COVID19 has changed the way we live. Shopping is one aspect of that. Tendring District Council is extending its Shop Safe campaign, funded by the Government. The campaign has focused on shopping safely in Tendring, promoting all what the district has to offer, whilst reminding visitors, residents and shoppers to stay safe. Local businesses have been telling customers what measures they have put into place, such as sanitiser at the door, floor stickers to mark out safe distances and protective screens at the till points, all to keep people safe.
You can view some of the campaign videos on the Tendring District Council’s YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/63d4ax0NaRs.
With the Government issuing new guidance which restricts more than six people meeting, it is important that we all make Christmas shopping as safe as it can, when traditionally it is a time when shops can get very busy.
To try to reduce large numbers of Christmas shoppers in the lead up to Christmas, Tendring District Council, alongside local businesses, will promote Christmas shopping early this year.
Tendring District Council has created a Facebook Group for businesses and shoppers. Businesses are encouraged to promote their products and shoppers have a chance to shop local in the comfort of their own.
Please join the Shop Safe at Christmas Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShopSafeTendringChristmas
Olivia Reilly from Little Boat Gifts in Brightlingsea said, “We are a very small shop, and we are only allowed two households in the shop at one time, with restricted numbers. We are also a popular choice for people wanting Christmas gift ideas. So, we decided to open the shop after hours and are inviting people to book their individual timeslots to enable them to shop safely, and at their leisure. I support the Council promoting Shop Safe at Christmas because it gets people thinking about getting their Christmas shopping early and hopefully, we can avoid the Christmas rush, which could put people at risk.”
Councillor Mary Newton, Tendring District Council Cabinet Member for Business and Economic Growth, said that the Council wants to support businesses. “For many businesses Christmas is their busiest time, so we want to help support them and do it in a way to keep people safe. We would like to help people shop early for Christmas, to avoid a crowd within shops. We could all do with some festive cheer so it’s never too early for me to get organised.”
To find out more about Shop Safe please visit www.tendringdc.gov.uk/shopsafe.
Visit www.littleboatgifts.co.uk to find out more about booking an individual shopping slot.