The High Street

23 OCT 2009

Address: 58, Shirley High St Years on the street: 51 Number of staff: 2 One Asst manager: Tony Company service: Almost two years

"People are trying to save money," says Tony Diaper, who helps to manage the shop. "For some that means buying a cheap pair of shoes but that's a false economy because after three months they break down.

"Better to get them repaired. We took £400 in shoe repairs in one Saturday, which is much better than a year ago.

"I think people have got money but they don't want to spend it. I've noticed people are bartering more too and I do deals.

"We're pretty flexible. A lot more people are saying 'Can you help me out because I'm unemployed?'"

26 JAN 2009

Business has been booming at Timpsons key cutters and shoe repair, according to Tony who has been at the helm since March last year.

Derek Fletcher works at Timpson part-time

He says he has seen little evidence of the economic woes affecting trade at the shop, which has been repairing shoes for half a century.

In his view, people are getting their shoes re-heeled rather than replaced and, recession or no recession, people can't live without keys so "they do need us".

Tony, who wants to keep matters on first name terms only, says he is hoping 2009 will bring in higher profits as things seem to have "clicked in the last few months".