Welcome to Shop Suffolk
Just over a week ago my parents and I were chatting. Like many, they had decided to self isolate out of precaution and wanted some independence in getting supplies. ‘We’ve put an order in at Grange Farm’ they shared, ‘Oh yes, I saw that the Butley Oyster were doing meat orders’.
For some reason, that conversation stayed with me.
I run a small digital marketing business and work in a collaborative space with other small businesses. We have waited as COVID-19 struck and one by one watched as our clients dropped, beloved coffee shops closed and business after business at best went into hibernation, at worse shut shop.
All within the space of two weeks.
But businesses have started to adapt. Pubs now provide takeaway, farm shops offering delivery, yoga studios doing online classes. We evolve, we diversify, we keep calm and carry on.
It has made me feel immensely proud to be part of the Suffolk business community, to support each other and get through this together. But for me, who lives in a world of digital, there was something missing – a place where we can find all our much-loved shops, pubs, restaurants and service businesses who may have closed their physical doors but have still found a way to bring their offerings to us.
So, as I watched my work drop off my thoughts turned back to that conversation before lockdown really hit home. And the idea of Shop Suffolk was born.
My hope is that with your help, I can quickly gather together a directory of Suffolk businesses where consumers can find you, order from you and help to keep you going.
If you like what I am doing there are some affordable packages that will help keep the site and social media running, from just £10 to claim your business and allow you to add more information to £75 for advertising space, a blog post and social media posting.
I am also looking for sponsors who would love to support Shop Suffolk – perhaps you have multiple businesses or want to support the Suffolk business community – please email me if this is something you would like to discuss – hello@localhost
In the meantime, drop me a line to add new listings, please share the website and like us on Facebook and Instagram.
Most of all keep safe and keep shopping Suffolk xx
