‘Work ethnic of local shops is saving lives during pandemic’
SMALL STORES PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMID RISE IN HOME DELIVERY SERVICES
SHOPKEEPERS have spoken of their determination to keep businesses open in order to serve their community despite the coronavirus crisis.
Some entrepreneurs have seen a fall in sales since the government’s lockdown came into force in March, with some suffering a rise in thefts.
Owners of cornershops, newsagents and petrol stations are considered key workers, but do not have the luxury of retail giant owners to provide staff personal protective equipment (PPE), screens and security guards.
And convenience stores are now delivering to 600,000 homes a week as hundreds of stores set up services during the pandemic.
Around one in 10 local shops offered a home delivery service before the pandemic, a figure that has now risen to 60-70 per cent, according the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
Ajit Atwal is keeping his petrol station in Derbyshire, Midlands, open with fewer staff and reduced hours. He told Eastern Eye: “People still need their local shop.
“They are not prepared to travel to the big supermarket because of social distancing guidance.
“Local shops are more in demand than ever. They rely on us 52 weeks a year, it’s our time to look after them.
“One guy I know, a shopkeeper for 36 years, said the [local community] ‘has been there for me’.
“We have gloves, hand sanitisers, we try to keep customers in the kiosk to save them coming in, lines marked on the floor.
“With a petrol station, people are still going to work. We also help out the NHS with food projects.”
Atwal, who is also a Lib Dem councillor, warned he will report store owners who hike their prices for household goods to take advantage of panic buying.
He said: “A minor percentage think it’s a good time to profit, that does not sit right with me.
“They are pushing people into poverty. Hand sanitiser for £20-25 a bottle; chapati flour… it’s horrendous. I will take it to Trading Standards. Times are hard enough as it is.”
His comments came after two newsagent brothers died after contracting the virus last month, three weeks after their father passed away.
Ghulam, 59, and Raza Abbas, 54, died within hours of each other in the same intensive care unit at Royal Gwent Hospital in Wales.
Their father, Ghulam Mohammed, had died from ill health.
Sunny Patel, who runs two stores in Swindon, Wiltshire, with his wife said shopkeepers across the country were putting their health at risk to serve customers.
He said: “As a shopkeeper, you are at the centre of the community and I have got to know so many people. I have always been involved in helping out as part of the community, but it’s like I have gone into overdrive once the coronavirus arrived.
“I managed to bulk buy about 1,000 facemasks from my supplier and we’ve just been giving them out to whoever needs them coming into the shop. This is a time that we should all be looking out for each other and not just earning a quick buck.
“Covid-19 has completely changed the life of the elderly and vulnerable in my community.
“They can’t even come out of their homes and they are scared to go shopping, especially in the big supermarkets which have seen lots of panic buying. causing empty shelves.”
Patel added: “As a local shop, we really came into our own. One of the things that we immediately started doing was delivering food and essentials to those that were isolated, for free.
“People need to be aware that as shopkeepers we are also out there every day in the community and that is not without risk as we have people coming into our shop all the time.”
Mike Cherry, the national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said across the country, small businesses and employees were doing their bit to help the nation through the pandemic.
He told Eastern Eye: “To those stores that are remaining open, that bravery should be commended. Local communities and the vulnerable rely on these small businesses for food, drink and key supplies in order to see them through the crisis.
“These businesses range from your local independent pharmacy distributing urgent medical supplies, to your corner shop providing essential food items, to those who have turned their operations to the creation of PPE and other ways of helping essential workers and their families.
“These are difficult times and the work ethic of small businesses are at the heart of communities pulling together, supporting one another, ensuring we save lives.”
Meanwhile, data showed some corner shops, newsagents and independent grocers have seen sales surge up to 40 per cent during lockdown.
Every big supermarket chain also saw sales rise in the 12 weeks to April 19 as panic buying and hoarding meant shelves got cleared, statistics from analysts Kantar showed.
James Lowman, chief executive of the ACS, said: “The way that local shops have responded to the coronavirus crisis to support people in their communities has been nothing short of incredible.
“Thousands more shops are now offering home delivery services, which are a lifeline for people.”