And although the boxing legend was talking about how we need to help each other every day, in this article, we’re looking at ways we can support the local businesses in Sutton and Cheam who go above and beyond to serve us.

Like most of us, small businesses have had it tough over the past five months. And their fight is a long way from being over as they work to overcome the challenges Covid-19 has thrown down.

The social distancing measures have meant reduced capacity in their stores, more expenses going on PPE and safety equipment and less footfall.

As a local company ourselves, we use neighbouring businesses regularly, and we know the hard work, dedication, and commitment they put into serving our community.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, because we can all feel empowered by helping those who are helping us.

Celebrate Great Service

Shopping locally is the best way to show your support, but there are also several other things you can do to make a difference and help businesses not just survive, but thrive.

We all know of shops and business owners who bend over backwards to help their customers. These are the stores or services where nothing is ever too much, and we’d miss them if they weren’t there, doing what they do.

So let’s celebrate them using these four simple ideas.

• Leave a five-star Google review. Testimonials help local shops and services attract new clients.
• Share your experiences on a community forum. Let your neighbours know when you receive outstanding care.
• Give a thank you card. Being a small business owner can be a lonely place at the best of times, so let them know they’re in your thoughts. It’ll give them a morale boost.
• Use them or lose them. The most important thing we can do if we want to ensure the future of businesses we love is to spend money with them. By keeping the pound local, we make our community stronger and our future brighter.

We take pride in serving the people of SM2, and we’re keen to play our part in shouting about the customer service champions within our community.

Tag or name the businesses and individuals who you feel deserve recognition for their hard work and care.

Thank you for reading.