“The re-opening in summer will be a slow start"

COVID: Patrick Boyle confident business will bounce back

“It is tough on business, but once we open this time, we don’t want to be closing again. So I’m quite happy to go along with the measures in place. I’d rather a full re-opening and if that’s to be June, so be it.”

That’s the view of Patrick Boyle of Boyle for Men in Cootehill. He predicts some easing of restrictions in May, and is quite confident business will bounce back once reopened after eight months closed.

He views the roll out vaccinations as important, hoping it will lessen the risk, unlike what occurred in the lead up to last Christmas.

“The re-opening in summer will be a slow start like last summer. It was not gang busters when we came back, and there was always that negativity last Autumn. I don’t think that negativity is going to exist this Autumn. The vaccine roll out will take away the anxiety,” believes Patrick.

Very involved in the wedding industry, and with most weddings for the past 18 months postponed, Patrick says: “From talking to wedding suit suppliers, they’re anticipating a massive demand for weddings and are endeavouring to get enough stock in at this stage. Hotels and our business will benefit, but it might be slow to kick in.”

There are already weddings put in for Tuesdays and Wednesdays in 2023.

“They’ll probably allow us click and collect and that will give us time to get back into the shop,” regards Patrick, who though emphasises that Boyle for Men concentrates on an in person service.

While government supports have been “very helpful”, Patrick adds: “It is going to be tough out there for a lot of businesses and will be difficult reopening, but credit due to the Government, they have helped out with the Business supports. That is why you have not seen anybody go out of business yet.”