from the publisher
“Shop Local! Shop Safe! Shop With Confidence” By Deborah Jones This month marks one year for our region, province and country dealing with COVID-19 shutdowns and ever-changing businesses restrictions. Life sure has changed as we use to know it and unfortunately, what’s in store for the future is unknown. One thing is certain though, we will get through it together. With many sectors hit with openings and then closures, right now more businesses have been able to re-open since the “Stay at Home” order earlier this year. Hopefully, they can stay open, but that’s only if local residents follow all the health guidelines and business owners do as well. We all understand the importance of buying local . . . or it’s bye, bye local! Simple as that. But, even if stores are permitted to open by our government and health units, does that mean shoppers will return? To help, The Province of Ontario launched the “Shop Local! Shop Safe! Shop With
Confidence” campaign last October to celebrate “Small Business Month”. Of course, Windsor Essex has the #ShopYQG campaign as well, to promote retail businesses in our area too. Those working in fitness clubs, the wedding industry, personal care services, tourist attractions, restaurants and more want people to patronize their businesses. Most were closed for several months (however, some may have offered curbside pickup or online shopping) to do their part in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus — and now it’s our turn to help them recover. We need to do our part to make sure people support local small businesses and they can shop safely while doing so. If you are a business owner or manager, follow the principles of the People Outside Safely Together (POST) Promise by adhering to health guidelines so consumers can shop safely and with confidence. There are five key steps to workplace safety that include: washing and sanitizing hands;
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maintaining physical distancing; staying home if unwell; wearing a face covering when required; and cleaning and disinfecting regularly. You can make this promise at: PostPromise.com. Businesses that make the promise are then able to use and display the POST Promise logo, which will act as a clear indication to employees and customers that they are doing their part to protect Canadians’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The more businesses and workplaces adopting the use of the POST Promise logo, the more recognizable it will be to the general public, thus increasing consumer confidence. There is no cost to make the POST Promise . . . so what are you waiting for? It’s worth it to do everything you can to ensure people return to your business during this ongoing global pandemic.
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