On the 24th January, Gagan Mohindra MP visited local businesses on Berkhamsted High Street.
Gagan visited Colton Footwear, Creative Collective, Peter John Interiors, Berkhamsted Sports Ltd, Epicure Artisan Coffee & More, Number Twenty and Berkhamsted Fish Bar.
The first place Gagan visited was Colton Footwear. Gagan spoke to Colton Footwear’s owner about their 50 years experience of selling footwear to the people of Berkhamsted. Gagan and the owner discussed a range of issues from business rates and supply chains to encouraging people to shop on the High Street.
Following this, Gagan visited Creative Collective, a pop-up shop supporting local artists and businesses. Gagan listened to their story and how they utilised social media to build a successful small business in two years during the pandemic.
Gagan also spoke with the staff inside Peter John Interiors. Whilst there, he viewed their blinds, curtains and other interior pieces. They also spoke to Gagan about their experience throughout the pandemic.
Gagan then headed to Berkhamsted Sports Ltd, a veteran of Berkhamsted High Street, providing people with a variety of sporting goods. After briefly talking about his love for sport, Gagan and the owner discussed how people working from home has helped boost their sales and the value a local High Street business provides the community.
Gagan bought a Hot Chocolate from Epicure Artisan Coffee & More and spoke with them about the shortage of skilled labour and their sustainability business model which uses disposable coffee cups and encourages people to bring their own travel cups.
The penultimate stop was Number Twenty, a gift shop to support the Hospice of St Francis. Gagan and the staff discussed their excellent army of volunteers and the great work that St Francis Hospice does in the constituency. As a patron of the Hospice of St Francis, Gagan was pleased to see the success of the shop and to meet some of the volunteers working hard.
Finally, Gagan visited Berkhamsted Fish Bar where he met with the friendly staff and discussed the importance of excellent local businesses in the constituency.
Following the morning Gagan said: “it was wonderful to have visited so many local businesses in the heart of South West Hertfordshire. I thoroughly enjoyed my morning and thank the businesses for their hospitality.”
