RETAIL GET READY, STEADY…& SHOP
As parents were dealt the tricky hand to decide whether to send their kids back to schools and nurseries on Monday, England became another step closer to finding its new norm.
With some teachers creating ‘bubbled groups’ and others turning social distancing markers into creative games such as hopscotch; huge claps must go to all of these key workers trying to make the best of a bad situation, particularly in the unknown of whether or not the time is right...
As uniforms were dusted off and lunches packed, our market workers and car sales teams were also heading out the door for their first day back, paving the way for the wider retail return on 15 June.
Having worked closely for over a year with Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, the BID delivery company that gives local business owners the power to make sustained town improvements, we have seen a little of the impact Covid-19 has had upon our local retailers, and more importantly the families behind them.
While the BID was gearing up for a sustained campaign to attract visitors and businesses, instead we were hit with empty streets, boarded-up shops and projects put on hold. The high street was struggling before, but now it is calling for emergency measures, some of which the BID is lobbying for - such as longer-term business rates reforms and wider reaching parking concessions.
In the meantime, we are thrilled our high streets are being given the chance to return and that our business owners can begin to recoup some of their losses and turbo charge the crucial period leading up to Christmas, safely and sustainably of course. To aid recovery, Royal Tunbridge Wells Together has put together a reopening kit which contains a variety of posters, floor stickers, signs and sneeze screens, which can be ordered at no cost for retailers in the area. To date, we understand that over 1600 orders have been placed.
We would encourage anyone that can to SHOP (safely and sensibly with the right distancing measures of course). As without our custom and support, there is the scary possibility of more closures and many more job losses, so let’s do everything we can to keep our high streets alive.
Come the 15 June, perhaps we can see you for an at distance wave at one of our favourites? Whether it is in and around Royal Victoria Place and Monson Road as we restock our arts and crafts supplies for the kids, down on the Pantiles as we replace home items ruined by said kids, or on the high street as we treat ourselves to something special for that next Zoom party...
Stay alert, stay safe and start shopping ;-)
