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Shop from home

ShopAppy to show your support for small business

The national lockdown means that we are being urged to stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

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We may leave the home to shop for necessities, for our family or a vulnerable person. If we need to travel, we should stay local and look to reduce the number of journeys we make. One of the reasons is to buy goods or services that we need, but this should be within the local area wherever possible.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen an increase in online shopping and the adoption of alternative delivery methods. A positive outcome that the situation has uncovered is an increased sense of community. Our communities rely on the small businesses at the heart of them - now more than ever, local small businesses are essential.

In addition to shopping and using the services of our small businesses, there are some other ways that you can support our local businesses: • Like what you see? Photograph it and tag your local business on their social media • Retweet or re-post a small business on social media • Like what you bought? Write a review for your local business • Tell your friends and neighbours about where you love shopping

Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday UK and founder of Small Business Britain, said: “Small businesses are the beating heart of communities and town centres. These small firms were there for the nation during lockdown and now they need our support to get back on their feet.” 2020 was an extremely difficult and challenging year for many individuals and businesses. The focus now must be the road to recovery for businesses across the district alongside encouraging the community to support and engage with the town and village centres. Small businesses can only survive with local community support and this must be facilitated safely and greatly encouraged.

North Worcestershire Economic Development & Regeneration (NWedR), Bromsgrove District Council and the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership are working with ShopAppy.com to help provide local businesses in Bromsgrove and Rubery with an effective online platform to sell products and services in a safe and secure manner.

ShopAppy.com is a ‘Shop & Support Local’ website supported and backed by VISA, making it easier than ever for people to browse, book and buy from their local businesses at their convenience. The ShopAppy.com mission is not to create more online shoppers but to create a community of local shoppers that can opt to shop in the way they choose.

We have already seen the enormous creativity and ingenuity of individuals and businesses in the district. Many stores, businesses and service providers have diversified their offer and enhanced their online presence. ShopAppy. com could be an additional weapon for their armoury.

Our high streets are under threat and physical spend is quickly moving online and this has been accelerated by COVID-19 with £1 in every £3 now being spent with large online retailers. ShopAppy.com hopes to disrupt this behaviour by providing shoppers with products from independent shops in their area.

The service is funded by Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP until May 2021 and may be extended for an additional six months. Local business owners keen to find out more can email info@shopappy.com Simon Creed, Bromsgrove Centres Manager

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From kitchen to classroom - adapting our homes to the ‘new normal’

Prior to 2020 the demands of most new kitchens usually extended to a stunning room to cook and dine in and, if space allowed, a relaxing lounge area too.

But fast forward 12 months and designers must consider the project from a very different perspective. The pandemic has had a significant and unexpected impact on the way we conduct our daily lives.

Our kitchen and dining areas have had to transform without warning into classrooms and home studies. Add to this the fact that many social events have been put on hold and it means our homes also need to provide both entertainment and sanctuary simultaneously.

Whether you are thinking of completely changing your kitchen this year or simply reworking what you already have, consider the following points for a more productive, harmonious and multifunctional environment.

The home school effect

Home schooling has resulted in a fight for not only the best device but also the most comfortable and practical spot in many households. Using seating areas in the kitchen means that parents can assist with school tasks easily whilst preparing meals or managing their own work. In terms of design, we will inevitably start to see requests for more spacious work surfaces with plenty of sockets and charging points for devices.

Whereas previously the kitchen island has almost always included a hob, it is likely that this area will increasingly become free of appliances to ensure a safe space for children to study.

Smart storage

Most kitchens have a dumping ground for those ‘I’ll sort it later’ items such as unopened letters, loose change and receipts. Decluttering drawers and cupboards not only frees up much needed space but has recognised psychological benefits too. In both modern and traditional kitchen styles, concealed units are a popular choice, providing a streamlined look and reducing the number of distractions.

Incorporating a device drawer into your design is a fantastic way of hiding unattractive cables and discreetly housing charging points whilst keeping everything close at hand. On the other end of the storage scale, open shelving enables a whole host of items to be beautifully presented yet instantly accessible. It won’t seem unusual soon to see pots of pencils next to pots of pasta!

The importance of wellbeing

If you have the room, consider a softly lit, device free relaxation zone within your kitchen. Ideally this would be with a view of the garden but if this is not possible the same effect can be achieved with your favourite houseplants and a calming home fragrance. For a completely natural approach, bring the outside in by creating an indoor herb garden. This provides the added bonus of having fresh ingredients to hand whenever you need them.

To start your own new kitchen project please contact enquiries@akfittedinteriors.co.uk and speak to one of our experienced design team who will help you discover the potential of your own unique space.

www.akfittedinteriors.co.uk

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