Heather feeling Appy for future as store’s online presence ‘best it’s been’
COUNCIL-FUNDED APP OFFERS HOPE TO SMALL BUSINESSES
A DERBYSHIRE retailer has spoken about how she was forced to adapt and change her home fragrance business when the first lockdown caused her to close the shop doors.
Heather May, who runs ‘by Heather May’ in Chapel Street in Ripley, began the business in 2012 as a wholesale supplier of bath and body care products but she faced her first major challenge with the Covid19 pandemic.
The closure of the store and the imposition of lockdown restrictions also meant Heather, 44, couldn’t hold her regular workshops and classes in the shop’s open-plan studio, where she makes more than half of the products she sells.
The mother-of-two quickly recognised, though, that she needed to change and adapt her business model in order to survive. “Throughout Covid, we adapted very quickly, with both products and services,” said Heather.
“We started with hand sanitiser kits, then did lots of post or letterbox kits, and set up a Covid-safe collection point. Our online presence became the best it’s ever been.”
She’s now taken her online offering to the next level with the help of an online platform called ShopAppy.
Funded by Derbyshire County Council, in partnership with Amber Valley Borough Council, ShopAppy aims to provide smaller traders with a fighting chance of competing with some of the big national and international retailers on the internet.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” said Heather.
“As a nationwide initiative, with loads of followers on social media, I really hope that it’s going to be as great for local businesses as it looks like it will be.
“People generally want to support their local shops, but they’re not always able to get to them, whether it’s down to work and time commitments, the pandemic, lack of transport or many other reasons.
“So they take the easiest option by ordering their weekly food shop, clothing or many other things over the internet, usually from one of the big chains.
“ShopAppy now gives us smaller retailers the opportunity to put our products online too, in a place that people can easily find, which has got to be a good thing.
“A lot of small businesses don’t want to, or can’t afford to, invest in their own website, but ShopAppy is currently free, so I can’t see a downside.
“I’d urge any other business to take advantage of it and sign up now.”
The platform, which has already attracted 30 high street traders in Ripley alone, has a number of different sections including a what’s on area where Heather can post her in-store events such as her product-manufacturing workshop classes, which have now started back up since lockdown restrictions were lifted.
Traders who are keen to sign up to the initiative and be shown how to load products onto their own ShopAppy shop window can contact info@shopappy. com to get started. Shoppers can also go online to register an account by visiting www.shopappy.com.
I really hope that it’s going to be as great for local businesses as it looks like it will be.
Heather May