Coes stores ‘bucking the High Street trend’ in Felixstowe and beyond

So how exactly is Coes able to buck the trend?

Retail expert and consultant Graham Soult, from Canny Insights, said the fact it was “run by real people and is rooted in the community” was a huge draw.

He also said its heritage, the sense of nostalgia it might give customers, and the fact it was as good at marketing itself online as it was on the High street, could be behind its success.

“All those qualities make a business really distinctive and are really important,” he said.

“Where you get the sweet spot is where you have a business like Coes that’s got the story, the heritage, and that sense of reassurance of having been around a long time.

“I also imagine in a store like that, you go in and there are people who can tell you what they think might suit you and what’s on trend, so you get that in-person experience you can’t replicate online.”

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