5 Great Ways To Support Small Businesses Over Lockdown
Lockdown and the Coronavirus pandemic have affected everyone’s lives in a variety of different ways, but small business owners have been hit especially hard during this period. With many struggling, but eagerly trying to make the best of a bad situation, it is more important than ever to support them.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to help out, even from the comfort of your home. We’ve compiled a guide of 7 great ways to help support small businesses during lockdown and beyond.
1. Shop local
It’s no secret that covid-19 has started to revitalise the local high street. Research conducted by YouGov shows that “64% of people want to support local businesses and buy local products” - but with lockdown forcing some stores to close and social distancing becoming difficult in smaller shops, it’s easier to fall back on bigger chains.
www.shopoly.uk is a great alternative to Amazon but for smaller, local, independent retailers.
2. Leave a good review
Statistics show that the majority of shoppers use reviews to determine what products to buy and which services to purchase, and on average, read 7 reviews before trusting a business. Proving that giving a good rating or review on Google or social media is an easy way to raise the profile of a brand and persuade new customers to give them a go!
3. Buy a gift card
If you want to help a business but don’t need their product or service immediately, buying a gift card is a great way to support them and show loyalty. It will help them navigate this uncertain and difficult period, aiding footfall post covid-19, whilst lending a helping hand now. Not to mention you can, of course, buy them for friends or family for upcoming birthdays or the festive season!
4. Try to reschedule instead of cancelling, where possible
If you have made a booking, instead of cancelling, look to reschedule when restrictions have been lifted. This is a great way of keeping the business going, whilst giving you something to look forward to when this is all over!
6. Use online services
Many new online services have sprung up over lockdown and some of your original favourite spots might have moved online already - just take a look at their website or social media to find out. Online work-out and cooking classes have really taken off in the past year and we can see why: easy to do from the comfort of your own home and a great way to try something you wouldn’t have done otherwise.
