The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on a number of our smaller local businesses, many of which were forced to close down during the initial stages of the national lockdown.

As the lockdown eased, and business sectors reopened, the struggle to regain the revenue that they lost continues.

Supporting local businesses right now is of the utmost importance, and one of the best ways that we can contribute to the rebuilding of our economy.

For one thing, they are more likely to use other local businesses such as banks, suppliers, and farms, extending your support to other sectors.

Secondly, these are our neighbours, friends, and people providing essential services in our communities.

In an effort to support local businesses impacted by lockdown regulations and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stor-Age Self Storage is stepping up.

They’ve launched an online campaign focused on driving support for companies and organisations around the country.

The campaign, titled ‘Local Business Spotlight’, shines the light on a variety of local businesses profiling who they are, what they do, and how communities around South Africa can support them.

At no cost, these businesses are featured on Stor-Age’s Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, and targeted at communities in their area. In a short space of time, these local communities have backed the campaign and showed support for those featured.

Here’s Stor-Age spokesperson Chris Oosthuizen:

“We understand that now more than ever we all need to support local businesses and so this campaign focuses on putting the spotlight on our commercial customers so as to assist them during this challenging time. We’ve been overwhelmed  at the support we’ve seen as a result of this campaign and are incredibly thankful to all who have backed the businesses that we’ve profiled.”

Oosthuizen points out that some of the profiles are reaching over 50 000 people in their community.

The variety of businesses represented ranges from a local SPCA (that picture up top) and relief organisations through to boutique retailers and musicians.

“We aim to continue profiling local businesses over the coming months as the impacts of COVID-19 are felt across the country. We will also be recognising charitable organisations doing positive work in communities in need.”

Some of the recent additions to the initiative include:

Siya Kolisi and some of the team behind the ‘Gift of Warmth This Winter’ initiative:

 

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Local Business Spotlight: Meet Siya Kolisi and some of the team behind the ‘Gift of Warmth This Winter’ initiative, a blanket drive through the collaboration of the Kolisi Foundation, Community Chest, Connect Network SA and supported by Stor-Age. Through this initiative over 1 700 blankets were collected and distributed to communities in Vrygrond and Lavender Hill. We are proud to have been involved in this fantastic initiative. #supportlocal #localislekker #localbusiness #sustainability #afterlockdown #localorganisation #sacharities #keepitlocal #southafrica #supportsmall #businessspotlight #storage #selfstorage #safe #secure #kolisifoundation #initative #blanketdrive #onebyone #remembertheone

A post shared by Stor-Age (@stor_age) on Jun 29, 2020 at 5:36am PDT

Masks for Medics, a non-profit initiative raising funds to provide protective equipment for health care professionals on the front line:

 

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Local Business Spotlight: Meet Dr Lauren Lee from Masks for Medics, a non-profit initiative who are raising funds to provide protective equipment for health care professionals on the front line. Stor-Age Gardens supports help Masks for Medics by providing complimentary self storage. To find out more about this initiative and how you can get involved, take a look at bit.ly/masksformedics #supportlocal #localislekker #localbusiness #sustainability #medicalsolutions #supportlocalorganisations #keepitlocal #localexperts #southafrica #supportsmall #organisations #support #community #donate #sacharities #frontlineworkers #frontline #storage #selfstorage #safe #secure

A post shared by Stor-Age (@stor_age) on Jun 12, 2020 at 5:38am PDT

The Insika Foundation, a majority female-run non-profit organisation in KwaZulu-Natal focused on the upliftment of local communities:

 

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Local Business Spotlight: Meet some of the team from the Insika Foundation, a majority female-run non-profit organisation in KwaZulu-Natal focused on the upliftment of local communities. Insika Foundation trusts Stor-Age Mount Edgecombe to keep their items safe while they are working hard to improve the communities around them. If you would like to find out more about this foundation, you can view their website here: bit.ly/insika. #supportlocal #localislekker #localbusiness #sustainability #businesssolutions #supportlocalbusiness #lifeafterlockdown #afterlockdown #retail #localbusiness #keepitlocal #localexperts #southafrica #supportsmall #businessspotlight #storage #selfstorage #safe #secure

A post shared by Stor-Age (@stor_age) on Jun 22, 2020 at 6:57am PDT

Exposure like this is key to creating awareness and getting the word out there about local businesses and initiatives.

If you’d like your business, non-profit, or relief organisation to be part of ‘Local Business Spotlight’, email Rob Baird at rob.baird@stor-age.co.za.

And, remember, 2OV readers get 50% of their first month’s rent at Stor-Age.

Because local really is lekker.