Notts business owners urge customers to 'support local'

Whilst the government have put in place aid schemes for small businesses, many are facing an uncertain future as the country slowly reopens over the next few weeks.

This comes as the high street is on the decline due to more shoppers going online to purchase products.

And so now, more than ever, is when we need to ensure our hard-earned money is spent in local businesses to avoid more bankruptcy and job losses.

We have spoken to a few businesses in Mansfield and Ashfield about their fears for the future and how they hope to survive the pandemic.

Frances Bishop owns children’s clothing store, Pud, in the Four Seasons shopping centre.

‘The Apprentice’ finalist opened her Mansfield store in September 2018 after successfully opening branches in Newark and Doncaster.

The Mansfield store is still temporarily closed as Frances followed the lead of some other Four Seasons retailers in reopening once restrictions are lifted further.

She has, however, still been busy during lockdown, moving her online business into a new warehouse, meaning she can expand her online offering alongside her shops.

She said: “We have been lucky that our website has remained busy, so we don’t want to reopen too soon and undo all our hard work.

“As soon as we feel it is safe to reopen, we will be back in Mansfield with lots of new stock.

“We have been so busy with orders but people are definitely looking forward to being able to see the clothes in person again soon.”

To find out more information on Pud and their plans to reopen, please see their facebook page The Pud Store and their website thepudstore.com.

Local businessman Jono Edwards has found lockdown tough, as the hospitality industry has been one of the last sectors to be allowed to reopen.

He owns various bars and restaurants such as The Red, The Junction and The Lion at Farnsfield, alongside town centre venues Andwhynot, Industria, Cheeky Monkey and the revamped Canvas nightclub.

They have been operating on a food takeaway basis for the past few weeks, but Jono is very happy to be reopening some of his venues this weekend.

He said: “We can all see that our area’s ‘feel-good factor’ and local businesses have been seriously damaged by the lockdown, but hopefully not for good.

“We are so keen to play our small part in getting our local economy back on track.”

He also offered some advice for those venturing back into our pubs this weekend:

“This is new to us. Really new. Hospitality has never had to operate in this different world - we were the first to close and have remained as such for the last three months; we have not had chance to 'practice' this or perfect it like supermarkets have. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, or someone doing something that doesn’t look safe, then please say something to our managers.

“Please follow the rules. If a bar or restaurant limits table numbers to six people, don’t book for six and turn up with nine.

“Be nice - hospitality is the backbone of this country, and something all of you may have missed tremendously over the last few months. Your support and smiles through what is a challenging and scary time will be appreciated, remembered, and treasured. You have the ability to make someone’s day by being nice.”

Kevin Potter owns Forever Green UK in Shirebrook market place.

It is often said that your first year in business is the hardest – having only opened his health and well-being shop in November 2019, Kevin would wholeheartedly agree.

Lockdown meant his shop selling CBD and hemp products such as oils, balm and creams had to close, meaning he has been relying on a small income from internet sales to keep a roof over his family’s head.

He has used his time in lockdown to complete several qualifications, as well as creating his own range of products, which will finally launch next week.

Kevin said: “Its been hard going. We’d only just got going when we had to close, I couldn’t believe the timing.

“I’ve tried to keep busy by studying for qualifications to help advise my customers, and the new range will be on the website soon too which should help us get back on track.

“Fingers crossed it should get easier from here!”

Kevin’s website is forevergreencbd.co.uk and his facebook page can be found here: Forever Green UK

Victoria Melling runs the Furnish Your Interior concession within Booths Furniture Store on Church Side in Mansfield.

The furniture store sells everything from carpets to beds and dining tables, while Furnish Your Interior sells everything that makes your house a home, such as mirrors, cushions and artwork.

They reopened on June 15 but are still feeling the effects of people being reluctant to venture into town, and want to reassure customers they can shop in a safe, secure environment.

Victoria said: “Lockdown has encouraged internet sales which is great however people have since realised they missed visiting a high street shop to experience customer service and that personal touch.

“We want to encourage customers to visit us to see their purchase before buying.“We are the whole package, from the moment you enter our store to us delivering and assembling your items locally to your door, for free.”

For more information on the shop, visit their website: https://furnishyourinterior.co.uk/

Katy Brown runs Allotment Box on Church Street in Warsop.

Her shop only opened last year, but it has quickly become a lifeline to local residents as she offered a delivery service to the vulnerable and isolating throughout lockdown.

Now her shop has been allowed to reopen, Katy is continuing her popular fruit and vegetable box deliveries, alongside her shop where people can select their produce or take part in ‘allotment swap’ where they can offer surplus products from their own allotments in exchange for groceries they need.

Katy said: “The delivery side of things has been busy, but it’s great that the shop is open again. We get elderly people who like to come in to pick up their groceries and have a natter, as well as those who like the fact they’re buying local produce from nearby farms and allotments.

“We always aim to use as little single-use plastic as possible so, along with ‘allotment swap’ we’re hoping to reduce food waste and the amount of plastic ending up in landfill.”

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