‘I’VE ENJOYED TREKKING AROUND DELIVERING BOXES OF GOODIES’
Deli store backs our #Iamopen campaign
A DELI and cider store has backed The Sentinel and Stokeontrentlive’s new #Iamopen campaign to support businesses impacted by the coronavirus lockdown.
As part of the campaign, businesses across the area are invited to take part in a Twitter hour between 2pm and 3pm today.
Mo’s Deli and Cider Store, based in High Street, Stone, has been able to serve people in the town and surrounding areas throughout most of the lockdown.
Owner Maureen Cowley said: “Being a food outlet I have thankfully been allowed to open. After the initial week of lockdown, when not a soul came into the shop on the first Tuesday, I decided to close. Being a relatively new business this wasn’t a decision I was at all happy about and I had a fridge counter relatively full of cheese.
“So while the shop remained closed for the following few days I decided to open at weekends and use social media to advertise different deals on my food stocks. Initially the cheesy takeaway was launched - and did incredibly well.
“Lots of people in and around Stone took up on this offer and I’m pleased to say many of the locals have reordered on many occasions. I’d love to say a big thank you to all who have used the offers and home deliveries, which have kept my business ticking over.
“I’ve enjoyed trekking around Stone delivering bags and boxes of goodies and I hope everyone who has ordered has enjoyed their purchases.”
As the shop has become busier Maureen has now returned to her usual opening hours from Tuesday to Saturday. She said: “It’s lovely to share knowledge and enjoyment of cheese and other fine foods with shoppers. In doing this it has also supported The Mill Hotel and Restaurant who supply most of my pastries and the gorgeous Portuguese custard tarts.
“Week on week things have become busier, which I’m thrilled about. It’s been nice to see so many people clutching at various lists, obviously shopping for other people who can’t make it to town. It’s lovely to see everyone helping each other. “
Maureen has been putting together hamper gifts for people to have delivered to loved ones if they can’t be with them for special occasions.
She has also been doing a delivery service and found that some people have preferred to use local shops rather than supermarkets.
She added: “Many people in Stone have a little time to kill and have found the shop for the first time
- and have become more recent regulars which is nice.
“I’m very much looking forward to my other regular customers returning to do their shopping when it’s safer to do so for them, mainly the elderly shoppers who have been in very strict lockdown. It’ll be lovely to see them again.”
The #IAMOPEN campaign has been launched to support local businesses left counting the cost of lockdown.
We now hold an #IAMOPEN hour on Twitter between 2pm and 3pm every Thursday where we retweet businesses from the Stokeontrentlive Twitter account directly to our 82,500 followers - for free.
During that hour all that businesses need to do is tweet our @Sotlive account with a photograph standing outside or inside the business with an #IAMOPEN sign, also including the hashtag #IAMOPEN in the tweet.
Martin Tideswell, Editor-in-chief of The Sentinel and Stokeontrentlive, said: “Not only can local businesses use our platform to tell the people of North Staffordshire they are open, but our readers can learn more about companies in their local area.”
Restaurants offering collection or delivery can add the details to our Inyourarea site here to let potential customers know about the services they’re offering.
The Sentinel and Stokeontrentlive are also offering a raft of offers and incentives to help support businesses including free webinars, the creation of free landing pages and free online marketing health checks.
Anyone who would like to find out more is asked to contact the commercial team at wendy.wilson@ reachplc.com
Businesses who would like to be included in an article about #Iamopen should email jennifer. amphlett@reachplc.com with 100 words about their plans plus a photograph.