Our shops are ‘ready to go again!’

There is a palpable buzz of excitement around Nenagh this week as businesses begin welcoming customers again after months of lockdown.

Despite the concerning increase in Covid-19 cases over recent weeks, local life is starting to return to normal along with the rest of the country with the welcome return of Masses for up to 50 people, as well as the reopening of retail by appointment, libraries, museums, and further outdoor activities in the most substantial easing of restrictions so far this year.

In Nenagh, many shopkeepers that have had their doors closed since Christmas suddenly find themselves very busy again, and none more so than the hair and beauty salon operators. Welcoming back customers old and new this week, Leanne Meehan and her team at Bondi hair, eyebrow, makeup and nail salon at Quintin's Way are completely booked out for the rest of the month. Leanne's mother Ann reported a happily busy first day back in business on Monday.

“People were just thrilled to bits,” Ms Meehan said of Bondi’s clients, who were long in need of a makeover. “When people ring on the phone, they welcome us back and they're so nice about it. They say: ‘Welcome back; we're delighted for you; you should never have been closed’. People are overwhelmed, really.”

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Given Nenagh's standing as home to the second highest rate of Covid-19 infection in the country, Ms Meehan said people are naturally concerned about visiting shops and salons. But she underlined the safety protocols put in place by Leanne and her staff and Bondi last year and said these would remain in force.

“Some people are very nervous and a few people I’d spoken to haven’t come outside their door.”

Overall, she said Monday’s re-opening proved a successful and enjoyable experience for both customers and staff, who were delighted to get back to work after being idle for so long.

It was a similar story at nearby ladies fashion boutique Aneva, where Annette O’Brien was glad to see a stir in Nenagh last Monday after so many months of diminished footfall. “It was actually busy around the town today,” she said. “There was a good buzz around. I think people are delighted to be back out again and to see things returning to normal.”

Ms O’Brien said there is also a degree of confusion about the phased opening of retail but she looked forward to full reopening in the near future. Visits to Aneva are by appointment only for now, and Annette was happy to say she has a healthy number of appointments lined up for the week ahead, as people have missed being able to visit her shop and browse the wares in person.

And, despite the negativity about online shopping, Ms O’Brien found that she and other shop owners in Nenagh managed to turn the situation to their advantage during lockdown by using social media to sell stock that she pictured on her social media pages.

“It was challenging but you respond to those challenges,” she said of the experience. “It has been a very difficult time but hopefully we are coming out the other end of it now.”

APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

It is a busy time for jewellers as well. Tadhg O’Flynn Jewellers on Mitchel St reported a slew of appointments with couples getting married.

Evelyn O’Flynn said the appointment system is working but that passing customers are welcome to knock on the door and will be admitted if a space is available. Speaking of a “calm” atmosphere at the store on Monday due to the management of visitors, Ms O’Flynn also described a sense of déjà vu at re-emerging after lockdown for a third time.

“We were all quite nervous,” she said. “I know that sounds funny but when you’re changing back to something after a long period of time, there is a sense of anticipation over how you manage it and how you bring people back into your store again.

“It’s been like a wave,” Ms O’Flynn reflected on the past year or so. “It’s been up and down with these lockdowns. The first lockdown was so scary and so challenging for everyone. The next lockdown, you kind of new what you were in for and you were gearing up for Christmas. This lockdown was difficult because it was so long.”

Outlining a “reluctant relief” among Nenagh’s business community about opening up again, Ms O’Flynn hoped to have seen the last of the false dawns and said business owners in the town are looking forward with optimism.

“We’re all relieved we’re back. We’re doing what we’re good at. We’ve changed our businesses. We all learned different things about our businesses.

“We’re ready to go again and hoping that it stays that way. We have to be optimistic. I think we’ll continue to do what we do best and hopefully, before we know it, we’ll be back to normal. I don’t think anyone is looking backwards now - we’re all looking to go forwards.”