Shop Safe, Shop Local is the message for residents
CHARNWOOD Borough Council and Love Loughborough are working with local businesses to safely welcome more visitors back to the town centre and high streets across the borough.
On Monday non-essential retail was allowed to open once again and pubs, restaurants and cafes can offer food and drink in outdoor areas.
The council’s Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign has been supporting local businesses since last year and now to celebrate the reopening of high streets, a video has been produced to welcome back local shoppers in a safe and inviting way.
The Shop Safe, Shop Local Welcome Back video highlights the efforts the businesses have made to make sure their premises are Covid-secure and issues a rallying call for people to support their local businesses and communities.
The video features many familiar local businesses from across Charnwood and will be promoted in the media, social media, on the Council’s website and its email alerts.
People are being encouraged to share the video as widely as possible to help showcase what Charnwood has to offer.
Sylvia Wright, head of leisure and culture at Charnwood Borough Council, said: “It’s been tough for the local high street traders throughout the whole pandemic and it is important to support local businesses, now more than ever.
“When people shop locally, they are not just supporting their favourite store, or market stall but the whole local economy. We have worked with local businesses and traders to encourage shoppers to return to the high streets in a safe and supportive way and we will be sharing this video far and wide on all our channels.
“Our Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign alongside the Covid-19 business grants will be a huge help to get the business moving again and a welcome return to the high street.”
Andrew Reed is the managing director at Charnwood Brewery, a family run business incorporating a brewery in Loughborough and two micropubs.
The Hall Croft Tap in Shepshed was opened in October 2020 and they only managed to trade for eight days before having to close due to the second national lockdown. Andrew said: “It has not been straightforward opening a new business during the pandemic and we had a great eight days welcoming customers, predominantly from Shepshed. We’re looking forward to welcoming back those customers plus the many who have told us they didn’t make it in. During the last four months we have continued to invest in the business, particularly the garden as even before the Government’s Roadmap, we knew customers would feel safer outside than inside in the early days of reopening. “We have changed the original seating layout of the garden to ensure greater space between tables and we will be operating a very strict cap on numbers. All the existing Covid safety measures and 2m social distancing will be in place. We have an external serving hatch from the bar which will be great when the second stage of reopening occurs. Whilst we have invested in the property looking and feeling great, we hope everyone’s first comments when they return will be ‘It feels safe here’.
“The Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign alongside the business support grants will be a huge help to get the business moving again.”
Marguerite Marshall and her daughter Mia Sutton run Stones, an award-winning hair salon in the heart of Quorn. Marguerite said: “We are so excited to be opening our doors again to welcome everybody back and offer them a place to unwind and recharge.
“We have just been awarded a 5-star salon hygiene rating and we have taken all necessary steps to create a safe and relaxing environment to ensure everyone feels as safe as possible. I’m sure it will be quite emotional when we reopen.
“We are proud to be part of the shop safe, shop local message to support our local community and we look forward to seeing our clients return.”
Other Shop Safe, Shop Local activities to support businesses and shoppers include:
■ Signage to welcome people back to their local high street with a reminder to follow ollow Covidsafety Covid advice.
■ Business iness resource packs cks have been n offered out to o businesses to help them provide measures to ensure they are complying with the latest Covid-19 guidance.
■ Leaflets have been produced to highlight the attributes of Charnwood high streets and encourage shoppers to be safe and sensible.
■ Local businesses can access a free e-commerce site which offers the opportunity to develop an online capability and gives residents the opportunity to support their local businesses from home: shoplocal. charnwood.gov.uk
■ High street helpers are in Loughborough town centre offering guidance and advice.
Make a pledge now to support local businesses throughout 2021. Here are different ways you can support local in Charnwood. n Shop at small fashion boutiques or independent retailers, these are also typically more environmentally friendly
■ Buy a gift gi card or shopping ping vouchers vou
■ Visit V local markets kets and enjoy shopping sho outdoors do
■ Find out if local l farms and dairies sell fresh produce like milk, eggs and fr fruit & veg n Look for your local loca favourites online
■ Check Ch with your regular local loc business to see if they h have h diversified and offer additional services
■ Order a takeaway
■ Enjoy a stroll along the high street while out shopping to discover more local delights
■ Try a different tipple and look for micro-breweries near you n Engage with local businesses on social media, like and share their posts and write reviews
■ Join local social media communities and spread the word n Download the Loyal Free app and discover exclusive deals, exciting local events & fun trails
The Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign is funded thanks to the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund which is support by the European Regional Development Fund.
For more information on the campaign, please visit charnwood.gov.uk/shopsafeshoplocal
We have changed the original seating layout of the garden to ensure greater space between tables and we will be operating a very strict cap on numbers