{"id":462597,"date":"2026-05-01T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T11:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drapersonline.com\/?p=462597"},"modified":"2026-05-01T15:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:38:00","slug":"independents-cautiously-optimistic-for-may-bank-holiday-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drapersonline.com\/companies\/independents-cautiously-optimistic-for-may-bank-holiday-trade","title":{"rendered":"Independents cautiously optimistic for May bank holiday trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

At independent menswear business Dartagnan in Chichester, owner Max Turner told Drapers that \u201cMay is always a very good period for us,\u201d despite uncertain trading conditions: \u201cThe weather’s picking up, [and I’m] feeling positive. It’s always very hard to tell \u2013 petrol prices have gone up people do get scared, so there is uncertainty which might reflect itself in the high street.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pamela Shiffer, owner of her eponymous womenswear boutique in London\u2019s Primrose Hill, said: “We have had a real pick up since the weather’s gotten better. We have to do what we have to do, promoting new collections.\u201d Shiffer explained that the collections are promoted on Instagram.<\/p>\n

She felt that uncertainties in trade are out of her hands so she tries to give customers close attention to build a rapport.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are making the visit to the store fun, we can’t mitigate what goes on. We are a small boutique and it gives [customers] a different perspective, we are there to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

One independent seemed to face an unpredictable period ahead of spring, but felt that the season has helped trade to improve. Jo Davies, owner\u00a0of womenswear independent Black White Denim in Wilmslow, Cheshire, said: \u201cWe had a really good start to the year, [however] February verged on dismal. March was good. April has been even better.”<\/p>\n

“Weather has to be taken into account when buying. [In] April [we have gone] up around 65% in revenue and gross profit,” she explained.<\/p>\n

Donna Ida Thornton, owner of online denim brand Donna Ida, which hosts pop-ups, also felt optimistic about trade, but explained that being proactive is what solidifies more sales.<\/p>\n

“You have to be very creative to find your customers, we are doing a lot more events which is working for us, this week we are just pushing through. [It is] peak time on new stock coming in.”<\/p>\n

She explained that she is promoting new ecommerce stock: \u201cWe have a pop-up page on the website and we keep adding to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Louisa Tabor, owner of the womenswear business, Icicle Boutique in Sidcup, south east London, said that the business is shut on Sundays and Mondays, but expects her sales will stay strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe expect to be busy in the run up to a bank holiday. We keep a connection with customers, [there is] a notify me page on our site which helps with restocking and repeating stock.\u201d She explained that she regularly hosts live shopping broadcasts on Instagram and Facebook and uses WhatsApp broadcast to effectively promote her business.<\/p>\n

Her husband, Sam Tabor said Icicle\u2019s online sales have gone up 42% year on year and said that while the atmosphere has been volatile, the business has tried to mitigate any impact on customers. \u201cThe Iran war<\/a> has affected buyers, but we have tried to keep our customers [engaged]. We have been able to negotiate prices with suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gerard Levy, owner of footwear business Spice London in Primrose Hill, cautioned that while he has seen progress in turnover, which rose just above 10% year on year, there is a fear of trading turbulence ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far it’s been just ok, lots of negativity in the air. We are looking for growth and I am not 100% confident at the moment. Our season goes on longer in the summer. <\/span>The winter season is now shorter because of Black Friday. However in summer we can still sell sandals full price up until August.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Shop price inflation<\/a> edged up 1.2% year on year in March, according to the British Retail Consortium, signifying the cost pressures that consumers and retailers are up against. Independents and high street retailers alike will have their fingers crossed that warm weather will inspire shoppers this early May bank holiday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At independent menswear business Dartagnan in Chichester, owner Max Turner told Drapers that \u201cMay is always a very good period for us,\u201d despite uncertain trading conditions: \u201cThe weather’s picking up, [and I’m] feeling positive. It’s always very hard to tell \u2013 petrol prices have gone up people do get scared, so there is uncertainty which …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131841,"featured_media":462630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[973,978],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-462597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-companies","category-independents","editorial-independents"],"yoast_head":"\nIndependents cautiously optimistic for May bank holiday trade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Independents discuss their thoughts on trade ahead of the bank holiday weekend and how they are trying to maximise sales.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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