While the world is waking up from lockdown and slowly returning to normal life, it seems we are choosing to support and value the small, independent local businesses in addition to going to our regular big-brand shops of choice.

One example of a small local food shop is Laura’s Larder in Petts Wood. As Laura, the owner, puts it: “I try to focus on British-made products, so we sell British cheeses, we work with really reputable companies like Neal’s Yard Dairy, we sell British charcuterie, we sell a lot of independent British produce and I try really hard to get things that you can’t get in the supermarket. I kind of think of it as a way where you’re enhancing your weekly shop with quality British items…”

“That’s a tricky one,” was how she replied when I asked her how lockdown affected her business.  “I actually opened on February 26th 2020, so that was about 2 weeks before national lockdown. So it’s really, really hard for me to say how it affected my business because I don’t know anything other than running a business in the pandemic…”

She continues, “We did shut for three weeks in April before we knew what was coming but I completely re-thought the business in that time and I did a fruit and veg delivery business and also would deliver other staples to people’s houses, milk, cheese, biscuits and then I could redesign the shop so it was more of a food shop, and then we re-opened again after that.”

With lots of people choosing simply convenience like internet shopping over community, I asked Laura whether she thought it would be helpful if parking was free to encourage people to support small businesses. Her extremely enthusiastic answer was, “Oh my goodness, yes. The amount of people who didn’t come when the road was closed or that didn’t come when the petrol thing was happening shows me how many people drive here, the lifting of any barrier that helps people come to shops would definitely help.”

Since there have been more small businesses opening up in the local area, I asked her opinion on whether lockdown has made people more appreciative and supportive of small businesses.

“I definitely feel that way of my shop… I’ve seen businesses close, I’ve seen businesses open, I know that people were very appreciative of my shop in lockdown and during the pandemic having just opened offering a slice of what people can get from say, like Borough Market in their local town. Also the deliveries that I did when people were a bit worried about getting out. They definitely voiced that that was appreciated. And yes, things have opened, there are a few new places in the square and, you know, anything that opens is good for the town so hopefully people will continue to appreciate even after everything.”

Why not get out there and support your local business today? You can find Laura at Laura's Larder (lauraslarder.co.uk).

I will let Laura have the final word: “Because we have some amazing food and drink producers in Britain and they need to be celebrated, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”