A Liverpool independent business owner is determined not to let the current coronavirus pandemic win and has vowed his shop will not "go down without a fight"
Alan Gordon, 47 owns The Bread Shop based on Aigburth Road, which has been run by his family for around 60 years.
As with many businesses, lockdown had a big impact on the shop.
Footfall is down around 10%-20% and with most people still working from home passing trade has also slowed.
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Alan has described the pandemic as a "hard time" for businesses but his team adapted and became a lifeline for many within the South Liverpool community.
He said: "At the start of the lockdown we were extremely busy, we hired more staff. We coped really well and adapted, we even had enough pasta and eggs and stuff supermarkets were running out of.
"This has always been a community shop.
"Since the peak, we've now gone back to less than normal, we are around 10%-20% down on footfall because schools are closing and people are working from home so not coming in on dinner.
"Even the bookmakers next door used to be busy and we'd get customers from there coming in but everyone bets online so we're not getting that footfall anymore.
"Everything has a knock-on effect, pubs and restaurants closing early means they won't need enough stock so we are not getting pub orders for fruit for their drinks.
"I feel I have higher expectations on me than some others given how long this business has been in my family for, the pressure is tremendous.
"But, we are still here and we are doing okay. We won't go down without a fight. I'll do whatever it takes to survive this."
Even before March of this year, local high streets were struggling due to a lack of footfall with many businesses pleading with customers not to forget the city's independents.
On the street where The Bread Shop is based, there was previously a butcher, a greengrocer and many more local businesses which have now all sadly closed.
While Alan admits he is worried about the future of smaller businesses, he does have a suggestion as to how shoppers can help show their support.
He added: "I am worried about the future, I can see a lot of small businesses closing in a year, high streets were already suffering.
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"This Christmas if people are going to be buying presents then why not buy from a local shop and this will help businesses.
"Maybe we need to think about what we are buying and where we can help. This is a hard time for all small independent businesses."
The Bread Shop is open seven days a week from 7am-8pm.
