Businesses fear they won’t re-open in 2020
Last updated 26th Nov 2020
Non-essential businesses in Northern Ireland are preparing to pull their shutters down tonight at midnight (Thursday) for two-weeks until the end of the latest circuit breaker.
The new restrictions mean retail, gyms, indoor leisure facilities, the hospitality sector and other close contact services will have to close.
The Executive agreed to the new range of measures to encourage everyone to stay at home to try and bring the rate of Coronavirus infection down here.
However, Ministers have agreed that a controlled click and collect service can operate on an appointment basis only.
Marianne Blaney is the Director of Daisy Mae Boutique in Coleraine, she said she understood why the Executive had put more measures in place, but she did not think a click and collect service will sustain her business.
She said: “As much as the Executive say we can have the click and collect service I just don’t feel that it’s going to work for us because it’s a totally different service.
“Seeing something online is different to seeing it in the flesh and being able to see that customer.
“That’s the core thing about having a bricks and mortar store is to be able to sell that product to the customer and you’re not able to do that through a computer screen.
“All these things that’s playing on my mind, making me wonder how are we going to survive this, how are we going to get through this?
“I despair, I don’t know how we’re going to get through it, I don’t know what we’re going to do and it’s just a complete nightmare.
“I understand the logistics, I understand the science, I understand everything behind it, but from a business perspective, we need support we need to be able to back the economy and back the businesses that are the back-bone of Northern Ireland.”
Ms Blaney said she did not know how she was going to get through the winter months and was worried about paying her bills with her shop being closed for a fortnight.
She said that at Christmas the money she made carried her through quieter times and did not think the Government will allow retail to open again in 2020.
She added: “I hand on heart don’t believe we will and if we do I think they’re going to open us on the Monday before Christmas, let us have that run and then that will be us closed probably again up until January.
“November/December is what keeps me going through January and February because we’ve had such a great month, but I don’t have that now, so what am I going to do?
“How am I going to pay my bills? How am I going to pay my mortgage?”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Robin Swann said the restrictions mark a new phase in the fight against the Coronavirus.
He said: “It’s crucial we get the maximum benefit from these two weeks.
“We need everyone to stay at home as much as possible and if people are wondering what that means, it means work from home if you can and otherwise only leave your home for essential purposes.
“Such as for education and health care needs, caring responsibilities and for outdoor exercise.
“By staying at home, you can stop the virus spreading, by staying at home you can protect yourself and others and the health service.
“So, stay at home to save lives and protect the NHS.”
Gary Connolly is the owner of Memento flower shop on the Ormeau Road in Belfast, he too does not think businesses will be allowed to open after the fortnight lockdown.
He said he was frustrated at the lack of forward planning by politicians, but said he was still holding out for some good news.
He said: “I don’t have any faith that we’ll we allowed to open again after two-weeks are up.
“I live in hope but I’m extremely worried that today is going to be the last day we can open our doors to the public in 2020.
“We expect to lose out on trade to bigger supermarkets that are deemed to be essential businesses but are selling products that would normally come from small businesses like mine that are deemed to be non-essential.
“As Christmas is one of our busiest trading times of the year, we have spent months upon months planning our collections, ordering in stock and we’ve also hired new team members to help cope with the seasonal demands.
“We’re very worried about the impact this lockdown may have on our day to day trading.
“We understand that across our consumer demographic not everyone has access to order online and some may not even know were operating during this period of forced lockdown.”