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. If its OK for places like Poundland which sell about 50/50 food and non food, then why not.

Christ. Your attitude stinks. Do you honestly believe that this shop, by selling some veg. If people mask, and social distance, is really contributing to covid deaths.

@Saz432

Can people really not see the issue? If large numbers of businesses that are supposed to close find a loophole to stay open, then what’s actually changed? Bugger all, basically.

Nothing has changed anyway because schools are still open

Good for them its the nature of business to evolve to survive. I've seen many small businesses change direction in order to continue to trade in some form or other due to different consumer demands. Good luck to them. If you feel so badly about it simply don't shop there, I'm sure there's plenty less judgmental consumers out there for them

Oblomov - actually yes, I think it probably will.

Maybe not as a result of a customer contracting it in their store (although it IS a TINY store which would be impossible to social distance in, and as far as I could see they aren't restricting numbers entering) but because it sets a precedent which every other non-essential local shop can follow and them proudly advertising their 'cleverness' signals to others that this can be done an and how to do it. Covid levels in our area are pretty high and our hospital is at 70-80% capacity.
Nobody really needs to be popping out to buy a scented candle and a couple of onions at the moment.

We had a number of similar in town. I believe they have all now been told to close.

I'm in two minds. They tended to be the independent ones which are already struggling and this could be the last straw. However they really were taking the micky in some cases, and I suspect the shops that closed would have followed very quickly to take their lead if no action had been taken.

Another vote for good for them .

@ThornAmongstRoses

My manager went into our local city centre yesterday and Waterstones and TJ Hughes were open.

Maybe there were selling eggs inside?

I can completely see why little stores are doing this. It may be defeating the point of lockdown but they need to survive.

I popped to town today to pick up an order from The Entertainer. Wilko was open as was Poundland.

Waterstones looked shut but TJ Hughes was open - there was a few shelves selling "essential goods" - cleaning stuff, washing powder, loo rolls - I am sure a very recent addition, that did seem to be finding the loophole.

I don't blame them. They need money for living. This whole lockdown is stupid idea.

Surely you get the fact that if they remain closed then they might not be here after the lockdown? They still have all of their bills to pay. They won’t have magically stopped.

Good for them.

there was a few shelves selling "essential goods" - cleaning stuff, washing powder, loo rolls - I am sure a very recent addition, that did seem to be finding the loophole

How is cleaning stuff, washing powder and loo rolls "finding a loophole" lol?!
If the first lockdown taught us anything, it was that bog roll is very bloody essential as it was like gold dust
I'm also sure that bunging your clothes in the bath and grating a bar of soap in there and leaving to soak and then scrub before rinsing with the shower attachment is making do if shops all shut, in other words may not be essential in your eyes but fark me it makes life easier lol

They thought of a way to survive. We need to thing about "greatest good for the greatest number" now. We can't all hide at home and let our businesses evaporate.

I have no idea why they didn't let all shops remain open. All the ones near me have hand sanitiser, restrictions on numbers in their shop, masks and screens.
It ridiculous and unfair not to let them trade.
If any manage to survive this lock down I'll be shopping local and in small shops for as much as possible in future.

I'm also in the 'good for them' camp. It feels like this lockdown has been very much for show as the places that have been shut seem to have very little impact on coronavirus transmission, so I can understand that people are not willing to lose their livelihoods just so Boris can look like he's Doing Something.

I also agree with the PPs that those upset small businesses are finding workarounds have PAYE jobs, either secure or eligible for furlough. I'm a sole trader and am thankfully able to work this time this time around, but the last lockdown saw me unable to work for nearly 6 months. The government SE scheme payed me £1400 in total (I should have earned £5400 in that period) as it was based on earnings from several YEARS previously which included maternity leave and taking some time off following a bereavement. I wasn't eligible for any other benefits or loans. I wonder how many of the posters upset at small businesses trying to open would manage if their income dropped so dramatically. If my business was on the list of those unable to operate this month I would be finding workarounds pretty quickly too. I can't afford to have any more time off.

Yes, good for them, a lot is just for show and it's all just a bit of a farce really. I went into Wilko and bought a photo album to do the essential job of sorting out my old photos this week.

OP just seems to want to get the shop closed and put people out of business.

@Quaagars

there was a few shelves selling "essential goods" - cleaning stuff, washing powder, loo rolls - I am sure a very recent addition, that did seem to be finding the loophole

How is cleaning stuff, washing powder and loo rolls "finding a loophole" lol?!
If the first lockdown taught us anything, it was that bog roll is very bloody essential as it was like gold dust
I'm also sure that bunging your clothes in the bath and grating a bar of soap in there and leaving to soak and then scrub before rinsing with the shower attachment is making do if shops all shut, in other words may not be essential in your eyes but fark me it makes life easier lol

Because they have never sold them before. They have done so purely in order to be able to open.

Small shops have been forced into this kind of thing because of the lack of support from gvt.
Grants are pitifully tiny and many arent entitled to them anyway. Nearly 3 million people are excluded from self employed support scheme. The gvt knew this from the start and have done nothing to help small business who either have already or are in danger of losing their livelihoods.
Many, many shops are allowed to be open. Some are genuinely essential and others less so. Garden centres for example. In the vast majority of cases they could more accurately be described as shopping centres. In many, it’s difficult to even find plants to buy (and why is buying plants in November considered essential anyway?)
Along with big supermarkets and M&S who sell so much that is entirely Non-essential they can continue to trade in these absolutely essential weeks for so many retail business.
How many employed people would be content to stay at home quietly without furlough or wfh wages while others are allowed to continue to work in similar areas without any constraints or financial impact?
Our small towns and high streets will be destroyed as many shops will close, those left behind will follow eventually as the economic eco-system won’t be there to ensure their survival.
Wherever you possibly can, it is essential to support small shops.

@Acunningplanmlord

Small shops have been forced into this kind of thing because of the lack of support from gvt. Grants are pitifully tiny and many arent entitled to them anyway. Nearly 3 million people are excluded from self employed support scheme. The gvt knew this from the start and have done nothing to help small business who either have already or are in danger of losing their livelihoods. Many, many shops are allowed to be open. Some are genuinely essential and others less so. Garden centres for example. In the vast majority of cases they could more accurately be described as shopping centres. In many, it’s difficult to even find plants to buy (and why is buying plants in November considered essential anyway?) Along with big supermarkets and M&S who sell so much that is entirely Non-essential they can continue to trade in these absolutely essential weeks for so many retail business. How many employed people would be content to stay at home quietly without furlough or wfh wages while others are allowed to continue to work in similar areas without any constraints or financial impact? Our small towns and high streets will be destroyed as many shops will close, those left behind will follow eventually as the economic eco-system won’t be there to ensure their survival. Wherever you possibly can, it is essential to support small shops.

Fully agree, especially re the 3 million excluded from Covid support - it's a national scandal. Time and time again, Boris and Rishi pat themselves on the back saying how they've supported millions of people and businesses, but that's no consolation to the 3 million who've not been supported.

Re small shops, we're not talking about them opening to make a fortune, or even a profit - many are opening just to reduce their losses. Whether open or closed, they still have overheads, rent, insurance, power, water, security, waste disposal, telecoms, equipment rental, subscriptions, bank charges, etc. If they can find a way to stay open and bring in a bit of money, it's to pay those overheads, otherwise they'll almost certainly go bankrupt.

If govt want them to close, then they should provide proper support to at least cover their costs to stop them getting further into debt.

@ThornAmongstRoses saw this and made me think of this post. (I know you mentioned TJ Hughes) Seems TJ Hughes are in a lot of trouble for opening, have been fined and told to shut.

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tj-hughes-closes-council-fines-19307113

In the GOOD FOR THEM camp

Good for them. Shows initiative and entrepreneurial spirit. Nothing wrong with diversifying.

Good for them. Bet OP will be on here in future complaining that their house value has been dragged down because the local high street has died.

@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.

Deaths and new infections are actually reducing slowly, and there's no indication that hospitals will be overwhelmed.

Not in many areas, plus with all the infections currently in schools and people no doubt crowding into the shops to do their Christmas shopping we’ll be right back where we were by Christmas, just in time for people to infect their family and give granny the ‘gift’ of Covid. To be honest, I have given up with the stupidity of this government and people in general.

@Covidfears

Not in many areas, plus with all the infections currently in schools and people no doubt crowding into the shops to do their Christmas shopping we’ll be right back where we were by Christmas, just in time for people to infect their family and give granny the ‘gift’ of Covid. To be honest, I have given up with the stupidity of this government and people in general.

Hello Mr Hancock.

Still on the don’t kill granny thing I see.