WHILE shoppers have flocked to 'big name' high street stores like Primark today, it has also been an important day for independent traders.

Plant One on Me and Mean Old Scene, on John Street, both opened their doors and have exciting plans ahead. 

Ursula Sutcliffe, who runs Plant One on Me, told the Telegraph & Argus: "This lockdown I think has been particularly hard.

"Not knowing where we stood, three times we nearly lost the shop, but we’ve just managed to claw back, so now we’re open and it has been amazing so far.

"The reaction has been lovely, so nice. You could tell people were really waiting to have a natter, come out and support you. It’s been lovely.

"There’s a big onus on mental health right now, especially in lockdown, and sometimes there is little things that can help and one has been plants.

"People who are living in flats and apartments, being able to have almost an indoor garden, has helped them."

She added: "We're hoping to get some events going on. we're looking at a secret garden party in the summer, upstairs on a car park we've got, so we're interested in getting some more independents together to put that on. 

"And, just moving forward really and getting everything we've always planned to do back on track."

Hannah Toehill, of Mean Old Scene, said:  "It’s really really nice to be back open and it’s just quite jarring to suddenly feel like everything is back open, when I walked down to the shop and could see everyone opening up their shops.

"It felt very strange, but overwhelmingly excited to be back open now.

"We’ve got loads of new stock in and in the summer I’m finally hoping to run some workshops in the studio space at the back of the shop once social distancing rules change as the year goes on. So I’m really excited for that, to get some events happening.

"I’m hoping some of the empty units up here are taken on and people see there’s an opportunity here. We’ve got Commonwealth Theatre at the end of the block as well so it’s nice to see new things opening."