Rotherham traders’ plea for support: “Spend £5 and keep town centre alive”

TOWN centre traders in Rotherham have issued a “Use us or lose us” warning to shoppers, insisting: “We need your support.”
Jordan Mangnall (left) with artist Anne Stokes, whose visit attracted 200 fans to Moorgate Street shop Jaded HeartJordan Mangnall (left) with artist Anne Stokes, whose visit attracted 200 fans to Moorgate Street shop Jaded Heart
Jordan Mangnall (left) with artist Anne Stokes, whose visit attracted 200 fans to Moorgate Street shop Jaded Heart

Rotherham has been hit by the closure of a string of big high street names in recent years, while long-standing shopkeeper and investor Chris Hamby announced last month that he was calling it a day.

But the women behind two major success stories — thriving gift shop Jaded Heart and popular literacy charity Grimm and Co — said there were plenty of reasons to be positive and urged those who have turned their back on the town centre to give it another chance.

Deborah Bullivant, founder of double award-winning Grimm and Co, said: “There are some lovely shops in the high street and all we need is for people to come and spend a bit of time there.

“If people patronise these shops, have a look around them and give themselves a target of spending a fiver while they are in town that would make a massive difference to the shops in the town centre.

“In school terms, we are packed, with workshops booked up for the rest of the year, and as a visitor attraction we are doing OK, but Rotherham people don’t come and look for themselves. 

“Some people have made negative comments like we should have opened in Sheffield, and all the other centres like ours are in big cities like San Francisco.

“But we have chosen to put it here to benefit Rotherham and its children and we want them to be proud of it.”

Grimm’s unique combination of a magical apothecary-style gift shop downstairs and a children’s story-telling centre upstairs saw it scoop a White Rose Award and a gong from Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce last year.

But Deborah said she really wanted to see more shoppers dropping by.

“Grimm is something in town for adults, children and families — we are supporting Rotherham people but we need their support as well,” she said.

“Last week, Radio Berkshire got in touch because they know about us and they wanted to talk about good things to do with Rotherham.

“We get visitors from all over but not from Rotherham.

“If Rotherham people don’t come into town the shops will fold, so there won’t be any offer in the town centre.

“New shops want to come here but if people don’t come into town how can the shops survive? 

“It’s a ‘chicken and egg’ situation.”

Jaded Heart owner and manager Jordan Mangnall welcomed more than 200 customers to her Moorgate Street shop on Saturday for a signing session by world-renowned fantasy artist Anne Stokes.

She said even a small individual investment by shoppers would make a big difference.

“If everyone in Rotherham spent just £1 we would be laughing,” she said. “It’s crazy how so little can make a big change.

“Supporting the ‘indies’ — all our independent business — would change everything for our local economy.

“We get customers saying they don’t come into town and that there’s nothing here and all we ask is that people have a look around — if there’s nothing in town for them, then fine, but please just have a look around.

“Independent businesses give a much better customer service and it’s nice to feel welcomed somewhere.

“If everyone made a little change to their shopping habits and those who are being negative did one or two things differently it would rub off on everyone.”

Jordan and mum Tracey, who works in the shop with her, are both nominated in the Yorkshire Choice Awards, for which voting closes today (1), alongside campaigner Sammy Woodhouse.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/YCAsRotherham for details of how to vote for them.

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