23/01/2026
I'm sorry, this is going to be a long post, but something that has played on my mind for a long time!!
I have been running my small business since 2020 when I had my daughter. It gave me the flexibility to be there for child care and school runs!!! 2 days after I bought the business lockdown started. I was supplying local shops and during that time these local shops were so busy, with customers queing outside and round the corner. The local shop was a lifeline. They were still open for the one thing you desperatly needed and they were delivering when you needed to self isolate.
Fast forward to now and since lockdown has ended, it feels like we have forgotten how our local shop was there for us at a hard time. The shop that may be the place the lonely go, just to see someone that day, the shop that is still open and doing everything they can when the whole village has a powercut, when its snowing and you need milk, the shop that has the teabags and bacon at 8am on sunday morning!
This month alone I have seen 2 of the shops that I supply, shut down as they can't justify the costs. I have community shops on my delivery rounds, who only just break even and they have no wages to pay as the staff are all volunteers.
These local shops use local suppliers, milk produced from local farms, bread from the artisan baker 2 miles up the road and people like me - a small business.
I am lucky, our local shop St Day General Stores is one of these hubs that deliver and the elderly rely on. They do a great job.
I have tagged some of my lovely customers in this post. Next time you need milk, walk around the corner, don't jump in the car and drive 3 miles to a supermarket.
Please share this.