Something odd, unusual but welcome, is happening in our town.
Just before lockdown there was a real upsurge in demand for greener shopping. Three new small shops opened. They were scattered around the town but still all within half a mile of each other. They sold homemade bread, cakes, biscuits etc,. a small supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, pickles, chutneys, jams, cheeses, pulses, washing out liquids, soaps, etc...you get the picture? No plastic to be seen.
Then came lockdown and they all got together and set up a website called We Deliver Xxxxxx (within a couple of weeks) encouraging other businesses to do the same. I think I’ve mentioned this before.
Suddenly we were all aware of small local businesses we never really knew existed. Some operating from home. Whether you wanted afternoon tea for two, or your curtains altered, designer bread or designer ale, garden manure or chicken feed, flour or flowers, cheese or chess pieces, suddenly there they were offering produce and services when everywhere else had closed up shop.
They have all flourished during lockdown and loyal customers are continuing to use them.
Unfortunately too manny high streets have prostituted themselves to the big chain stores in the past and these drove out the small businesses - aided and abetted by local planners and (let’s admit it) us with our lazy shipping habits.
Then when the big stores pulled out there is nothing left.
We have been lucky in my town as the only two big stores are Boots and Smiths. But gillybob and Peardrops are right inasmuch bad investment is needed to lure back small businesses and support them until they are established.