Evening Telegraph (First Edition)

Businesses bash on in ‘worst year of trading’

- BY MATTEO BELL

most challengin­g one he had ever experience­d.

He said: “I would totally concur this has been the hardest year that I can remember, both mentally and financiall­y.

“It’s been a really tough year, the lockdowns have obviously hit us hard on the financial side, since we’ve had the cafe closed, or only been able to do takeaway, and then that’s led to reduced footfall elsewhere.

“I think just managing it all has been really stressful, harder than ever to keep on top of things.

“Still, we’ve been lucky in a way because we have our fruit and veg.

“That’s allowed us to stay open for most of the year, we could do our fruit and veg boxes.

“I think that for almost all businesses though, this year has been hard.”

Other businesses, such as The Rosebud, a florist on Perth Road, have also had to adapt in order to keep money coming in.

Dilly Milne-Van Boeckle, who owns the shop, said: “We haven’t felt it as badly as most places, since we have still been allowed to trade. We’re doing about as well as last year, if not a bit better.

“I think it’s because people who are stuck in doors have been wanting to send each other flowers, so we’re definitely one of the luckier businesses.

“Still, other businesses are facing tough times, I know that Perth Road is like a ghost town.”

The news of 2020’s terrible trading was already expected by businesses.

Alison Henderson, CEO of Dundee’s Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s hard to comment at a local level, but I know that every city and town across the country is feeling the exact same hardship.

“In Dundee specifical­ly we’ve seen a lot of businesses having to work hard to keep their trade going. The effect this has had on people and jobs is enormous. You have people on furlough so they don’t have their full wages or maybe students who would usually be able to get part-time work struggling to find any.

“There’s also been a large impact on women, as a lot of the sectors which the pandemic has had an effect on are run by women.

“It’s devastatin­g to see the impact this has had on people, and how unequal it’s been for different groups.”

 ??  ?? Dilly Milne-Van Boeckle of The Rosebud florist says Perth Road is like a ghost town. Inset: Ross Turriff has had his most challengin­g year.
Dilly Milne-Van Boeckle of The Rosebud florist says Perth Road is like a ghost town. Inset: Ross Turriff has had his most challengin­g year.

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