As shops reopen after three months in lockdown now’s the time to Shop Local

Good luck to all our shops in Southport when they reopen today! 

The closure of our town for the past three months is something we have never seen the likes of before. It has taken a lot of getting used to! 

We are used to seeing Southport so vibrant – we attracted over 9million visitors here last year. 

To see the streets so quiet has been strange. 

Today is a crucial day. It’s a time when we all need to Shop Local and support our favourite businesses. 

There are lots of ways we can do that. Our shops will be delighted to welcome customers back. Many, during their period of closure, have launched delivery services. Please stick with them if you have found them helpful. 

Read More: ‘Please think of our independents when shops reopen in Southport’

Southport Business Improvement District (Southport BID) has given huge help to local firms during lockdown, particularly in  accessing support to financial schemes such as furlough, grants and loans. 

They have also created a useful advice pack for traders getting themselves ready to reopen. 

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They have launched the Pay It Forward campaign, which is a superb idea. The idea is to spend money on vouchers which you can use to pay for goods from shops. But you can also buy these to support the businesses which aren’t yet open, such as restaurants, bars or hairdressers. 

They have now launched The Southport Card for the same reason. 

Buying a Pay It Forward voucher or a Southport Card for your loved ones who you may not have seen during lockdown is a great idea. 

Father’s Day takes place next Sunday (June 21). A Pay It Forward voucher or Southport Card would make a perfect present. Or you could find something in one of the many Southport shops reopening today. 

Whatever you do, please make sure that you Shop Local! Supporting our local businesses as they emerge from three months in lockdown is going to be crucial for them. Let’s give them all the help we can. 

Finally, you may notice some changes as you go back into town, or into our villages. 

Shop layouts may have changed. Social distancing signs will be everywhere. Staff and customers may be wearing face masks, people will be asked to limit how many people are inside a shop at any one time and firms will be urging shoppers to pay by contactless card instead of having to handle cash. 

Read More: Southport pub keeps in touch with regulars as they get ready to reopen

Please be patient with them, and with other shoppers, as everyone gets used to our ‘new normal’. 

While Coronavirus cases in the UK have dropped dramatically, the virus is still out there. Please social distance and please be considerate to shop staff and fellow shoppers. 

But most of all, enjoy! It is brilliant to see Southport coming back to life. Good luck to all of our shops opening this week. 

We hope to be able to see our restaurants, bars, hairdresser, barbers, beauty salons, guest houses, hotels and leisure attractions open as soon as it is safe for them to do so. 

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