Coronavirus: How independent traders are coping in Lewes, Hailsham, Heathfield and Uckfield

Market town traders are holding their owns thanks to people’s concerns about facing crowds in major shopping centres like Brighton or Tunbridge Wells.

Heathfield

In Heathfield, boss of general home store Trading4U Chris Macklin said: “Sales dropped Monday and Tuesday this week while people cleared supermarket shelves but they’re settling down.

“We’re a bit quieter, about 30 per cent down on Tuesday but OK Wednesday.

“Cleaning products, anything you can use to wipe down, are selling well. We’re even selling a special disinfecting bird cage cleaner which people are using to wipe surfaces.

“We’ll have to wait and see the impact of the Government’s £350b rescue package. Business rates are wiped out for a year which is brilliant.”

Over the road Sharon from fruit and veg shop Seasons by Jason still has fully stocked shelves, unlike local supermarkets. She’s optimistic about the impact on her business.

She said: “People feel happier buying from a smaller shop and we’ve picked up business from people who might not usually come here. We have things they don’t have elsewhere too, like Jersey Royal potatoes and unusual mushrooms.”

Down the High Street at deli Cuculo, Cinzia Long and James MacNay say business is holding steady with regular Friday visits from the pizza chef.

To support self-isolating customers they are launching a pizza and wine home delivery service on Thursdays from 5-8pm to within a five mile radius.

James said: “We’re not ostentatiously saying to people, ‘here, aren’t we good?’ just keeping faith with our regular customers. There’s been amazing local demand and our local Blackboys eggs are selling, well selling like good local eggs!”

Uckfield

In Uckfield, Lorna Brayley, manager of upmarket interiors store Carvills said: “Clearly things are quieter but we are running a scheme whereby we are happy to arrange appointments outside usual opening hours or even at home are generally not a problem. Just ring or email us and we’ll do what we can to help.

“We also donate a percentage from the sales of our soaps to the Uckfield Foodbank.”

Rowland Gorringe estate agents in Uckfield want to ensure that every child in families depending on Uckfield Foodbank for provisions over Easter has a chocolate egg. So the company has started collecting Easter eggs and is giving out raffle tickets to everyone donating. The tickets will then be entered in a free draw with a £50 voucher as the prize.

The more eggs you take into the Rowland Gorringe office the more raffle tickets you will be given – but there is a size limit on eggs, creme eggs, for example, won’t count.

The winner will be offered the chance to choose where they spend the voucher, either at The Highlands Inn, Truffles, Hartfields, or The Picture House.

Mike Symons said: “This way we are supporting the Foodbank and an Uckfield business too. Being a local independent firm that is important to us.”

It’s not all good news. In Uckfield panic buying is clearing supermarket shelves of items such as toilet paper, hand wash and painkillers as soon as they are stocked. And social media even has a report of a shopper taking items from someone else’s trolley.

One woman said: “To the lady I just had an argument with in Tesco: I hope you enjoy the chicken breasts you took out of my trolley. Your rudeness and language when I caught you was just despicable and the whole thing unnecessary. I can’t believe the behaviour some people are showing!”

Hailsham

Julie Coates, manager of the Hailsham Foodbank said they had been busy this week and the Hailsham community has been exceptionally kind.

She explained: “When I go to shops myself I see people are continuing to donate. We are lucky. This is a town with good people.”

Lewes

In Lewes The Riverside shopping centre is giving tenants a three-month period rent-free to help them during these difficult times. Being mainly food-based shops they feel confident can continue to open.

But the Express understands the popular Backyard Cafe in The Needlemakers - usually packed with lunchtime town workers - has closed as trade has dwindled.

Goldfinch’s dry cleaners are extending their free collection and delivery service to those who are self-isolating in the town and through all the neighbouring villages over to Chailey, down to Rodmell and Kingston and across to Isfield and Barcombe.

A spokesperson from Lewes Chamber of Commerce has urged people to buy local wherever possible. “We want shoppers to consider using local shops where they can.

“The traditional ‘corner shop’ can be a valuable resource for many of the essentials that disappear off supermarket shelves almost as soon as they are restocked.

“Shopping local also helps the economy within the town, rather than most of the money going into the coffers of big national and international companies. So, rather than finding disappointment at the supermarket, why not shop around, you may be surprised to find what you can get in Lewes.”

They continued: “If shops and business are forced to close to the public most, if not all, have an online shop as well so you can still keep it local.

“With the current panic-buying climate, local charities are also starting to suffer, with not being able to get essentials.

“Some charities look after people who may have specific dietary requirements, and when there few or no basic food stuffs on the shelves, the charities really struggle.

“Charities are already suffering because fundraising events are having to be cancelled, therefore, losing much needed income. Lewes Chamber of Commerce would urge people to be considerate and remember there may be others who are in desparate need of the food stuffs currently being stock-piled.

“We encourage everyone to be vigilant and keep safe in the testing months ahead.”

Panic buying

Customers are finding it easier to track down essentials in smaller, high street shops than the big supermarkets.

Many small tradespeople were forced to shut their doors as the giant supermarkets moved in.

Although busy working families embraced a one-stop grocery shop they are now suffering as the retail outlet spread has been reduced throughout communities shoehorning everyone into out-of-town superstores.

Not all news has been encouraging. Social media has picked up on round the block queues outside Sainsburys, Newhaven which started to build at 6am on Thursday.

There were several images posted on a Newhaven website showing the scale of the crowds pictured at 7.05am.

One man commented: “I just hope the government sees sense and brings out ration books. That will stop it dead.”

A woman said: “It was hell down there. Not going again. All mostly gone, empty shelves. What I went for had gone so no more, no more. It was so cold.”

A woman in Heathfield described how customers at a local supermarket had been seen taking items out of the Foodbank box and placing them in their own baskets.

There are also problems with deliveries. One Seaford woman posted on a town social media site to say her 80 year old mother had tried to obtain a local delivery but was told she must wait until April.

A farming family in Herstmonceux reported (and photographed) a man who took a dozen eggs from their driveway and only paid 10p instead of the required £2.40 into the honesty box.

In Peacehaven, a woman posted: “I couldn’t decide whether to post this or not but then I saw my husband and his pharmacy team. They are exhausted, broken and demoralised. They are working flat out. Going in early and staying late. They are putting themselves at risk to serve their community. HOWEVER, they have been shouted at, sworn at and abused every day this week.

“This is not fair. We are all going through unprecedented times. PLEASE be kind. They are doing their best.

“I’m sure this is the same situation in all retail sectors. A bit of kindness and gratitude will go a long way.”