Yorkshire shoppers urged to give something back to independent shops by supporting their local high street

Yorkshire consumers are being urged to give something back to the independent shops which adapted to the demands of the pandemic by supporting their local high street in the run-up to Christmas.

Many smaller independent shops have succeeded where the big chains failed this year by moving online and offering click and collect or delivery services.

And Jade Dyer, Assistant Director of Services at the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, said: "It’s time to give back by shopping locally and supporting your local high street.

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She said: “Local businesses are at the heart of the community and it is possible to shop safely during these tier 3 restrictions and whilst the country faces the continuing pandemic.

“Many people have reconnected with their local high streets, and in lockdown, they have chosen to return to traditional butchers and grocers rather than face supermarket queues. When volunteers mobilised to deliver food to the vulnerable, it was often the local convenience store that provided a base, looking out for their regular customers.

“While 2020 has brought unprecedented challenges, we must firmly believe in the future of our towns and cities, and evidence suggests that many others do too.”

Centre Manager at Lakeside Village shopping centre in Doncaster, Di Rodgers, describes this year as being full of “peaks and troughs”. She says the first lockdown, and the uncertainty of when it would end, was more difficult than the second one-month of national restrictions.

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But she said it has been “really lovely” to welcome shoppers back last week, and visitor numbers had been high.

Shoppers in Halifax in the run up to Christmas. The Piece Hall hosts a number of independent Yorkshire-based shops.Shoppers in Halifax in the run up to Christmas. The Piece Hall hosts a number of independent Yorkshire-based shops.
Shoppers in Halifax in the run up to Christmas. The Piece Hall hosts a number of independent Yorkshire-based shops.

“On Wednesday, we left it until 11am and we walked around the centre and it just felt like Christmas, there were people milling about but nowhere did we feel it was unsafe,” she said.

Ms Rodgers said having free parking and the centre, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, being outdoors was likely helping people feel confident in coming back, but she said there also seemed to be an eagerness to spend as sales were high.

Asked whether independent retailers rather than chains had been better supported, she said: “No there’s generally been a lot of support for all of our stores, I think footwear has not been brilliant, or men’s a women’s formal, but we have a lot of regular customers and a community feel.”

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She said: “We have a lot of people who come back so we are more like a high street in that sense, it’s very much a community-focussed centre, people want to come and support that, even just using the play areas.”

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