town or central shopping malls, customers are faced with the same chain stores offering similar, if not the same old boring goods and brands. Independents strive and succeed in offering a far more diverse and interesting range of goods backed by expert staff knowledge of the product.

We at Style feel that it is essential that potential customers are made aware that there is a very viable alternative to the faceless chain stores and this is in the form of independent retailers. To this end we will support all actions which promote the indie retailer.”

https://www.style-accessories.co.uk/

PHILIP YAU
JANSON HONG ORIENTAL SUPERMARKET
59a Bridge Street PE1 1HA

“Every independent retailer’s biggest challenge must be ‘How can I reach more customers?’ So when a plan came together which promised to leverage everything independent retailers in Peterborough had to offer to achieve the same reach as the national retailers, it more than caught my attention. Whilst I’m not entirely sure where the seed for Local Indie Retailers originated, Rachel (Parkin – Balagan and Reba) was certainly there at the birth! She’s really put a lot of work into rallying retailers around the concept of a single brand and single identity for all of us.

As an independent retailer of over 15 years here in Peterborough, I’m all too familiar with the challenges facing smaller businesses. It goes without saying that budgets are now tighter than ever, yet new customers are the only way we’ll see any growth. There’s also the rising cost of well, everything – fuel, rates, parking, stock… And all this time, it’s felt as if I’m the only one going through it! Now, at last, I feel that I, along with other independent retailers, can actually do something that will make a tangible difference to my own business, whilst helping other like-minded business owners.
It’s this collective effort that has appealed to me as well as knowing that others face similar challenges. And our contributions can achieve something that benefits not just our businesses, but also those who support us by ensuring that we can continue to outlast the big retailers – by offering something unique to independents and unique to Peterborough.”

https://www.jansonhong.co.uk/