As the latest Government Covid levels are announced and Nottingham is labelled tier 2 - alert level high, local independent businesses have been hit with another blow - one city store owner commented: "We're on a knife's edge".
While there haven’t been orders to close shops or venues in Nottingham, travel recommendations have been put in place and city shops, which have already had a tough time this year, are bracing themselves for the impact of the recommendation that “you should look to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible”. A rule that comes into force on Wednesday (October 14, 2020)
Sarah Maloy, 50, is the owner of Shop Zero based in The Malt Cross in St James's Street. She said: “I really want people to stay safe, of course, but as a small business owner in retail, I’m concerned about how the new rulings will affect footfall into the city centre.
“My business has taken quite a hit during Covid. I’ve worked hard to get online and offer click and collect, home and postal deliveries which have helped.”
Sarah has been running her sustainable produce store for the past 19 months. She added: “I think that the measures that retail have put in place have helped people feel safer about shopping, which meant we were seeing more people coming back to the shop. So things were feeling more settled.
“But we’re on a knife’s edge now. As a small business I don’t have the buffer of a large company behind me. I rely on local people continuing to shop with me. So I’ll watch carefully and can only hope to get through these tough times.”
We have seen many firms adapting to the changes that this year has presented.
Ross Bradshaw, 67, owner of Nottingham independent Five Leaves Bookshop said: "During the big lockdown earlier in the year the shop moved entirely to mail order for three months, building a web shop, so we were able to still provide books to our customers. Since we re-opened in July mail order has continued, though at a much lower level.
“We know that many of our older customers are avoiding coming into town and we'll always supply books post free if people are shielding or can't come into the city. We've also moved our events online, so we are making the best of a bad situation. Much as we like to see our customers face to face, it does look like we'll be doing a lot of mail order over the winter."
Sarah Maloy added: “I feel for everyone in independence retail at the moment. We add such variety, and offer a great service to people. That attracts more visitors to come here. The city would be a less vibrant place without us. So I hope that shoppers still feel safe and choose to come. And the Government recognises our value to the local economy and offers us more financial support.”
