Western Morning News (Saturday)
If you’re tenatively opening up, we can help
THE Western Morning News and its sister websites, DevonLive, CornwallLive and PlymouthLive have launched a new initiative designed to help businesses communicate their trading status as the country emerges from lockdown.
#IAmOpen provides businesses with a range of opportuni- ties to publicise that they’re open for business – and safe to visit, including the creation of a free website landing page and promotional video, plus complemen- tary creative design ser- vices.
This support package has been designed to meet the needs of all businesses that are re-opening, regardless of industry and location, and is supplemented by a range of heavily-discounted commercial products including digital advertising, social media advertising, and content marketing.
Jim Brinkley, Director for Reach Regionals, the WMN’s parent company, said: “Many businesses are now getting ready to re-open, yet trading restrictions are changing all the time and customers may be confused as to which businesses are allowed to open. “This is where the free services and low-cost options provided as part of our #IAmOpen initiative will prove invaluable. If businesses are open, we’re here to help get the word out.”
To support the initiative, Reach has created two special badges that businesses can use on their websites and social channels – one to let customers know that they’re open, and another to let them know that they’re also ‘Covid secure’, in that all necessary precautions are being taken to protect staff and customers.
Businesses across the Westcountry are feeling the effects of reduced consumer spending and UK-wide more than half of all businesses are reporting a significant decline in orders, while a similar number say they haven’t benefited from any government measures.
Jim said: “We’re proud that our #IAmOpen campaign can go some way to filling the void.
“Our promise is to support the UK’s local businesses now, throughout and beyond the Covid crisis.”
■ Visit local.reachsolutions.co.uk/ iamopen for more information.