Cots to Tots in Haxby thanks community for support

Charlotte Hamilton thought the council had made a mistake when she received the bill for her business, Cots to Tots in Haxby, last year. “It was a bit of a shock when that came,” she said.

But the rate increase was very much real – and will likely rise again in April, when Covid-era discounts for businesses come to an end.

For Cots to Tots, which sells new and pre-loved equipment for babies and children, the business rate changes come on top of a 27 per cent rent increase, as well as hikes to its service charges and utilities.

Cots to Tots owner Charlotte Hamilton outside the shop in Haxby (Image: Charlotte Hamilton)

Charlotte, 46, said she welcomed calls for further support for the high street, adding that she has witnessed other businesses in Haxby close due to rising costs.

The married mother of two from Appleton Roebuck added that her business has also seen a drop in footfall.

She said the drop in footfall started during the pandemic when buyers moved online but has got worse in the past two years.

Her business, located in Haxby Shopping Centre, has been in the town for the past 13 years.

But Charlotte admitted that people had “forgotten we were here”, as customers stopped using the shop after their children grew up.

Charlotte decided to write to her customers on Facebook as a “last resort”, urging people to share the word about the business.

“We are not asking for anything big – just awareness,” the post said. “If you love what we do, please tell a friend, share a post, or pop in to see our amazing savings on preloved, new, and refurbished items.”

“We didn’t want it to seem like a begging call,” Charlotte said. “It was just what we could put out to encourage people.”

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She praised the response to the post, saying it has resulted in people raising awareness about the business in the community.

“There’s a lot of local people coming in and saying, ‘We have loved your shop and we wouldn’t want to see you go’,” Charlotte said.

“I want to thank people for all the support. Keep sharing and we’ll get some new people coming through.

“Our best form of advertising has always proven to be word of mouth and recommendations. If anyone is able to leave us a review on our Facebook page that would be amazing.”