EXCLUSIVE: Cotswold shop in bid for vintage trading
By Simon Hacker | 15th January 2025
A new vintage clothing shop in Cirencester is set to raise its profile – if planners agree on the change of signage for the town-centre premises.
Vintage Society, at 8 Castle Street, moved in and began trading Tuesday to Sunday late last year and has now requested backing from Cotswold planners for the full facia signs at the former jewellers, which is next door to opticians R J Holmes.
A spokewoman for the neighbouring business told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "It's really good news that this shop has arrived next to us because, given the noticeable rise in demand for vintage clothing among young people, their arrival really helps to bring new interest to the town centre and add to the positive momentum we are seeing here now."

The shop was previous the home of jewellers RA O'Donnell Ltd and the request for new signage, to Cotswold District Council, is made by businessman Ben de Haan, the director of Brewhouse Spirits Ltd, which runs the Uncommon Distillery, based at Charlton Kings.
An accompanying heritage statement for the Grade II-listed building shows that it dates from 1896 and was designed by John Birch of London for Earl Bathurst, featuruing a "limestone and clay tiled roof building has many architectural features you would expect of buildings from the time".
The bid added: "The planning application is requesting permission to place advertising for the shop, over the existing hoardings and will not impact the heritage of the building. The previous tenants were R A O'Donnell Jewellers and had signage on the hoardings."

Studies suggest Vintage Society's move is timely: a recent report from couriers DHL said that a "thriving" demand for vintage fashion presented both opportunities and challenges - and identified authenticity as a key positive for high street retailers amid uncertainty from online buyers who often risk buying counterfeit items.
Across the UK, analysis from GlobalData suggests the clothes resale market is expected to grow 48.9% between 2023 and 2027, to £10.1bn, with consumers showing increased interest in sustainable sourcing of individual and often unique items which might otherwise go to landfill.
But while any gold rush for vintage clothing is forecast, Sarah Somers, who has been running the Now Vintage shop within the town's Forum Interior Design Collective, says trading challenges in Cirencester remain extremely tough.
Sarah said: "Vintage Society is a great addition and is proving popular with the younger generation and people who love promoting the green benefits of the preloved industry, but business in the town is facing a downturn right now.

"Many will talk a good talk, but then suddently close - it's a hard fact for independent shopkeepers that you have to run fast to stand still. If I could wave a wand with Cotswold District Council I would get them to organise events which specifically bring people in to support independent shops, rather than market days."
She added: "Cirencester has amazing shops to offer but with the trend towards people paying to park and visiting the town for an experience, rather than buying things, it can be a hard struggle."
A strong customer service ethic was key to survival in hard economic times, she added, while running a shop as a one-man band ensured avoidance of growing pressures from planned rises to the wage bill and national insurance contributions.
● Punchline-Gloucester.com has approached Vintage Society for comment.
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