This Christmas, use them or lose them
life had changed during the pandemic, from their wellbeing to their shopping habits. In response to the survey, 43% said they were supporting local businesses more since the pandemic began and 73.7% agreed with the statement: "The Christmas period will be a good opportunity to support local businesses."
Now we’re urging people to show their support when they’re doing their Christmas shopping, whether that’s buying your turkey from a local butcher, your fruit and veg from your local high street or gifts from independent traders, whether through their websites or in store for those who’ve been able to remain open.
At Grinder Coffee Company in Durham Road, they’ve launched a Grinder Gift Card which can be used to buy coffees, cakes, as well as homewares which are sold in store.Michael Curtis, from Grinder, said: "There’s a wealth of creativity in the city and we found out about a lot of small businesses through conversations with our customers. We decided to just do take out after lockdown 1, so we’re utilising the sit-in space to provide more of a retail offering.”
Sunderland brands stocked at Grinder include MBC Ceramics, Under The Ivy florists, On My Wick candles and Terra Homeware.
They also work with local bakers for their cakes, which change regularly with stock from the likes of Cookie Freaks.
They’re also working with city institution Müller's Bakers to provide an exclusive range for Grinder.
Barlow’s Fruit and Veg in Sea Road, Fulwell, is hoping people will remember them when getting in supplies for their Christmas dinner, as well as the rest of the year.
Owner Kevin Barlow said: “We have been seeing a lot more people shop local. I think one of the main reasons is that people are not going on buses or going into the supermarkets, because they feel safer using their local shops.
"Our busy period for Christmas is usually only three days before, but people should support small business all year. If you don’t use them, you’ll lose them.”
Despite the fact that physical shutters have come down on non-essential shops until at least December 2, neighbourhood stores and independent outlets continue to offer online sales and services as well as click-and-collect trading, which was unavailable during the first lockdown. And that is why we are once more stepping up our #supportlocal campaign today.
Businesses “providing essential goods and services” have kept their doors open. Food shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, garden centres, hardware stores, building merchants and off-licences all fall into this “business as usual” category.
Vets, pet shops, agricultural suppliers, storage and distribution facilities, fuel stations, car repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi and vehicle hire firms have also not physically shut.
Banks, building societies, post offices, loan providers and money transfer businesses similarly continue to trade on our high streets, as do funeral directors, launderettes, dry cleaners, medical and dental services.
We urge shoppers to still spend on their doorstep, with clarion call following JPIMedia’s Big Conversation survey, confirming 71% of our audience agree “Christmas period will be a good opportunity to support local businesses”.
Together we can all make an extra effort to boost traders’ takings, ensuring local economies enjoy a prosperous festive fillip. Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and British Independent Retailers