Businesses back call to Think, Shop, Buy Local

Dozens of independent traders have backed the calls for Shropshire residents to Think, Shop, Buy Local and give the economy a major Christmas present.

If every adult resident of the county spends just £3.80 a week in the run up to Christmas, it would secure that multi-million boost after a tough year for traders.

The campaign has been backed by Richard and Dawn Edwards, owners of Covent Garden Fruit & Veg in Oswestry.

The couple have been at the helm for a year and want Shropshire residents to Think, Shop, Buy Local in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

They have been open throughout the pandemic, delivering fruit and vegetable parcels to customers at home and supporting other traders with their drop-offs too.

Rich, who has been a grocer all his life, said: “We are so proud to have been here all year, helping customers who have been unable to go out, and meeting new friends too.

“I want to thank all the girls in the shop who have been absolutely incredible and haven’t missed a single day throughout. They are like a family to myself and Dawn and we can’t thank them enough. This year has been hard for local businesses and I urge you all to shop local this Christmas and help us bounce back.”

Rich said that at the start of lockdown in March he gave staff the option of staying at home and receiving 100 per cent of their wage, but they all agreed to work on.

He said: “We were at a bit of a crossroads, so we all had a chat and decided we would start delivering to customers – and in the end we started helping out a local butcher and they helped us and it worked out brilliant.

“The spirit among the local businesses in Oswestry is magnificent and we are very proud to be a part of it.

“It has been like Christmas Eve in Oswestry every day this past week since the second lockdown ended and people really are heeding the message to Think, Shop, Buy Local.”

Another business to back the campaign is Life of Riley Pet Bakery & Boutique, run by Sarah Meredith in the north of the county.

She opened Life of Riley Pet Bakery & Boutique after her pooch Riley fell ill in 2018.