Town traders are ‘buzzing’ at retail return
TRADERS say the #ThinkHyndburn campaign has injected a “buzz” into the borough’s high streets as they begin the slow road back from Covid-19.
And they have urged residents to move away from their computer keyboards, and get out and about exploring some of our townships’ best independent retailers.
Cheryl Duffy, who runs Acorn Cleaners in Accrington as well as the Hyndburn Independents - Shop Local Facebook page, says while nonessential retailers are only just re-opening, people generally seem “excited” about seeing banners going up promoting what is on offer. She says if every person in the borough spent £10 a week in local shops it would amount to a £40m injection into Hyndburn.
She said: “There’s a buzz getting around at the moment about the poster campaign. It’s like somebody listening to them. A lot of them have been closed for two or three months. A lot of the businesses - especially independents - know it’s not going to happen overnight. However, if we can ask people to come off their keyboards and support us we are all going to benefit in the end. If we put £40m into the local economy that’s going to create jobs and the rest that comes with it.”
She said very few Hyndburn shops have not come back out of lockdown, but we won’t get the full picture until we exit the furlough period. She added that two or three new businesses are waiting to launch, including a gin bar on Abbey Street, and a sunbed shop in Clayton-le-Moors.
Cheryl is hopeful that one positive legacy of Covid-19 could be a change in behaviours, forging new partnerships and friendships and a general spirit of co-operation and goodwill.
She added: “I think the Hub has done a phenomenal job - especially the foodbank side of things. There have been lots of collections all over the place. There is more of a community feel about now and if you walk down the street people are saying hello. I think people are just happy to be out in the fresh air. It’s a totally different environment and you can see the nooks and crannies that have been hidden for ages. We need to get people back used to being in town.”
Rachel McClure, of Garlands Florists in Oswaldtwistle, says her business is one to have benefitted from a £10,000 grant, and has praised the joined-up approach at tackling the impact of the virus on the economy.
She said: “I’m under no illusion that it’s not going to close a lot [down]. It’s a horrible thing to go through. But nobody could turn around and say the council has done nothing. They’re promoting it the best they can. No-one has been through this before and we don’t know the rights and wrongs, but I think central government through to local councils have worked well really. A lot of people are saying it’s great to see you open again.
“Oswaldtwistle can be like a ghost town sometimes, but people have been really positive saying it’s great to see you back, we’ve missed you. If people spend a pound locally rather than with the big guys, hopefully things will improve.”