Shops in Taunton Independent Quarter come together to help the town

That is the message as one area of Taunton championing local business has come together to find a creative solution to the problems town centres are facing.

Traders from St James Street, Riverside Place, The Courtyard and the surrounding area have decided to work together under the umbrella name of Taunton Independent Quarter at a time when town centres are struggling to keep big-name traders.

Last week, it was reported four larger retailers, Hawkin’s Bazaar toy shop, Warren James jewellers, Anne Summers, and Tony Pryce Sports, would be closing their Taunton stores.

Retail giant Next has also announced it will be leaving its town centre premises from May this year.

But in a time when empty shops seem to be a common sight, you won’t find any empty units in the newly-named Independent Quarter.

CHANGES: St James Street 

Samantha Hay, of Sammylou, which has been trading for almost two years, said: “We really do have a fantastic and vibrant part of town down here, full of independent shops, along with coffee shops and restaurants.

“You will find out things you simply cannot get on the traditional high street, along with something for everyone.

“Then we have the brilliant riverside Coal Orchard development, which will only add to the appeal of coming and shopping down here.

“What we want to do is really fight back and say ‘come and see for yourself’.

“We don’t have any empty units down here because independents are continuing to grow.”

The area is home to more than 50 businesses, from well-established and long-running shops, to new stores hoping to find success.

Elaine Moodie, has been running World of Bears for the last 16 years.

During the near two-decades she has been trading in the town, she has seen plenty of change and has learned many hard lessons in running a long-standing business.

“I have seen quite a lot of change in Taunton high street,” she said. “But it’s so important to come and visit the independent part of Taunton, support us.

“The high street has changed and unfortunately you are forced to do a website, we don’t really want to but we are forced to.

“We are a bricks and mortar store, we have put a lot of money into our shop, we’ve bought the shop so we are here to stay.

“Taunton shoppers are loyal, but you’ve got to have something niche to come back and see you. Something different, interesting, and a personal service is really important, you don’t get that on a website.

WELCOMING: The entrance to The Courtyard, off St James Street 

The name Taunton Independent Quarter was created in June last year, when a couple of business owners wanted to do something productive in a time of great change for the area.

Somerset West and Taunton Council began its trial pedestrianisation of St James Street in May last year, and work on the multi-million pound Coal Orchard development began in August.

READ MORE: How banning cars on this town centre road is impacting traders in the area

Susie Thomas and Jeanette Crawford opened Rocket and Bird in the Courtyard last year.

Ms Thomas said: “It’s been fantastic, a real sense of community.

“When we first opened the shop, I don’t think we were aware of just how many businesses were in the area.

“We’ve had new businesses The Mango Tree and the Bridal Cottage in the last month, businesses relocate around here, so it is always changing.

“There’s 53 businesses in the area, and I didn’t think people of Taunton knew about that, so we set up Taunton Independent Quarter as an umbrella name for the area.

“Myself, Jeanette, and Andrew at Alpha Clothing had a conversation and just thought, hang on, this isn’t being shouted at enough and people need to know there are this many businesses in the area. We didn’t know, so why would anyone else.”

The idea started as an Instagram account while Ms Thomas went ‘undercover’ to promote the shops in the area.

SIGNS: Businesses along the entrance to Riverside Place 

The council’s Visit Taunton site latched onto the idea quickly when creating any social media posts about the area, too.

Ms Thomas added: “It’s grown steadily but it is still in its early days, so we don’t have a huge amount following but the engagement is really good. We can tell people about any special offers, new businesses opening, and we are keeping people up to date on the Coal Orchard development.

“People of Taunton are concerned about this area so it is nice to be able to keep them up to date.

“It’s about showing the people behind the businesses as well.”

Ms Thomas says the new council administration has been really helpful when listening to the ideas from the group to make changes such as more signage, Christmas lighting and display banners – but there’s always more that can be done.

In terms of the neighbouring development, which has caused some concerns due to reduced parking and access, some members of the group say it’s necessary for the town’s progress.

Ms Crawford said: “No town has development if there isn’t a vision, and from what we have learned from the council, from Midas, from everybody we have worked with as this development opposite The Courtyard has been going on, is that this can only make Taunton better.

“It will promote and provoke curiosity, so it will not only re-engage people that shop in Taunton anyway, but it will bring people in.

“If you think about the surrounding areas where there’s great shopping, it’s all about the things that are different, and that is exactly what is going to happen here.

“All of us are so excited. This will bring them in.”

So it’s not all doom and gloom for the town centre, as the group feels the challenges they have faced have brought about a momentum to change.

READ MORE: Work set to start on multi-million pound Coal Orchard development

Ms Thomas added: “I think people think that we are all really sad and depressed down here but we are not, we are really happy. It’s a really positive feeling and I think since we have been working together more, that has grown.

“We know each other’s names now, we talk, we knock on each other’s doors, without sounding too cheesy there is a real sense of community in the area, and we are just at the start of it I think.

“There have been empty units, but they fill really quickly, people want to be in this area. I have had people message me on the Facebook page asking if we know of any properties that are coming up.

“The future of the high street is independent shops.

“It is sad that the chain shops are closing but there’s a reason why the independents are here. It’s a difficult time for everyone, so I’m not going to use the word ‘thriving’, but we are doing well because we are offering something different, the personalities behind the businesses.

“There’s so many positive things going for independent shops, and the people of Taunton need to know we are here.”