‘SHOP IT FORWARD’ TO SAVE SMALL BUSINESS 

Monday, 30 March 2020

‘SHOP IT FORWARD’ TO SAVE SMALL BUSINESS 

A Greytown retailer has come up with a campaign to help provide a lifeline for some small businesses during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Small, non-essential business is unable to trade online during the lockdown because couriers can’t be used for deliveries.

But as Adam Blackwell of Blackwell & Sons says, there is nothing preventing small business from receiving online sales now, and delivering products later.

His campaign, ‘Shop It Forward – Keep New Zealand Working’, is a plea to encourage people to keep shopping and support small business.

“Like all small business we are really worried about our future,” Mr Blackwell says.

Around 97% of businesses in New Zealand are small business that employ 20 or less people.

“Many of these businesses are the first to put their hand up to help out in the community with sponsorship and fund-raising, now it is the turn of the community to support them.”

Those who have the means to shop online are encouraged to continue doing so with special emphasis on supporting small New Zealand business first.

“As online retailers, we will deliver orders as soon as we are allowed, maybe with special gifts or incentives to say thank you for supporting us during the lockdown.”

“Our message is, if you still want to shop and you have the capacity and the financial means to buy online, then please, ‘Shop it Forward’.

“It’s a little like a mid-year Christmas situation. Buy now and get the packages when we are all feeling upbeat and able to get back to life as normal again. That’s going to put everyone in a great mood.”

“I know some people will think, ‘what if they go bust and I don’t get my stuff?’. But if we can continue to trade online, even if we don’t deliver for a month or so, we won’t go bust. There is no reason why service businesses or even cafes can’t sell vouchers this way too so they can be redeemed when the doors are open again.”

 

ENDS

 

For more information please contact:

Barb Hyde

Destination Wairarapa Marketing Manager

Mobile:  0272 227 2130