Shopping local a real eye opener to the gems we have close to home

But the countdown to Christmas 2020 will be like no other this year. There remains a bumpy ride ahead as we navigate the second lockdowns north and south. By the time the doors of the advent calendar will already be open.

Through all the challenges the pandemic has brought we have gained some valuable lessons. We have learned to appreciate each other more and do what we can to help those in need. And among those most deserving of our support in the coming weeks are the local businesses who have had to close their doors and implement a raft of changes before they have reopened or will reopen.

For some they have been able to reopen temporarily and for others, although the shutters may be down on their bricks and mortar shops, their online tills are still open. That is why today we step up our #supportlocal campaign once more to encourage you to support our local and independent traders when it comes to your Christmas shopping.

The Big Conversation survey run by us and our sister titles across JPIMedia revealed that 71% of our readers agreed that “the Christmas period will be a good opportunity to support local businesses”.

So as we cope with restrictions and long Christmas lists to tick off now is the time to act.

And rather than use the big, all-consuming e-commerce platforms we are urging you to widen your searches further and look closer to home.

Our local traders have a wide range of unique, practical and personal gifts and goods that would make Christmas very special for you and your special someones. And these are the traders needing all our support. By supporting local we will all be helping to protect jobs and the local economies in our city, towns and villages.

In the coming weeks, under our #supportlocal banner, we are championing the trusted local traders you can support because they operate online stores, offer click-and-collect services or under lockdown rules still remain able to keep their premises open for safe trading for a while. There are already several brilliant online campaigns running locally including Independent Derry, Derry’s Virtual Christmas Market and the Buncrana and Inishowen Shop Local Initiative on Facebook and at the Journal we’ve already started our own list which will be updated each day and is now available to view at www.derryjournal.com/business/consumer/these-trusted-local-businesses-are-offering-online-shopping-during-covid-19-restrictions-and-beyond-3038492.

For many retailers, these past few months have been the most difficult they have faced which is why it’s never been more important to support our local shops. Money spent locally is recycled locally, often paying for local suppliers, local people for their work and preserving local livelihoods. Every thriving community needs their local economy to prosper.

We may be facing a very different Christmas this year but for all you savvy Christmas shoppers, make sure you #supportlocal for great-value festive gifts and household goods.

*Any local business with an online presence/ website who would like to be added to the Journal list can e-mail their details to: [email protected] with your company name, your sector, and web address.

All submitted businesses must have an online ordering service.

For more information on our #supportlocal campaign see www.derryjournal.com/business/consumer