Shmooz and COVID: Our Story of Survival and Adaptation!
And the launch of Free Local Delivery!
When the world ground to a halt in March 2020, so did the heart of our business. Like many independent retailers, Shmooz was heavily reliant on footfall through our physical store. With the first national lockdown in Scotland came the forced closure of our shop, and an overwhelming wave of uncertainty.
Our doors were shut, but our determination to stay connected to our community wasn’t. To keep trading and to continue serving our loyal customers, we quickly launched a free local delivery service; a lifeline both for us and for many of you stuck at home. No added costs, just a way to keep you shopping safely and to keep our team moving. Still, it was clear the road ahead would be anything but easy.
Three months into lockdown, news arrived that high street shops could reopen, but not those in shopping centres like ours. That is, unless they sold “essential items.” Larger retailers like M&S and Next were able to stay open by selling clothes alongside food, toiletries and homeware. For smaller, independent stores like Shmooz, this felt like an unfair advantage.
So we made a bold decision.
In a move that raised eyebrows but ultimately saved our business, we introduced our own range of essentials: food, drinks, cleaning supplies, face masks, and hand sanitiser. It wasn’t fashion, but it was our ticket to reopening - and to saving jobs. Every single member of our team kept their role, and our shop was once again buzzing with life, albeit a very different kind. All profits from our "essentials" range were donated to EATS Rosyth - assisting in their efforts to deliver emergency food parcels.
Like all businesses, our priority was ensuring the safety of everyone who entered the store, both customers and our staff. The shopping experience was something new to us all. 10 person limits, queing outside, till sheilds and face masks, hand wash stations, 2m social distancing and one-way systems became the norm. We're glad to see the back of it all now - although we are grateful to everyone who visited us, followed the guidance and were patient with us through this incredibly unusual time!
Just as we were getting back on our feet, the rug was pulled from under us again. On Boxing Day 2020, the whole of mainland Scotland entered Tier 4 restrictions. We were forced to close during what is usually our busiest season: the post-Christmas sales period. To soften the blow, we quickly launched a click-and-collect service from our store’s front door. It helped, but nothing could truly replace the buzz and footfall of that time of year.
Against all odds, we made it through.
We’re incredibly proud to say we survived the toughest trading period in our history and emerged even stronger; with lessons in flexibility, creativity, and community spirit that we’ll carry with us forever. And here we are now, celebrating a milestone we weren't sure we’d reach: 20 years of Shmooz!
One of the most popular things to come out of those challenging times was our free local delivery service, which we’ve proudly continued to this day. If you’re in KY3, KY4, KY5, KY11, or KY12, you can order and have your items delivered to your doorstep (usually within 48 hours, and often the very same day).
Thank you to everyone who supported us during the Covid years. Your loyalty, kindness, and orders, whether big or small, meant everything. Here’s to moving forward, together.
The Shmooz Team 💙💜
