With funding from the Government’s ‘Reopening the High Street Safely Fund’, we have been working on a campaign at Tewkesbury Borough Council to promote the safe reopening of our local high streets.
From promoting key messages on social media to sharing success stories from business owners in Tewkesbury, the Let’s Spring Back campaign aims to support businesses like yours!
Case Study
Tewkesbury
In response to the pandemic, and at the end of the 2021 lockdown, the Let’s Spring Back project was developed by Tewkesbury Borough Council, working with V8 Media Ltd.
Under the banner, ‘Shop Safe - Shop Local - Be Kind’ the campaign’s aim was to encourage people to shop local and return to our high streets, safely.
This work forms part of the Government’s Reopening of the High Street Safety Fund, in line with the roadmap out of lockdown and encompassing businesses and community communications, whilst supporting shoppers and retail businesses.
Here we look at two town outlets that support Let’s Spring Back. They are Café au Chocolat and Miss Muffet’s Delicatessen.
But first, let’s have a look around.
Tewkesbury
One of the best-known market towns in Gloucestershire, a walk around Tewkesbury is a step back in time.
When it comes to retail, everything you need is here, with many of the reassuring high-street names, as well as an extensive choice of thriving independents.
Shops include an ice cream shop, a specialist chocolatier, a traditional sweet shop, a deli, butchers, gift shops, a specialist carpet and rug outlet, independent clothing stores, jewellers, florists, new and antiquarian booksellers, a record shop and much, much more.
Cafe au Chocolat
Café au Chocolat owner Nigel Dawson explains what his team has done to support Let’s Spring Back in Tewkesbury and keep their customers safe.
“We are very mindful of staying safe,” he said. “We have always had food and shopper safety measures in place but we did, of course, add even more during the pandemic. This included hand gels for customers and lots of stay-safe signage. We also limit the number of people inside the store, we have a one-way system and we use Track and Trace.”
The lockdown also enabled Café au Chocolat to review its customer offer and as a result, it developed online sales, which has had a positive impact.”
Miss Muffet’s Delicatessen
Nicola Veal owns and runs Miss Muffet’s Delicatessen. The store offer includes an extensive bakery selection and artisan British cheeses, as well as all the other taste-tempting goodies one would expect to find in a deli.
Nicola was keen to support Let’s Spring Back and agrees with Nigel Dawson, that food retailers must take extra care.
“It is important that we all stay safe and follow the guidelines,” she said. “Here we have lots of social distance signage, we limit numbers in the shop, we have hand sanitisers, and the door is always open to maximum ventilation. We also operate a ‘till to sink’ policy. With this, any member of staff that has used the till, will then wash their hands.”
Miss Muffet’s Delicatessen is now creating an online offer, selling cheese boxes, hampers and gifts.
Both Nicola and Nigel agree that Tewkesbury offers a range of distinctive, independent shops and that the community has worked together to ensure shopping is safe for both residents and visitors.
Staying local and shopping safely are some of the best ways to show your support for local businesses. Remember, ‘Shop Safe, Shop Local, BE Kind and together Let’s Spring Back.
