Forfar department store Jarvis Brothers hails increase in in-store shoppers

The owner of one of Scotland’s oldest retailers believes evidence of growing numbers of shoppers returning to the high street in the wake of the pandemic bodes well for the future.

Although the rise of digital has changed the retail sector significantly, Forfar-based store Jarvis Brothers is optimistic about its future as the recovery continues.

Owner Charles Jarvis said: “We’ve seen more and more people return to shop in store and we hope this will continue over the coming years.”

The retailer is one of a number of long-standing Scottish firms highlighted by Bank of Scotland as part of an initiative tied in with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Jarvis Brothers was founded nearly 140 years ago and became a limited company in 1952 when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne.

The store was established in 1884 by William and George Jarvis, who built the shop’s current premises on Castle Street in Forfar in 1892 for £4,000. The family business initially manufactured clothing and curtains, and supplied carpets and rugs for customers in the local area.

Now, Charles Jarvis believes despite the growth of online shopping, the department store will continue to go from strength to strength.

The Jarvis Brothers department store in Forfar become a limited company in the same year the Queen ascended to the throne. Picture: contributed.

He said: “We’ve been operating from the Victorian era through to the Elizabethan era and from the Great Depression through until the financial troubles of 2008. While we’ve experienced hard times, we’ve developed a strong sense of resilience, and I believe we’ll continue to serve the people of Scotland well for the foreseeable future.”