OPINION
TeesTalk
With many local, independent businesses
struggling financially following lockdown,
we asked Tees business leaders if they’d be
making an effort to keep their money local.
CAROLINE THEOBALD
CBE, CO-OWNER AND
CHAIR, FIRST NETWORK
Buying local has always
been my preference, for
quality reasons as well as that all-important
small business support. The pandemic has
made that preference all the more vital –
to support the business lifeblood of our
communities and to keep money flowing in
the region.
I co-own a small business (FIRST
Network) and know at first-hand how
important it is to have support from loyal
customers who pay on time and value our
product and services. It is the difference
between success and failure.
SIMON FLETCHER,
OWNER, BAKER STREET
KITCHEN
We always try our best to
support local independent
businesses where we can. At this difficult
time, we really know how important it is to
support our local community and economy
by spending as locally as we can.
Our new order-at-the-table system
is through Middlesbrough’s Cleveland
Retail Systems, our coffee comes from
Lonton Coffee in Middleton-in-Teesdale,
we use food suppliers Trio and QFS from
Middlesbrough, plus bakeries in North
Yorkshire and Redcar. It is really important
to support the economy that we serve.
ALISDAIR BEVERIDGE,
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
THE BUILD DIRECTORY
As this lockdown has been
global in effect, all spending
will help raise the economy
as all rivers run to the sea. However, where
possible supporting independent and local
business is vital and indeed appreciated.
I think as a local business you feel
empowered to respond to this show of
custom and vote of confidence by giving
the best value possible.
Whether you support your local florist
or gift shop, pub or restaurant, it all
contributes to boosting the recovery effort
and we all have a role to play. Indeed, by
compound effect, the local economy and
beyond will benefit and, by doing so, we
help ourselves.
ANDREW ROWE,
PARTNER, BALDWINS
I personally can’t wait to
get out there and support
our local bars, pubs and
restaurants! I think the consumer will
start to think a bit more about where
they spend their money. They have seen
the impact of Covid-19 on small, local
businesses and they will now want to do
their bit to help.
I also think that the amount of tax that
larger organisations such as Starbucks are
perceived to get away with not paying
will impact in people’s thinking, as they
consider more how we fund the NHS, for
example.
KIRSTY MACKENZIE,
HEAD, TEESSIDE HIGH
SCHOOL
Absolutely. Both from an
organisational and individual
perspective, I think it’s important to think,
support and buy local, wherever you can.
This will be critical in ensuring Teesside can
take small steps to recovering from such a
huge setback.
There are enormous benefits to
sourcing local suppliers, from improved
communication and a better understanding
of your business and the context in which
you operate. Certainly at Teesside High,
we don’t need to look far to find local
independent businesses who can offer
the specialist products and services we
require.
VIKKI JACKSON-SMITH,
CEO, J&B RECYCLING
As an independent Teesside
business offering waste
collection and recycling
services, we are conscious
of how important it is to buy from local
companies, not only during this difficult
time but always.
Building strong relationships over
the past 25 years, we have always
endeavoured to support local business
whenever possible, which is critical to
assist us with productivity and reliability
within our operations. As Tees business
owners we must support each other other,
spending money with local, independent
businesses, as our customers do with us,
to come out stronger.
ABIGAIL FLETCHER,
FOUNDER, ELEVENTH
HOUR BEAUTY
The survival of our local
businesses is a direct
reflection on how we act now. As a
committee member of Norton Business
Group, I’ll be supporting my local
businesses by buying and promoting local
where possible.
I’ll be supporting the businesses who
are not yet open by encouraging our
Eleveners to buy products and vouchers
from their local beauty and nail business
so the money keeps coming in while
the doors are closed. We need to stand
together and remember the sense of
community we created at the beginning of
lockdown and turn that into reality.
PETER TURNER,
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
COCOON & BAUER
I cannot wait until our local
businesses open! Personally,
it’ll be food and drink where I’ll be aiming
to spend local. We’ve said we want to go
to at least two places each weekend for
food or drink, and as a business I’m going
to insist Fridays are when we order lunch
in from a local shop. Now more than ever,
they need us.
MAX FREER, FOUNDER,
OOK CREATIVE AGENCY
To inform, inspire and
improve lives of locals
and shape future places,
investing and spending locally is an
imperative for consumers and businesses.
Town centre challenges are more than
just retail. We need living, working and
leisure environments filled with vibrancy,
colour and creativity cultivated for 21stcentury
communities. OOK created ‘The
Future is Local,’ a localism strategy to
enable community-brand Stockton BID to
harness the power of localism.
TOM WARNOCK,
SENIOR RELATIONSHIP
MANAGER, NORTH EAST
OF ENGLAND CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
I do try to support local
independents as much as possible, but
like many people I wish I could do more.
I’ve tried to keep using local businesses
throughout lockdown, delis and takeaways
from restaurants. I’ve a few birthdays and
occasions to buy for so I will be hunting
for some gift vouchers to help get some
cash in the tills of our independents. I’m
really missing the Orange Pip Market, so
I’m looking forward to when it can come
back safely.
94 | Tees Business