Doncaster store starts January sales three weeks before Christmas

Tiffany, a boutique on Cleveland Street, launched its sale on the first day it opened after the second lockdown, at the end of a year that has seen them hit by the coronavirus pandemic since March.

Sarah Scott, who runs the family owned shop, said: “We are starting our sale this week.

“Obviously it’s much earlier than normal – usually it’s after the new year. But because of the forced closures during lockdown and the fact that we had already committed to our winter orders and next year’s spring stock, which starts arriving in January, we’ve decided to discount in our first few days of reopening.

"We’re calling it Our Best Ever Sale because the majority of brands will have up to 50 per cent off.”

She said both she and her staff were excited to be back open again after the latest lockdown and were urging customers to support their local independent businesses.

She added: "We know it won’t quite be the same and we can’t offer a seasonal drink or mince pie - but it’ll still be service with a smile, under the mask.

“We understand how important it is for customers to try on clothes too so we’ve specially adapted our changing rooms so that they can be thoroughly cleaned in between customers and clothes that are tried on will be quarantined following the guidelines.

“The last few weeks while the staff have been furloughed, I’ve been busy - setting up a transactional online store and getting ready for our reopening and the sale, and I’m optimistic it’ll pay off in the run-up to Christmas.”

Clothes shops have been hit this year by the lack of big ‘dressing up’ events, with weddings having been cancelled, and the St Leger festival, traditionally one of the main events in the Doncaster social calendar, for which many buy new outfits, having seen three of its four days run behind closed doors.

Some independent clothing shops have been unhappy that they have not be able to open during the last lockdown, while some bigger stores selling other items as well as clothing, have been.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.