AS SHOPS in Salisbury prepare to reopen, residents are being reminded of a message that is more important than ever before: “use us or lose us”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that non-essential retail will be able to reopen on June 15, providing Covid-19 guidelines are met.

Susi Mason, Salisbury BID Director and owner of Casa Fina on the High Street, had previously spoken about the impact of the pandemic on the city’s independent businesses, urging residents to shop local to support the city’s economy.

Now that shops are about to welcome customers back after more than two months, the message is more important than ever.

She said: “We all want to see Salisbury and its businesses get back on their feet following the lockdown, but shops won’t be able to do it without the help of local people.

“Many shops in Salisbury rely on tourists, and with the uncertainty of when we’ll be welcoming visitors back into the city again, we really do need to rely on local people to support our local businesses.

“Businesses are transforming their business models and are doing everything they can to survive, but we need your support. More than ever before, the message is ‘use us or lose us’. Please do whatever you can to shop in Salisbury; both with the independents and nationals. Shopping locally will help keep the money in our economy and will help save businesses and jobs.”

Between now and June 15, businesses will be introducing social distancing measures to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Salisbury BID says initiatives are “lined up” to help businesses open their doors and is encouraging anyone who needs help and advice to get in touch.

Robin McGowan, Salisbury BID Chief Executive, said: “Nearly 60 per cent of Salisbury BID’s levy payers are shops, so we welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement that non-essential retailers can re-open from 15th June.

“As our city centre shops prepare to re-open, the BID is continuing to work hard to support businesses through this challenging time. Our objective is to help businesses implement safe social distancing measures, so people feel safe and reassured when shopping in Salisbury.

“We’ve got lots of initiatives lined up to get Salisbury’s businesses and our economy back up and running, and we’d like to remind businesses to get in touch with us directly if they require any further support.”