TV personality supports Shop Local campaign in East Renfrewshire

Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, local businesses have been under immense pressure this year and need local people to support them now more than ever.

The council has already supported over 800 local businesses by distributing almost £9.5 million in grants and supplying a Business Recovery Toolkit, including social distancing materials, risk assessments and accredited training to help them reopen safely.

And now that more businesses are open, the council has launched a campaign to ask residents to Shop Local to help our communities recover.

A series of videos featuring TV and radio presenter Jennifer Reoch have been created for social media to showcase the fantastic range of businesses on offer across the area.

Jennifer Reoch, a former Woodfarm High pupil, said: “Really think about whether you could shop local more – there’s so much on offer from butchers, florists, cafes, restaurants - to gifting, flooring and bathrooms, car garages, clothing, shoes to hairdressers and beauty salons.

“If you could support some of these local businesses more often, please do and help our businesses, our streets and our communities to thrive.”

The videos are available by visiting www.facebook.com/watch/eastrenfrewshirecouncil.

Council leader Tony Buchanan added: “We are fortunate to have a great selection of local businesses across East Renfrewshire and we need to shop local in order for the business to get back on their feet and remain open.

“The coronavirus pandemic meant many businesses were closed for months and without local support and spend, these businesses and their staff could be at risk.

“When you shop local you’r backing local business owners and their families, supporting local jobs and helping

our communities recover from the pandemic.

“These videos are just one step the council is taking to help businesses and our local economy during this difficult time.

“We’re also developing a wide range of other business support interventions and if any business owners are struggling, we would encourage them to speak to our business support team.

“Our Business Gateway team continues to provide free quality, practical advice and guidance to new and existing businesses in the area.

“Similarly if you’re job searching, our employability service Work EastRen can not only help you search for jobs but help you figure out what type of job you might be suitable for, help find and pay for suitable training courses and even help with CVs, applications and interview techniques.”

To contact the council’s business support team, email [email protected] and for more information about Work EastRen, go to www.workeastren.co.uk.

You can also now nominate the person, business or organisation which has gone the extra mile to help East Renfrewshire communities at a time when their help has never been needed more through the national High Street Heroes Awards.

Organised as part of the Scotland Loves Local campaign, nominations can be made at lovelocal.scot/high-street-heroes.

Local businesses said –

Ronald Jamieson, Thomson Brother’s Butchers, Giffnock: “If people don’t support the local businesses, the shops get less and less and there’ll be less to come to.

“Less footfall for people to come and see all the different shops. We’ll just disappear one by one. Every time someone comes in, they are supporting me and my family so thank you.”

John Paul Reilly, JPR Bathrooms, Clarkston: “When you shop local you’re supporting a local person with a family and kids, you’re not supporting a multi-national chain where you’re a faceless customer to them. You’re part of the family.

“I love what I do, seeing the smiles on faces is what we look for every time.”

Brian MacMillan, F&M Hairdressing, Barrhead: “Shutting down was really tough for us. Half of our clients come from this area and it’s all about shopping local.

“We really enjoy clients coming in and it’s a great atmosphere in the place.”

Paul Martin, C&M Motors, Barrhead: “It makes you proud that people in the local area want to use you. That’s what makes your job more worthwhile.”

Sheila and Ian Brown, Ian Brown Food & Drink, Giffnock: “The local community has been fantastic, wishing us well.

“It makes you realise what a sense of community is, the importance of it. We’ve had a lot of good support from our neighbours.”

Barry Leathem, Gifted, Clarkston: “The local economy is vital here. We get trade from all over East Renfrewshire.

“People are really glad to see us open again.”