Cumbria’s residents are being urged to help stricken businesses navigate their way through the Coronavirus crisis by supporting local suppliers and services; and using local shops wherever possible.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in long waiting lists being reported for online shopping and home delivery services, Cumbria Tourism is encouraging people all over the county to do whatever they can to support smaller businesses such as independent grocers, as well as other businesses which have adapted by offering deliveries of basic necessities.
In efforts to raise further awareness of its ‘shop local’ message, Cumbria Tourism has been casting a wider net by using its 5,000-strong ‘MyCumbria’ card email database to invite residents to play their part.
As main sponsor of Cumbria Tourism’s discount card scheme, Booths supermarket is offering a £3 discount from every purchase of £30 or more at its local branches, which remain open for essential shopping trips. Cardholders in the Ulverston, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kendal, Milnthorpe, Keswick, Penrith, Windermere and Carnforth areas are all able to use the card when making trips for their supplies.
The chain’s retail Marketing Manager Helen Clarke, says, “Booths prides itself on being a retailer with its heart in the local community. We continue to work hard to support our local suppliers, our customers, and our colleagues. From launching our emergency delivery service, to dedicated shopping hours for NHS and key workers, Booths is here to help look after our local communities. The meals we now share together at home are more important than ever.”
Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, says, “Booths is such a positive force for our local producers and suppliers, really leading the way in encouraging shoppers to ‘think local’, even when shopping in larger stores. We’ve been so encouraged in the last few days to hear more and more stories about how valued our local businesses are, with many really proving their commitment and worth, having stepped-up to help local people in their time of need.”
Chestnut House in Pooley Bridge is offering home deliveries to help members of the community get the essential supplies they need, without having to risk leaving their homes. Owner, Andrew Kaye, says, “It is at times like these where small businesses can really showcase the service and the quality of products that are available, and we really appreciate all of our local customers and our visitors at the best of times. Looking further ahead, we hope that when this is all over, those customers continue to shop locally as a way of acknowledging the help that so many have been able to offer during their time of need. Hopefully, there will be a long term positive effects for local businesses who are currently going above and beyond.”
The Lingholm Estate near Keswick is another business which is playing its part in helping supplies reach those in need, by working with local food wholesaler Caterite to provide a weekly meal service for vulnerable people in the local community. The Lingholm Estate’s Jenny Seymour, says, “Our Head Chef is volunteering his time and using ingredients donated by Caterite to make nutritionally balanced meals which are then delivered to the doorsteps of people in-need who live nearby at this difficult time. It’s such a difficult time for people right now, so we’re so pleased with the generosity shown by Caterite, without whom we wouldn’t be able to offer this free community service.”
Marc Kelly, a manager at David Willan Quality Foods in Kendal, says, “We’ve had to furlough 70% of our workforce and have lost 90% of our wholesale trade. Somehow though, we have to survive as a business. These are unprecedented times, with local shops, and some fast food takeaway outlets finding it difficult to stay open. It is critical that our local community support small businesses like ours, because after this devastating pandemic passes, many of our small businesses and local shops may have fallen along the way. Our community must unite and support local food businesses.”
The Levens Village Shop is one of many among those being described as going ‘above and beyond’ since the government introduced tough new measures in efforts to slow the spread of the disease and uses many local suppliers. Co-owner Vanessa Riley, says, “We’re in the fortunate position of being one of the businesses able to stay open and we’re busy trying extremely hard to provide everything we possibly can to enable people to shop here and not have to drive outside the village. It is tricky being able to source certain things at the moment but we are working constantly and finding new suppliers to ensure our stocks are good. We have been helped even more so by the Levens Good Neighbours group, which is collecting the orders and delivering them for us. So, we’re really all coming together as a community.”
Cumbria Tourism Chairman Jim Walker concludes, “We hope local people will continue to value businesses like these for many years to come, well-after we beat this virus. From large to small businesses, we will beat this crisis as a team. This is becoming more evident with each passing day, thanks to these extraordinary levels of support shown by our fantastic communities.”
