'Spend your money in Doncaster' business chief urges as town's retail sector reopens

Business Doncaster’s Chris Dungworth, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said it was a ‘massive relief’ that shops could reopen across the borough on April 12 as part of the latest Covid-19 roadmap to recovery.

He urged people to spend their Doncaster money in the borough in order to help independents take off again – many hampered by mass closures for the best part of 12 months.

The business boss also said that if people weren’t confident yet of returning to the high street, people could still help out through a recent online initiative the council launched a few weeks ago.

“It’s a massive relief for many, we don’t want to see his businesses going under,” Mr Dungworth said.

“I think we’re getting to the stage now where businesses need to reopen again, to get more people spending into our businesses.

“The government grants are fine, but they only last so long – the furlough scheme is fine but it doesn’t go on forever and there’s nothing better than getting businesses back into town reopening again.

“It’s a massive relief for us and it’s a massive relief for the businesses, they can do that soon.

The business boss also mentioned the council’s latest initiative partnering with independent businesses to better promote their products which people can buy online through shopappy.com – a collective which makes it easier for everyone to support their own local high street at no extra cost.

It’s a bid to take on the online giants of Amazon and others who have boomed during lockdown.

“If people don’t want to go back into town for shopping in town but want to use and buy from Doncaster businesses rather than going to Amazon and the big online retailers, this is a great initiative,” he said.

“We are getting all the businesses to sign up now wherever possible and the council are picking up the registration cost of businesses and we’re going massively to promote the initiative to as many people as possible.

“Businesses are so important to our economy and they have gone above and beyond during these times. They’re prepared to open the doors in a safe way.”

*

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.