HELP is on the way for shopkeepers in Dorking's South Street who have been shocked by a dramatic drop in trade following the closure of Waitrose for refurbishment.
This week, retailers told the Advertiser footfall had plummeted almost immediately following the supermarket's temporary relocation to the High Street on May 16.
Gallery owner Caroline Salmon said customers entering her premises were down by a third, with sales even worse affected.
"Everyone is aware that the footfall has been going down for the last six months, but we've never had it this quiet," she said.
"For my business, I'm going to have to find ways to get more people in, or find a way for fragile glass or ceramics to be shipped better. I've also got to redo my website and make myself more web-focused.
"The takings are down and I am worried. I know I have to change."
Sarah Slade, owner of Dorking Stationers, said: "We knew this was coming, but I must admit that we were very surprised at the speed with which trade fell.
"The day Waitrose closed, the footfall just collapsed. It was far more dramatic than we had expected.
"I don't know a trader down here that hasn't noticed a difference.
"In the long term, what they're doing to Waitrose is going to benefit the whole street but, at this stage, it's very concerning."
Simon Matthews, Dorking's acting town centre manager, said his team was working on a range of solutions to help traders in both South Street and West Street.
He said: "We're running a digital marketing course on June 11 that's going to help them because we know footflows are down.
"So we're helping them to learn a bit more about websites, Google marketing etc, to help them understand they need to be digitally marketing themselves during a time of lower footflow.
"That's something Dorking's town centre management and Mole Valley District Council has paid for."
Mr Matthews said street markets and live music were also planned to attract more people to the west end of the town.
He added: "At the end of the day, Waitrose is a massive anchor and, without it, whatever we do will not bring in the same level of footflow.
"But the good thing is that we will have one of the biggest and best Waitrose stores in the South East come 16 months' time.
"I'm not claiming we have a magic bullet – it's going to be a tough 16 months – but we're working hard and we will do anything we can to make it better."
For more information on the digital marketing courses, e-mail town.manager@visitdorking. com
