Business owners across North East Lincolnshire hope more people will start shopping local.
Many independent stores across the region were forced to close again during the national lockdown.
Last updated 24th Nov 2020
Independent businesses across North East Lincolnshire are hoping the events of 2020; being forced to close, working at limited capacity and having to furlough their staff, will encourage more people to shop local.
They've had a tough year; they were forced to close for several months back in March, they then started getting back on their feet during the summer season, to then have the door shut on them once again, when a second national lockdown was announced last month.
Many say they feel 'bitter' and 'frustrated' that big chains were allowed to stay open during this national lockdown, whilst their doors were forced to close.
Anna Darnell, the owner of Abode on Sea View Street in Cleethorpes said:
"There's an element of frustration this time, I think small independent businesses have definitely taken the brunt of this lockdown, bigger businesses do seem to have been able to take advantage.
It's left a lot of people quite bitter.
I'm hoping local people have seen small businesses have obeyed the rules, we've done as we've been told, and hopefully people will vote with their feet."
Yesterday Boris Johnson announced that non-essential shops can reopen when lockdown ends on the 2nd December.
It means many businesses, like Anna's, that have been closed for 4 weeks, will be able to welcome customers back.
She said hearing the announcement was 'pure joy' and continues to find more positives:
"I've said from day one this is probably the biggest positive to come out of covid, people are understanding the businesses in their local area, whereas they've probably never looked for them before.
Now they understand what's available, it's opened their eyes and also made people support them more.
Small businesses have really followed the rules, there's been huge respect for the rules in place and I think local people respect that.
For me, it's put local businesses more on my radar."
However, many owners say there's growing concern for what's to come in the new year.
Gemma Winter, is the owner of It started with a stitch in Grimsby. She opened her shop on the 30th October, the day before the national lockdown was announced.
She says they've been able to sell products online, but still has some concern for what's to come:
"My concern after Christmas is, what have people got to buy for, it's a quiet time of year.
Retail in general is quiet in January and February, so hopefully we don't end up in a situation like we have now."
However, like many other owners in the area, Gemma has adapted to the rules in place to keep her business running:
"It's been tough with regards to the fact that it's double hard work, but the support has been phenomenal.
We've had sales, we've sold out of stock twice with some suppliers.
We are still getting sales, it's just a different way of doing it and a lot more man power."