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Excitement on re-opening day at Revival Mk2
12/04/2021
“I just hope people come back out and support the High Street … Its going to be great to have the next step of normality back”
It’s reopening day and the town’s traders can’t wait to welcome back their customers. Amongst them Mark Allitt, owner of Revival Mk2 clothing in Parson’s Street told us “It’s just going to be wonderful”.
Mr Allitt has spent the last few weeks preparing for today. Revival Mk2 has new stock lines available, including an extended Ben Sherman range, and with a few things having been moved around Mr Allitt is excited to see what his customers think.
Revival Mk2’s shop has been shut since Christmas Eve, having already been closed during previous lockdowns in 2020. Mr Allitt continued trading online. He said: “It’s been a struggle, but I’ve utilised social media to sell products – I’ve got a good following with the shop. It’s been difficult, but it’s been difficult for a lot of people. I’m just pleased to have got through it and be re-opening.”
Preparations for re-opening day have been ramped up in the last week. Mr Allitt has increased his range of Ben Sherman products in response to the sad news of the closure of Debenhams, who were another supplier of the range in town. There have been some delays in receiving stock due to hold-ups at the ports, but with everything having now arrived there’s been a lot of hard work over the past couple of weeks getting things set up.
Mr Allitt said: “It’s just going to be wonderful. I’ve had people doing click and collect so I have seen some of my customers, but just being able to open the doors properly and to welcome them all back in – to show them what I’ve done with the shop and how I’ve moved things around a little bit.
“It’ll just be great to see everyone. That’s what I really enjoy about my shop. It’s the social side, people coming in, having a chat and buying something. I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Since the first lockdown local shops been been carefully trying to ensure the safety of their customers. Mr Allitt has completed risk assessments and allows no more than five customers in Revival Mk2 at any one time. He has sanitizer available outside and can provide a mask to anyone that doesn’t have one. In the shop people are asked to remain 2 metres away from other customers and surfaces are regularly cleaned and equipment such as the credit card machines wiped down.
Mr Allitt was full of praise for his customers. He said: “People have been fantastic. If I’ve got five in the shop they’re happy to wait outside. Everyone is polite and respectful.”
Revival Mk2 opened its doors at 9.30am. Mr Allitt is hoping people will take the chance to head back into town and support the local retailers. He said: “I just hope people come back out and support the High Street. Obviously I’m an independent and there’s lots of independents around the Old Town part of Banbury. I hope loads of people come out, the weather’s good, smiles on people’s faces, say hello to each other.
“Its going to be great to have the next step of normality back”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam