COVID-19
RESPECT FOR RETAILERS PREMIER SMEATON STORES, KIRKCALDY
THIS IS RESPECT! IF YOU DOUBTED HOW MUCH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UK RESPECT THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF THEIR LOCAL RETAILERS DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEN CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO SHARED WITH US BY KIRKCALDY PREMIER RETAILERS ABADA AND ASIF AKHTAR.
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ife since March has been challenging for communities across the UK and they have come to rely more than ever on their local stores to keep them fed, watered and balanced in the toughest times most of have known. As local retailers, it’s often easy to feel that your heroic efforts have gone unnoticed and under-appreciated – but this video shared with us by Kirkcaldy husband and wife retailing team Asif
and Abada Akhtar demonstrates in the most powerful way just what their local store means to the good people of the Smeaton community. An emotional Asif told The Week In Retail: “We were just in the shop as usual when we heard all this noise outside. “It sounded like loads of people clapping but it wasn’t a Thursday night and it wasn’t 8pm, so we rushed outside to see what was going on.”
Abada takes up the story: “I went outside to find dozens of our customers standing outside clapping us. They even left a bunch of flowers at the door of the shop. I honestly couldn’t believe it. I was in tears! It meant so much to us that they had taken the time to organise this and show us they appreciate everything we’ve tried to do for the community both during coronavirus and before. Honestly, there wasn’t a dry eye in Smeaton that night!”
WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2020 / ISSUE 31 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13
