Shop safely this Christmas
With non-essential retail re-opening Nottingham from 2 December, Nottingham City Council is urging people to ‘shop local’ and support their small and independent retailers this Christmas.
Whilst following ‘Shop Safely’ guidelines is obviously really important, we can all make sure we use local businesses as much as possible to help them rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic.
From popping into a local family-run bakery for a loaf of bread, or buying a quirky gift from an independent shop, by shopping locally people can help local business owners and local communities get back up and running.
To help traders recover from lockdown, here are 7 reasons why customers should support their local high street this Christmas:
1. Help the high street and support the local economy
Shopping at local businesses pumps money into the local economy, and by spending money in their local shop, restaurant, café or pub, shoppers can do their bit to aid Nottingham’s recovery from coronavirus.
2. Save jobs – and create even more
Supporting our high streets creates jobs in local communities, supporting often young and disadvantaged people to find employment. Helping to grow the number of jobs in our local areas makes for a better place to live and work, which then creates a healthy economy for the community.
3. Great deals
People might be surprised to see just how competitive the prices are in your local shops. Independent retailers often reward regular customers, while others often provide great deals that can’t be found in major outlets – meaning people save money as they spend.
4. A safe way to shop
Nottingham businesses have been following government guidance and implementing a range of measures to ensure people are safe while they shop, such as customer limits inside the store, plastic partitions at tills, hand sanitizing stations, online ordering, takeaway service and click & collect.
5. Spoilt for choice
Small and local businesses often stock items which are made locally and aren’t available elsewhere, providing a great range of choice and unique products that bring much-needed originality and variety into communities – including rare finds and items that aren’t mass produced.
6. A better shopping experience
Small businesses are often run by people who live nearby. As Nottingham continues to recover from the pandemic, the experience of buying locally from a friendly face offers a dose of normality that many people may have missed.
7. Help the environment
Local shops often source their goods locally, helping to reduce their carbon footprint. When shopping local, people are also more likely to walk or cycle to get there – doing their bit to reduce air pollution, reduce traffic and improve the quality of the nation’s high streets. Whatever the reason you choose to shop locally this Christmas, please do support Nottingham’s fantastic range of independent retailers and busin