On a dark, cold and wet winter morning the last thing anyone wants to do is head outside to the shops to get your Paisley Daily Express.
And thanks to an army of paperboys and girls, many of our readers don’t have to.
Newspaper delivery is a service that’s always been around but really came into its own during the lockdown forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leading Paisley newsagent Des Barr said dozens of his customers, who would have normally purchased the Paisley Daily Express from his Sinclair Barr Newsagents, in Glasgow Road, are now getting their news delivered by 60 dedicated teenagers.
He said there has also been an overall increase in the number of people wanting their papers delivered.
Des, who’s had the Glasgow Road shop for 31 years, said: “Newspapers are a vital part of daily life. So many of our customers look forward to receiving their delivery every morning.
“During the pandemic, that’s something I was really reminded of. I didn’t realise how much it meant to people,
“In the early days none of us knew what we were facing.
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But the number of people who started ordering their paper to be delivered and continue to get it delivered remains high.
“We’ve retained those customers and I think that’s down to two things. People start to enjoy receiving their paper every day.
“You get up in the morning and it’s there waiting for you.
“And more importantly, there’s a loyalty there to the paperboy or girl who’s delivering it to you.
“We’ve had dozens and dozens of letters and cards and emails from customers during the pandemic thanking us and saying how much they appreciated the service that was provided to them.”
All the teens employed by Des are aged between 13 and 17 and are given a variety of routes covering Paisley and some surrounding areas.
And with the darker mornings and wintry weather setting in, there’s no better time to organise setting up a PDE delivery.
Des added: “The Paisley Daily Express is very much part and parcel of the town and it still plays a huge part in promoting Paisley.
“People trust the Paisley Daily Express, there’s a bit of dubiety about what they read online.
“Getting it delivered is so convenient. No matter the weather, you’ll always receive your paper.
“Local boys and girls are benefiting too from getting their first job and having that responsibility.
“It gives them a good work ethic from an early age.
“It requires commitment from them and more importantly, they’re providing a service to their community.”
Alan and Lesley Laing have been getting their daily fix of the Paisley Daily Express for at least 15 years – and now they wouldn’t be without it.
The couple, who live in Arkleston Drive, Paisley, signed up for a subscription for the PDE when they moved to their house.
Alan said the ease of getting a paper delivered every day was the main factor in setting it up.
He laughed: “There’s a bit of laziness in there! We don’t usually see who delivers it because they come round so early but it’s always there waiting for us.
“It made a big difference during lockdown to have the delivery in place because we could keep up with all the local news.
“All the newspapers kept going throughout the pandemic so it was good to keep up with them.
“It was a link to the outside world and something to do as well, sit down and read the paper.
“People were nervous about going out to the shops so this was a way to keep in touch.
“It’s easy to get out of the habit of going out to the shops to get a paper.”
Alan said he’s happy to support a local business and the teenagers who are delivering the papers.
He added: “We want to support a local business.
“Des always provides a very reliable service and it’s easy enough to pause it if you’re going on holiday.
“It’s good for the paperboys and girls. They have to get up and go out and deliver the papers no matter the weather.
“That’s the same as when you have to get up and go to work on a miserable day, you don’t get a choice!
“In the bad weather it’s good to know it’s going to be delivered no matter what.”
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