88 per cent of shoppers stay loyal to independents in Sheffield, survey reveals
and live on Freeview channel 276
The survey by Visa also found 44 per cent of shoppers in Sheffield will only return to stores if strict social distancing is in place. And 23 per cent say they will not return until a vaccine is developed.
The payment company issued the figures on the day non-essential shops were allowed to reopen.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHairdressers top the list of the ‘most-missed’ small businesses, while the hospitality sector should see a boom when it is allowed to reopen, with restaurants, pubs and cafés ‘greatly missed’.
Jeni Mundy, managing director, UK and Ireland at Visa, said: “Even in the face of extraordinary challenges, British businesses are gearing up for recovery by finding new ways to serve their consumers.
“We’re also calling on consumers to shop local. By supporting small businesses - both on and offline - all of us can do our bit to help our communities recover and get back to their best.”
Visa said three trends will define the recovery: small firms diversifying and selling more online and consumer support.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEthical children’s products store Small Stuff UK, in Crookes, shut its doors when the government ordered all non-essential shops to close at the end of March.
Owner Hellen Stirling-Baker said: “I was absolutely thrilled when I could begin loading everything back into the shop last week, in preparation to re-open. It’s so lovely seeing stock on the shelves again!”