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As backing for the Harrogate Advertiser’s #supportourindies campaign continues to grow, one local business showing remarkable resilience believes people are already starting to change their shopping habits and show their invaluable support.

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Sophie Hartley, who first opened her own boutique store selling contemporary, design-led gifts in Harrogate back in 2014, said the latest Covid lockdown had pulled the rug beneath the feet of small businesses like her's.

But she was determined to remain positive - and says support from the local community for her shop on Beulah Street has given hope for the future.

"People really are starting to show their support locally" - Owner Sophie Hartley inside her Sophie Likes shop in Beulah Street in Harrogate. (Picture Gerard Binks)

Sophie said: “Having to close a gift shop at this time of year isn’t ideal. November is usually our busiest month of the year so we were gearing up for that and then the rug was pulled from underneath our feet.

"We have spent the time we now have being closed by developing our social media presence on Instagram and Facebook and trying to get most of our Christmas stock available to buy online.

"Shopping small and shopping local in these testing times is more important than ever before and really does go a long way.

“But people really are starting to change their shopping habits and show their support locally which is great.”

Sophie, says two things would help businesses like her's to survive the pandemic and lockdown.

1. Free parking in the run-up to Christmas.

2. The reopening of non-essential shops from December 2 when the Government's current lockdown in England is scheduled to end - in theory.

Like the first lockdown which ran from March to June, Sophie Likes has switched to offering online ordering and local deliveries to survive, though the biggest customer base for its quirky gifts, carefully sourced by Sophie herself and often made locally in the Harrogate area, usually comes from visitors.

Sophie said: “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster all year. The first lockdown was tough with the challenges of homeschooling and working from home.

“Although we did try to do local deliveries and keep ticking over online, we generally relied on visitors to Harrogate for that impulse purchase at that time of year. When we reopened fully in June, the support from our regular customers was overwhelming.

“It’s hard to look ahead and plan too much as I think adapting in these testing times is crucial, so we tend to take it week-by-week.

“The message to everyone is that small changes to your shopping decisions can help small businesses like us survive."

Supporting Harrogate indies: Focus on Sophie Likes and why 2020 has been an 'emotional rollercoaster' for its owner