As shops reopen to welcome customers through their doors today, the Herald wants to help support our local retailers.
We have launched Shop Local to encourage everyone to visit their local independent retailers in the run-up to Christmas.
“Communities are built around thriving town centres and, after a tremendously difficult year for the retail sector, now more than ever it is vital that Eden residents think local when it comes to wielding their spending power,” said Herald editor Emily Atherton.
“Small choices really can make a huge difference to local shops and businesses.”
Over the coming weeks we will profile some of the shops which give high streets in Eden towns and villages their unique character, and talk to the movers and shakers of the business world about the importance of the Shop Local message.
With Christmas just around the corner, now is a perfect time to show your love for all things Cumbrian, and and make this a real season of goodwill for Eden’s retailers.
Over the coming weeks we will profile some of the shops which give high streets in Eden towns and villages their unique character, and talk to the movers and shakers of the business world about the importance of the Shop Local message.
With Christmas just around the corner, now is a perfect time to show your love for all things Cumbrian, and and make this a real season of goodwill for Eden’s retailers.
Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce has thrown its weight behind the Herald’s Shop Local campaign and its president has urged readers to do the same.
“A vibrant town centre is the beating heart of the town,” said Stephen Macaulay. “People enjoy living here because they like the ‘feel’ of the place.
“When a place is attractive in those terms, the whole town benefits economically, jobs are created, businesses locate here, new homes are built, the value of your house increases.
“However, when the town centre is impacted, the reverse is true. Shopping locally is an important factor in supporting the town and preventing decline, it gives you the chance to get out and about, bump into people you know, do a bit of window shopping and have something to eat.
“We fully support the Herald’s campaign and would love it if all its readers got behind it, too.”
Mr Macaulay warned that online shopping is no doubt convenient for some, but it does not protect town centre shops.
He said that like many towns in Eden, Penrith capitalises on trade during the tourist season, Easter onwards and then in the months leading up to Christmas.
By comparison, January and February are traditionally very quiet months which is why the lead up to Christmas is so important to retailers.
“In previous years we have had things like The Beast from the East which damaged early trade in February and March, 2018, but that was nothing compared to what was to come in 2020,” said Mr Macaulay.
This year businesses in Penrith have had to cope with the first national lockdown — from March 23rd to June 15th — followed by a few days of trading before “the appalling and unexpected” road closure measures introduced by Cumbria County Council for four weeks.
These measures were removed following concerted protests from businesses with the support of the chamber, Penrith BID, Penrith Business Parks, Eden District Council and Penrith Town Council.
Mr Macaulay said the intervening period leading to the second lockdown saw a “mixed” period of trading for businesses.
“Some of our businesses traded well for those few weeks but many found things very difficult and have been very badly impacted and sadly, we have seen an increase in vacant units throughout the town,” said Mr Macaulay.
He said the second lockdown had been “cruel” on businesses which had spent a considerable amount of money on getting their premises COVID secure.
“The health risks posed in these environments is insignificant when you consider that all schools, colleges, universities, offices, construction sites are open,” said Mr Macaulay.
“At the same time supermarkets are open because they sell ‘essential goods’ and actively advertise Black Friday deals while our high street shops remain closed.”
Mr Macaulay said that in a bid to mitigate some of the damage being caused to town centre businesses, the chamber had worked with Penrith BID to set up a click and collect or home delivery database at www.discoverpenrith.co.uk/penrithcovidupdate
“There is no doubt now that the impact of this year’s lack of trade will physically affect our town centre next year as we anticipate further closures,” warned Mr Macaulay.
“But if we act now we can do what we can to minimise this.”
