Shop locally online to give businesses a glimmer of hope

Christmas is cancelled for local businesses as atier 4 lockdown will hit retail and small firms hard at peak spending time.

The Lanarkshire Business Group expects firms lucky enough to survive the tightest levels of coronavirus restrictions to come back with less staff.

However, the message in the next three weeks is to shop locally online if you can and make use of takeaway services to keep businesses running.

Alan Kirkwood, vice-chairman of the non-profit networking body, told the Advertiser: “It’s very concerning for a number of small businesses in the area and lots are worried whether or not they’ll be able to reopen.

“A lot of the retail sector is centered around Christmas and their profits carry them into next year. Some of the cafes were looking at how they would do a socially distant Santa’s grotto but now that’s stopped and won’t be invested in for December 11 as it might be another week.

“For a lot of businesses Christmas is cancelled.

“Many will struggle to survive aftertier 4.The government announced an additional £30 million they’re giving to local authorities which is a discretionary fund they can give out but we’ve not yet seen how that will be rolled out.

“Will it be consistent between North and South Lanarkshire to Glasgow for example?there needs to be some continuity so we know what businesses are going to get.”

Sadly, more jobs are expected to be cut overall as local firms look at ways of surviving, as Alan continued:“everyone is very concerned. Businesses are being told if they have a takeaway option please use it because it will save jobs, it will keep businesses going.

“We’ve got Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up so it’s Christmas, there will be a push but what shops are saying is still support us, it’s just how we do that.

“What we’ll see from the businesses that come back is they’ll be operating at a lower cost and staff. A restaurant that uses six staff, we’ll find they come back with four staff.there will be more job losses because the question on everyone’s mind will be when is the next lockdown after December 11?”

Meanwhile, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland says that South Lanarkshire’s smallest traders will be hit the hardest.

Andy Aird, FSB’S Scotland national group chair, said:“tuesday’s announcement was extremely disappointing for many smaller firms in South Lanarkshire who were looking forward to their busiest time of year, hoping to make up the considerable loss they’ve made during the pandemic.

“It is sad to see hundreds of independent shopkeepers, publicans, restaurateurs, barbers and beauticians across our towns forced to shut their doors after they have done everything they can to comply with the restrictions and make sure their customers, clients and employees are safe.

“The Scottish Government must provide a cast iron guarantee to our small business community that they will be given an opportunity to trade normally ahead of Christmas, especially when many big businesses face few operating restrictions.

“South Lanarkshire’s eventual recovery from this crisis will be reliant upon local businesses, but the pandemic has taken a disproportionate economic toll on neighbourhood firms.we’d ask Ministers and Council Leaders to consider whether every measure is necessary, especially those hitting independent shops.

“Businesses now facing restrictions should approach South

Lanarkshire Council and apply for the help to which they’re entitled. But the Scottish Government’s current scheme doesn’t provide support for firms indirectly hit, like the baker that supplies the restaurant trade or the craft jeweller who provides stock for independent shops.

“That’s why we’re pleased to see the First Minister open up new funding to help those indirectly hit.the funding will be administered by the council and we are keen to help ensure the funding will go to as many firms as possible.”