The words ‘shop local’ are more than important in these testing times for local businesses. With the COVID-19 affecting many businesses over the last few months. Last week non-essential shops began to open up again with social distancing measures in place.
Andover has a brilliant array of local businesses, and many have adapted to continue operating to provide their products and services to customers.
Here at Love Andover we are passionate about our town and the many businesses in it. We always want people to shop local where possible and we want to provide local businesses the opportunity to promote themselves with us.
As part of our partnership with the BID, we are giving away £35,000 worth of advertising to 70 local businesses in the BID area.
The Money Guy, Adam Phillips is working with these businesses to help save money and has successfully saved many businesses in the area thousands of pounds. We have dispatched Adam into the High Street to talk to these businesses finding out how they are now operating. Adam visited Tip Top Balloons – one of the many independently owned businesses located in Union Street.
When Adam Met David:
Cast your mind back about 15 years and there was a fancy dress shop in ‘The Mall’ called Partyzone. This was Dave and Chrissy Stanbridge’s first business venture. Set up in 1999, Dave and Chrissy are a married couple who have worked together for the past 21 years. They have always looked forwards, even battling with several break ins and having to (Literally) pick up the pieces and shut the shop whilst trying to deal with the smashed glass, they have constantly changed their business proposition to remain relevant on the High Street.
Adapting is not always easy – but it is the most efficient way of remaining relevant and ensuring that your business keeps the revenue coming in.
At the beginning was fancy dress, this evolved into parties, this evolved into parties and balloons, this evolved into being able to deck out entire halls/centre’s for events like weddings. Then the Thornton’s franchise went bust from the Chantry Centre and Dave and Co. Saw an opportunity and bought it.
I even had the privileges of having Dave and Chrissy deck out my own wedding at Norton Park Hotel and they did a fantastic job.
Dave and Chrissy found the past few months particularly difficult, given the current climate, they are just one of many businesses in the UK who have suffered financially. Dave said:
It has been difficult, having to shut the shop, which is our main source of income has been really tough. There was a TVBC mess up too as we and Gallaghers (next door) weren’t both allowed the £10k support grant, despite being two different units, ran by 2 different landlords, this has meant paying for rent, rates and our home has been tricky. Luckily, we have a great customer network and since opening, they have been brilliant, we really are lucky to have such great support from the community. We look to the future and can’t wait for all of this to be done, in the meanwhile, we now have all relevant safety equipment in our shop. Hand gel, safety screens and a one way system are just a few ways we’ve had to adapt our shop. We are open though now, so we hope we can service as many happy customers as possible!
Dave and Chrissy has always been a bit modest. I have known them since I was a kid and they always shy away from their success, Dave even worked during the day, whilst also being a paramedic. He and Chrissy are a lovely couple and Andover is very lucky to have them .
To Visit their shop head to 1a Union Street, SP10 1PA, or go to their website tiptopballoons.co.uk they are also part of the Andover BID so have a FREE delivery service, if you are nervous about popping into the shop. Alternatively, you could head to the enquiry page on their Website – http://www.tiptopballoons.co.uk/contact-us/
