Kathryns, a Liverpool childrenswear boutique and third-generation family business, has reopened following a ram raid in February. The attack saw criminals use a car to enter the front of the shop before stealing stock.

The level of damage caused by the ram raid resulted in the store closing for three months. This also meant Kathryns was unable to reopen on 12 April along with other non-essential retailers in England.

However, the retailer’s past investments in its website paid off through this period.

During the shop’s closure, Kathryns turned to its website to maintain sales. The boutique first introduced a website in 2012, before launching a revamped version in September 2018.

In 2019, Kathryns unveiled a new, mobile-friendly website, including live stock availability as well as same-day delivery to Liverpool customers. Plus, through payment provider Klarna, it began offering customers the option to pay in 30 days or slice their order into three equal instalments.

 

 

Commenting on the website’s role in helping the business survive is Simon Large, Kathryns’ ecommerce manager. “The website worked amazingly; if it hadn’t performed so well, we probably wouldn’t be here now.

“Local customers showed their loyalty by shopping online and international sales grew even more, which was fantastic. We also started to offer the payment option Clearpay to international customers, which has shown a good increase in sales.”

A new look for Kathryns

Repairs were required to both the exterior and interior of the store following the ram raid. As part of this, the shop underwent a refit. The result is a completely new look for Kathryns.

Boasting a fresh, modern feel, the shopfront has been refitted. The store also has new flooring and ‘floating hangers’ to replace the former rails.

For further information on Kathryns, please click here.