Jubilee boost for Brighton traders (From The Argus)

Jubilee boost for Brighton traders

3:25pm Thursday 7th June 2012 in News By Neil Vowles

Shopkeepers have been toasting the Queen after the Jubilee weekend brought a bumper bank holiday of business.

Owners say the Royal boost has increased sales by up to 30% in four roaring days of trade with the county in full party mood.

Newsagents, gift shops and fancy dress stores have all been feeling the benefit with some store owners describing the weekend as their best of the year so far.

Stores selling 50s clothing were also celebrating as shoppers picked up special outfits to wear at street parties.

Shoppers splashed their cash on bunting, Queen masks, flags and even cardboard corgis while one loyal subject was even moved to have a crown tattoo on their shin to celebrate the Jubilee.

Unfortunately because of the complexity of the design, ~the customer will have to return later this week to Blue Dragon Tattoo in North Road, Brighton, to have it completed.

Claudia Fisher, owner of purple-hearts.com in North Street, Brighton, said life-size cut-outs of the Queen costing £30 had sold well.

She said there had also been a big demand for cut-outs of corgis which were originally meant as window displays but were so popular the store started selling them.

Holiday spirit

Over four days, the store sold-out of the royal dogs with at least 30 being rung through the tills.

She added: “We have been crazily busy.

“It’s been wonderful although not quite as manic as the Royal Wedding.

“Tuesday was really good. A lot of shops shut but I’m very glad we didn’t.

“I think a lot of people have taken the whole week off because you get a long time off without using much holiday so this could continue all week.”

A sales assistant at vintage clothes store Beyond Retro in Vine Street, Brighton said the store had a special section for Jubilee dresses which had created a lot of interest in the week leading up to the Jubilee and over the bank holiday.

Louise Hill, the owner of vintage fashion store Hope and Harlequin in Sydney Street, Brighton, said: “We had a lot of people buying nice summer frocks for street parties and we sold a lot of 50s frocks as people got into the spirit.”

Helen Mather, the office manager at Velvet in Bond Street, said: “We definitely did have a Jubilee boost.”

How much did you spend on the Jubilee? Email neil.vowles@theargus.co.uk or call 01273 544530.