STAY at home and let Rugby’s retailers come to you.
That is the message from bosses at the town’s Business Improvement District Rugby First.
With more than 50 different businesses in the town centre able to operate during the lockdown, Rugby First is encouraging residents to support the town’s retailers by continuing to shop local.
And they say it will also provide a vital shot in the arm for the local economy, as for every £1 spent with a local independent business, between 50p and 70p circulates back into Rugby’s economy.
Operations director Rich Warren said: “In the month since lockdown was introduced, many of our local businesses are completely reshaping their trading models, offering new products and services, implementing new payment systems and becoming social media experts.
“The coronavirus pandemic is posing a huge challenge for businesses. Whether they are open or not it has forced them to think more creatively about their offer and how they can adapt to customers’ needs like never before.
“The food and drink sector in particular is demonstrating their resilience by launching takeaway, deliveries and collection services – some of which for the first time.
“Other retailers are offering gift vouchers and running online classes and tutorials to keep in contact with customers and recreate the experience at home they would have had before social distancing measures were introduced.”
Whether its arts and crafts or food and drink, Rugby town centre businesses are doing their best to adapt to the ‘new normal.’
