Elgin shopfront makeover

MORE businesses in Elgin have been encouraged to take advantage of a fund designed to help them give their shop fronts a makeover in 2012.

Last year Elgin Business Improvement District (BID) allocated over £30,000 to 18 businesses for a variety of work, which included replacement windows, masonry work, painting and new signage.

Two businesses who tapped into that funding to make improvements have urged shoppers to help local businesses at a difficult time.

Dorothy Jack has been in business for 30 years at the west end of the High Street, and she used the support from Elgin BID to give her designer children’s clothes boutique, Dj Kids, a new look with a modern design canopy, part of an overal rebranding.

Mrs Jack, who was a florist before taking over the former baby shop run by Margaret Laing for many years, has lived and breathed her business, which sells baby and children’s clothing, footwear and accessories, since it opened in 1981, originally known as Dorothy Jack Kids Wear.

She admits business in recent years for small, independently-owned shops has been difficult with changes in shopping patterns.

"I have had a lot of loyal customers over the years but I suppose it is a sign of the times," she said.

"I try to use local shops when I go shopping myself."

Daughter Ashlene Young, a partner in the business, hopes to take it over when her mother retires.

"There are not many independent shops left now in Elgin. People are choosing different ways to shop," she said. "In 2007 I joined the business and it was at that point we diversified to offer an e-commerce website – www.djkids.co.uk – to meet the changing habits of how today’s consumers like to shop.

"We need to do more to encourage more individual shops. I was in St Andrews recently and it still has a lot of independent shops."

Nearby, Ultimate Hair and Beauty, well known for giving customers a sharp new look, opted for a radical revamp of its shop frontage with financial support from the BID scheme.

"We decided to go for something really drastic that would catch the eye," said co-owner Abby McPherson.

"There is no way we could have done it without the help from BID.

Along with business partner Catherine Thomson, they employ eight staff at the busy salon, which is at the extreme end of the High Street.

Ms McPherson believes more needs to be done to enhance the appearance of the west end of the main shopping area and encourage people to fully explore the central shopping area of Elgin.

"This is the main entrance to High Street of Elgin, and more focus needs to be put on it," she added.

The Elgin BID shop frontage improvement scheme followed a successful but oversubscribed town centre regeneration frontage improvement scheme run by Moray Council in 2009/2010.

Elgin BID manager Jacqui Taylor said: "We recognised that many city centre businesses wanted to make improvements to their premises but due to the continued recession and the threat to RAF bases, consumer spending was reducing and businesses were wary of making large investments."

She said the difference the fund had made with improvements to a number of frontages was obvious.

"It has made a real difference to the physical appearance of the area," she added.

A similar scheme will be rolled out later this year, open to all BID members.