Salisbury shoppers encouraged to buy local this Christmas
With high street footfall down 14% since pre-Covid, independent businesses say it's a case of "using or losing it"
With festivities peaking around the corner, small independent businesses are urging shoppers to buy local this Christmas in order to keep them running.
The message is backed by local businesses in Salisbury who are faced with crippling costs as winter approaches, at a time when shoppers are expecting to curb their spending.
One of those local businesses is the owner of the Allium in the city centre.
Tim Tonkin told Greatest Hits Radio about his decision to close his restaurant between Christmas and the Spring to save on costs.
"The number demonstrated that we would essentially lose less money by closing", says Tim.
He explained that while energy costs, including heating, were a main concern, it wasn't the only reason for the closure.
He tells us, on average food costs have gone up by around 40% compared to the start of the year.
"The cost of fish has gone up 50%, poultry has gone up close to 30%. The average additional we're spending is close to 40%.
"I can't put the prices up in line with that, people are already tight. If I did, they would probably look at the price, laugh and walk away.
"This is my business, it's my livelihood, this is how I feed my family, pay my rent... Making the decision to close is not one that's been taken lightly.
The restaurant announced its plans to close after Christmas via social media, saying that it "will closely monitor the economic climate in order to decide when we can reopen".
Tim says that's because while they're hoping to return in the Spring, it's hard to tell at the moment if they will be in a position to do so.
"We're hoping that with Christmas parties coming up to the December, that we will accumulate surplus resources in the bank so we can float the business through the winter.
"All of my staff have been very understanding and will have to find employment elsewhere.
"For myself personally, I'm going to have to find temporary jobs. It's going to be tough."
Salisbury BID: "Another extremely difficult year, but Salisbury is resilient"
Small businesses in Salisbury say it's a matter of "using or losing" the high street this Christmas, as stats show footfall across the UK declined by 14% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Salisbury BID, which represents local and independent businesses in the Salisbury area, say the 'buy local' message is an important one at any time, but even more so this Christmas after the impacts of the pandemic the cost-of-living crisis and the onset of a recession.
Speaking about Small Business Saturday which takes place today (3rd December), BID Chief Executive, Robin McGowan, said:
“Small Business Saturday is a great reminder that we need to continue to support all our amazing businesses. We are so lucky to have a vast array of national and independent shops in the city, but if we don’t use them, we really could lose them.
"There is a lot to be positive about though, the appearance of so many new names on our streets proves that despite one of the toughest couple of years in memory for businesses, there is strength in our city.”
As the campaign gears up to celebrate ten years in the UK, new data reveals just how tough the current economic climate is proving for small businesses.
According to research from the campaign’s founder and principal supporter American Express, two-thirds (66%) of small businesses see rising costs as the biggest challenge to running their business over the next six months.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:
“While it’s a challenging time for firms of all sizes, we’re putting small businesses at the heart of our plans to unlock economic growth – from our Energy Bill Relief scheme that is shielding them from high energy costs, to our Start Up and Recovery Loan schemes supporting them to invest, grow, and thrive.”
Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK said:
“Small businesses are the life and soul of our economy, society, and communities. But with everything they have been through, many are now really finding things tough as economic conditions worsen.
“Public support is urgently needed. We need to all show our favourite small businesses just how much we love and appreciate them this weekend and beyond. It can have a transformational impact.”
Susi Mason, Salisbury BID Director and owner of Casa Fina has thanked the local community for continuing to support Salisbury’s businesses:
“I would like to say another big thank you to the local community. They are continuing to support the city’s businesses for which we are very grateful as we are mindful of the difficulties of the present cost of living crisis.
"Supporting small businesses means that they will have a greater chance of remaining in the city in the long term.”