York Shop to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

Cleggs on Goodramgate is set to celebrate their tenth year as a business in July this year. The family run independent which sells all kinds of unusual homeware and gifts are a staple store of the York high-street.

Cleggs all began over 20 years ago when Mark’s wife used to make and sell items at craft fairs.

Mark Jones, owner of Cleggs, told YorNews: “The problem with craft fairs is that if people don’t buy it on the day then they can’t buy it, so we always had this idea that we would have a shop and we would make things to put into a shop and we did.”

The shop itself was opened by Mark’s daughter 10 years ago, starting out with items which her mother had handmade and a few things they had bought in and impressively the shop sold out within the first day and Cleggs as we know it has grown since then.

Mark and his partner took over the shop 7 years ago and have been working full time ever since.

Despite a turbulent few years for many businesses due to the covid-19 lockdowns, Cleggs found the government support scheme was greatly beneficial to them. The funds covered their premises costs for a certain period of time. Moreover, the time away from face-to-face retail allowed Cleggs to develop an online shop on their website, meaning they were able to trade online and complete socially distanced deliveries.

Mark, expressed: “I think when we got back to trading during the summertime it was just about the right time, if it had gone on any longer, I think we would have struggled. So, the governments bail schemes did help.”

The shop makes a great deal of its products including a vast selection of bags, jewellery, macramé hangings and bits and pieces. Additionally, they sell vintage pieces alongside items from Fairtrade wholesalers, a lot of which comes from India or Indonesia.

Cleggs as popular as the independent is to locals and visitors alike do estimate there may be a downturn later in the year due to the economic situation but are optimistic for the future.

Mark, said: “I think going forward we will continue to do what we are doing; we would like to be more online.

“Everybody keeps saying online business is more than the shop but, in our case, it is very different, and people like to see the stuff really, but we would like to do a bit more online.”

The shop itself is a part of the Goodramgate Association which aims to make Goodramgate more of a key destination to visit for tourists.

“We are trying to make the street a destination for people to go. In the street there’s eighty businesses and you wouldn’t really think it and most of those are independent businesses, so as an area it’s got plenty going for it.”

Mark said to YorNews: “We have a lot of footfall in our shop as we are right by the walls where people have to come off.

So, whether you’re in need of a rug, a bag, jewellery, or a trinket, be sure to check out independent shop Cleggs next time you are on Goodramgate.