To keep our community vibrant and strong, independent businesses like us need your help.
Here are our seven simple steps you can take to do your part to ensure all your favourite independent businesses can reopen when this crisis passes. Supporting local has truly never been more important.
Shopping online and paying it forward through gift vouchers are all great ways to keep your favourite local businesses afloat. And if you are financially unable to support your local businesses at the moment, there are plenty of other ways you can help – such as spreading the love on social media or sharing your experience through an online review. So let’s quit panic-buying toilet paper, pasta and flour and start panic-buying stuff from our local independents.
1. LEAVE A REVIEW
If you’ve joined us at an event or course over the past few years, leaving a review is one of the easiest ways to support us during these times —and best of all, it’s completely free!
By leaving a positive review, you could help spread the word about our little business, whilst also helping us to sneak our way up on Google search results – so that more people can find us in the future.
Reaching out with positive words and happy memories of recent feasts and courses also gives our team a mighty morale boost, fuelling us with the strength to persevere and plan for the future.
Leave us a Google Review here.
Leave us a Facebook Review here.
2. PAY IT FORWARD
When we are safely allowed to have you join us beneath the trees, we hope that gathering with old friends and new will be just what the doctor ordered.
It’s hard to replace the joys of human connection, but you can still fill your future calendar with plenty of events or courses to look forward to. If you pay it forwards and purchase a gift voucher, we’ll also be sure you’re the first to know when our new events go live.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure about committing to a specific event, to use at a later date, eligible towards any of our dining events, pop-ups or cookery courses! We’ve also extended our vouchers to have a validity of 18 months (previously 12 months).
3. TREAT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
Buying for yourself is of course encouraged, but so many of you are having to find new ways to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries and festivities during lockdown!
Treat someone special to a unique experience in the future, by buying one of our gift vouchers. We could all do with something to look forward to – even if it’s a dinner date to be daydreamed about for a few weeks or months.
4. PICK UP SOME MERCHANDISE.
Many small businesses have a range of merchandise available through their online shops at the moment. We recently launched our range of Salt Box T-Shirts, as well as our enamel mugs and tote bags!
Made with certified 100% organic cotton, our tees are printed on demand here in the UK in a renewable energy-powered factory thanks to the team at @teemillstore. Tees for the boys, the girls and young wildlings too.
5. SHARE THE LOVE.
Social media shout outs are free – please give them generously!
Interacting with social posts from your favourite businesses could significantly increase their audience as every time you engage with a post, you’re enhancing its visibility! It won’t cost you a penny and helps share the love for your local businesses.
Did you recently join us and take a few photos of your experience that you never shared? It’s never too late – why not post it now (and don’t forget to tag!). Friends and followers may take note to find out a little more and be keen to visit once the pandemic has subsided.
Find us @THESALTBOXUK.
6. KEEP IN TOUCH
Subscribing to your favourite independent businesses’ newsletter is not only a sign of support, but it’ll mean you’re the first to hear their latest news.
In our newsletter, we share all our upcoming new events and courses, alongside plenty of recipe ideas. You’ll also be the first to hear about our grand re-opening feast.
7. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AVOID REFUNDS IF YOU CAN
This is a big one for us. While you may have the consumer right to ask for a full refund following the postponement of an event, one way to support a local is to see what other options we can offer, so that you can help lighten the financial burden for now.
Where possible, if you do need to ask for a refund – please try to be mindful and kind when asking. Emotions are running high all round at the moment. As they say, a simple please and thank you can go a long way.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL
