Rochdale BID want to keep you updated with the latest news, information and advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please check our website daily for more updates for businesses and website individuals.
Hello Everyone
The past few weeks has seen plenty start to change, particularly with lockdown restrictions being eased. Retail was permitted to reopen from the 15th June and it was fantastic to see the energy begin to pick up in the town centre. This week, government announced that most businesses in the hospitality, culture and leisure sector will also be welcoming back customers from the 4th July - great news!
Whilst we welcome these measures from government, we know there's a lot of work ahead for businesses who are planning for a safe and successful reopening. We want it to be known that we are here to support not only our members, but the whole of the town centre with the process - it's of massive importance to us that we see our borough thriving. Please do get in touch if there's anything we can assist with, and please make use of our pack of hospitality and retail asset packs which can be downloaded from here: https://www.rochdalebid.co.uk/covid-19/
The website contains a list of which town centre businesses are open: https://www.rochdaletowncentre.co.uk/shopping/
You can also check out our latest video which I hope you enjoy!!
https://www.facebook.com/rochdaletowncentre/videos/677209176457404
Workplace guidelines
The government have published guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. You can use this helpful filter tool https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-reopening to build tailored advice depending on the type of business you operate, the number of staff you have and other attributing factors.
This will also help when putting together a COVID-19 risk assessment, which is vital to ensure a safe reopening.
Guidance is also being released for the sectors that are permitted to reopen on the 4th July - including advise for restaurants, bars and café https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery
You can access the guidance here: -
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/opening-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england-from-4-july-2020
LoyalFree has now been launched in Rochdale Town centre and it is free!
What is LoyalFree and How Can it Promote Your Business?
We at Rochdale BID are urging all businesses to take advantage of an innovative new scheme aimed at boosting trade and helping you bounce back from the Covid-19 lockdown.
The free to download app – which, so far, has more than 47,000 users – provides free advertising for local businesses to promote their offers and events, with the option to run a “loyalty stamp” scheme, feature in local shopping trails and sell products or vouchers online through a no-commission marketplace.
The app will promote businesses when the centre re-opens! In the meantime, however, there's ways of promoting your business now. If you are open and providing a service, even if that's in a delivery/takeaway capacity these can be included in a trail so the public can see that you are trading, or you could promote discount/voucher offers to buy now and use when you are open. The possibilities are endless!
Businesses can see the app and how it works at: loyalfree.co.uk/demo.
The place promotion app will highlight various aspects of Rochdale, including tourism information, business offers, event listings, interactive trails and more.
Businesses will benefit from the advertising of your offers and events to locals and visitors alike; you will get customer insights through a live dashboard; and links to your website, social media, reviews and more.
You will feature in town centre “trails” on the LoyalFree app, which will guide shoppers to a list of retailers, hospitality and leisure providers, such as Open for Business, Vegan Food, Family Friendly, Dog Friendly, Best Independents and so on. Eventually, these may be interactive ones where people can vote and scan.
Once some form of "normality" resumes and more businesses are opening up again the LoyalFree team along with Rochdale BID will visit your establishment and provide you with all the details you need to know including your own personal log in and a QR code for your customers to scan to collect discounts/points/rewards when they visit. All deal information is uploaded by the LoyalFree team so there's nothing extra for you to do other than let us know what your deals are as and when you create them.
LoyalFree also have a new Marketplace feature. This gives all businesses an online platform to be able to sell their products/vouchers online without having to have their own website. The LoyalFree team will set up your online account for you and then all you need to do is upload your products you wish to sell. This is a fantastic opportunity for levy paying businesses to trade on line without the hassle and costs of setting up your own digital platforms.
https://www.loyalfreemarketplace.co.uk/
There is nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain from providing us with your latest offers/deals and your current operating details so check out how LoyalFree can help your business during the recovery phase and beyond.
Don't delay, contact today!info@loyalfree.co.uk
Thank you
Please get in touch with the team if you have any concerns or questions.
Useful Links
COVID-19: what you need to do
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Support for businesses and employers during coronavirus (COVID-19)
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
General guidance for employees during coronavirus (COVID-19)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-and-support-for-employees-duringcoronavirus-covid-19
COVID-19: guidance for food businesses on coronavirus
If you have any queries regarding the support which his currently being offered, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07811 278517.
Paul Ambrose
BID Manager
26 Jun 2020