Supporting Local Business During A Pandemic
Will You Be Mine?
As the pandemic rages on, we feel like we are all on the bus that has lost its breaks. Businesses are having to change direction on their business models in order to accommodate the ever-changing COVID-19 environment. From being open, to partially closed, to full closed, to working from home while homeschooling the kids. It is a constant battle.
So how can you help local businesses? Let me tell you. Ok, close your eyes (ok maybe just one so you can read this!) and I want you to imagine you are stepping into your own time machine. As you press the buttons "back in the day" your machine shoots you through to the time when we didn't have fast speed trains, airplanes and internet or modern-day conveniences. Instead, you would shop at the local butchers, go to the dressmaker, and buy gifts from the shops that you could walk to. But guess that, these days are BACK!
It is more important than ever to shop locally. It has become such an important part of our daily lives that companies such as American Express are offering cashback to purchases made to local businesses. If the local high streets die we are in trouble.
"But I am a local business Alicia, so how does this affect me?" Your online presence is your first stop to customers finding you right now. Whether it is on social media such as Instagram, Facebook, your website of LinkedIn. These are small shop windows for you to showcase to the locals that you are a business and you are OPEN! We aren't allowed to walk leisurely around the high street to buy locally, but we CAN pick up from local businesses. Customers can find you online and buy it directly from you. Consider this the old fashioned new way of shopping.
So what can you do !?
1 - Buy locally. Support your local butchers and gifting service. Buy from the cake maker and bookstore. Use those around you and you will be rewarded with wonderful customer service and a beautiful gift of knowing you helped another business create success.
2 -Get your business storefront ready for an online presence. You have about 4 seconds to grab someone's attention when they are scrolling through social media. An iPhone picture with a crowded backdrop is not going to make your product look professional and worth the purchase. By investing in your shopfront with good imagery, you will be generating business against all your competition. Get on board now and do not wait for the pandemic to be almost over. It isn't going anywhere. But your business can go somewhere. By hiring a Gloucestershire commercial or branding photographer you are not only going to bring more to your business you will be giving work to another local business trying to survive in this lockdown chaos.
For more information on how I can offer you a social media or product photography service, please get in touch. We can get your business working hard for you online while you enjoy the rewards.
Until then, stay safe. Eat Macarons. Buy local.
Alicia x
Beautiful macarons by Cherish Cakes by Katherine (local to Charfield and Gloucestershire)
