Businesses forced to adapt to survive lockdown will benefit from the new North-East Now campaign.
With so many local firms having to alter their services since March, North-East Now will share inspirational and positive stories, encouraging people to do what they can to support the local economy.
These positive stories include how regional businesses have remained open.
Alan Fulton runs a mobile coffee van known as Cafe2U around Cove and the surrounding business parks.
However since the Covid-19 outbreak, he experienced a steep drop in trade.
Businesses urged to embrace North-East Now social media ‘power hour’ campaign
Mr Fulton said: “When we initially went into lockdown, there was a tremendous dip in my trade overnight.
“I have over 40 companies on my daily route on a usual Friday, and come the Monday night – following news of lockdown – I was suddenly only left with 12.”
The 43-year-old has since done everything in his power to avoid closing by making “sweeping changes” to his services.
“I’ve been serving the majority of my clients for six years, so I thought about the process of diversifying my service style,” he said.
“I offered my existing customers the opportunity to have their daily cup of coffee delivered direct to the front door of their homes.
“After a barrage of emails and text messages sent, the next day my phone was constantly ringing with requests to come to this street and that street.
“And after a few days of this, I completely had my daily round back in full working order.
“With the arrival of my van into residential streets, there was then lots of interest from neighbours of customers, which was even more pleasing as I saw these as extra opportunities to deliver my products.”
Mr Fulton added: “People kept telling me how great it was seeing a local business thrive in these times, and the continued message of ‘we will buy more local from now on’ kept being reiterated to me on an hourly basis.”
Businesses across the region are continuing to diversify to remain open.
This is why the Press and Journal, Evening Express, Society and Original 106 are staging a social media “power hour” today in a bid to promote as much of these businesses as possible.
This will involve the four titles’ Twitter accounts retweeting every tweet from local businesses using the hashtag #northeastisopen during the one-hour time slot.
Firms are encouraged to post a picture of themselves at their business holding up a sign which reads #northeastisopen.
Chief executive of VisitAberdeenshire, Chris Foy, said: “North-East Now will provide a window into VisitAberdeenshire’s upcoming campaign that will encourage the people of the north-east to rediscover Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire when restrictions are eased.
“The North-East Now initiative, and the social media Power Hour in particular, is an effective way of bringing businesses together as we ease out of lockdown.”
Visit northeastnow.scot to find out more.
THE POWER HOUR
Aberdeen Journals’ power hour will take place on Thursday from noon-1pm on Twitter. To take part and spread the message that your business is open throughout the pandemic, just follow the steps below:
