Local gift shop open because "now selling veg boxes"

[CornflakeMum]

Not sure how I feel about this really. I completely understand that it's tough for independent retailers, but I think this is just taking the piss!

One of our local shops which normally sells cards, scarves, handmade type jewellery etc has proudly announced on Facebook that it is "supporting the local community by now offering veg boxes and eggs" from a local farmer. There is an accompanying picture of a small table with half a dozen boxes on it .
In the comments underneath someone has asked if they'll still be able to buy all the other stuff, to which they've replied "obviously we're focussing on supplying the local community with fresh produce, but yes, you will still be able to purchase other items in the shop."

There are at least three shops within 500m which already sell fresh veg (M&S food, a supermarket and a corner store) so surely this is taking the piss? Meanwhile two other similar gift shops remain closed.

Good for them. My DS is a hair stylist and if I could think of a work around so the salon could stay open I would. He's now spent half this year with no income to support his DP and new baby. Enough is enough.

It’s not just small shops bending the rules like this.

The big branch of marks and Spencer’s in town is fully open as it has a food hall. But full of people browsing the clothes when I walked through it to get to the food hall. I didn’t hang around to see for myself that people were buying clothes but a friend tells me you can do so.

I have just walked home from work past 4 small local shops that have now permently closed in the last week.

@IcedPurple I disagree. If they are essentially a non essential shop that are stocking essential items only in order to stay open then that is bending the rules in my opinion.

I bought a Private Eye during my shop in Tesco yesterday telling me what a shower of shit this government are. Should I be pilloried for dallying in their magazine isle? There was a Hello, Grazia and OK as well - now that is non-essential.

It would have been better to do what Wales did and stop selling non essentials. Then no loophole and maybe far less people using shopping as a social event so less mixing. Unfair some can stay open and others not.

Given how many aren’t following the new rules anyway and still visiting people etc as well as schools etc being open it’s unlikely to get cases down to a low level and some businesses may suffer for nothing.

If every shop on the high street just gets in a sack of spuds and says they are "serving the local community with fresh produce" then this virus is going to rumble on forever.

That’s a load of nonsense.

Small shops finding loopholes in the rules - will be the death of us all.

Massive supermarkets - totally fine.

🤷‍♀️

Other shops should be doing this or sell newspapers (newsagents can open). Collect a load of free Metros from the nearest railway station and sell them for a penny each, plus whatever else they sell.

It would have been better to do what Wales did and stop selling non essentials

Going by the figures, putting sheets of plastic over 'non-essential' kettles and duvets dosn't seem to have done Wales much good.

Well if people keep bending the rules we’ll soon be at 1000 deaths a day and hospitals overwhelmed. The pandemic has really shown just how selfish people can be.

I'm in Wales so our lockdown has ended but when we were in lockdown we have a shop that just sells fireworks which was highly discouraged. My husband passed and said it was open with big signs saying "we now sell toilet paper" 😂

I wonder if this is the local shop near me? Lovely gift shop but had a table of local products plus cereal and cans of beans!! Lots of people are bending the rules to suit themselves.

@Covidfears

Well if people keep bending the rules we’ll soon be at 1000 deaths a day and hospitals overwhelmed. The pandemic has really shown just how selfish people can be.

The pandemic has also been the death of countless peoples businesses and jobs.

So you know, can you blame people for hanging on to their businesses in any way they can?

I would think you have a nice safe WFH job? And are not in danger of losing your house etc.

Good for them. God forbid a small business tries anything they can to keep the lights on, particularly when the big supermarket chains are raking it in.

@Covidfears

Well if people keep bending the rules we’ll soon be at 1000 deaths a day and hospitals overwhelmed. The pandemic has really shown just how selfish people can be.

And the most selfish seem to be those who can wfh and don't have to worry about their businesses being closed for months on end, judging those of us who are desperately trying to keep a roof over our family's heads.

The grants for the second lockdown are quite poor so I suspect they are trying to keep afloat but our local hospital last have just reached critical level, they’ve asked for help and have higher admissions than the first wave.

Just been to our large branch of M and S .Told by one Assistant that unable to buy a Cashmere Sweater as this was classed as a "luxury" item ,however OK to buy Christmas Crackers! Somewhat nonplussed. Spoke to another lady who assured me she could order it for me and /or collect it from upstairs! Weird or what! Robert Dyas also open and anywhere selling food!(Even WH Smith apparently.) They have some pasties for sale !

Agree so sad small shops closing .Just before Lockdown mark 2 ,went to Salisbury for an afternoon(following 4 /5 weeks at home under my own lockdown after hurting my knee!) A little shop selling all things from India has closed . Soon we will be left with just High St chains !

When so many self employed have been excluded from government support, it's no surprise that some resort to this kind of action just to try to avoid closure, which is often the alternative. People think that all self employed have received plenty of grants etc - sadly that's not the case. Many are excluded for starting their business after mid-late 2018 (falling foul of the 50% rule which applies to full tax years not the start date of the business), or for using shared premises (not liable for business rates), etc. If the OP was faced with almost certain business failure if they didn't sell food to stay open, they'd do exactly the same. Blame the Govt and particularly Rishi for bringing in illogical and unfair support rules, not the small business owner trying to survive.

I guess it depends on whether you think we are trying to control the transmission of a nasty virus or just control the population.

If the former, then people in small numbers buying their vegetables and eggs quickly from a local shop and perhaps spotting a gift item, is probably less likely to spread the virus than many people in a large supermarket.

If you're not really that bothered about Covid but just want people to do what you think they've been told, then, yes, better to make sure everyone shops in one place. The presence of more shoppers will slow each person down and make Covid spread a touch more likely, but will be absolutely within the letter of the law as you interpret it.

Good for them.
Local shops need to find a way to keep going.
Or would you rather they all just went out of business?

Good for her earning a wage an keeping her small business ticking over you are aware of how many small shops like this are going to disappear aren't you they simply will not survive this so if selling a small amount of food means her business survives then I say go for it.

The point is 15 minutes in close proximity without a mask in an indoors setting. So pubs, hairdressers and cafes yes otherwise let them trade.

Can you blame them? They may well be facing closure and ruin!!!!