Bad Weather brings Mixed Fortunes to Small Businesses

With the bad weather expected to continue for several more days, small businesses owners have very varied reactions to the problems they are facing, says The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Many small shops – particularly in rural areas – are reporting an increase in business as their customers are unable to get to larger supermarkets based in towns some distance from their homes.

Small business owners have always been innovative when faced with adversity and the current cold weather is no exception. A number of local shops have arranged special deliveries of food and other vital supplies to elderly customers who find the icy pavements too dangerous to use.

Ken Moon, Regional Chairman of the FSB, said: “This is a clear example of how small businesses provide a high level of service to their customers. We hope that consumers will remember this and use their local shops on a regular basis. Once these small businesses close due to lack of business, they are generally gone forever.”

However the news is not universally positive – particularly from small businesses, not in the retail sector, that are based in rural areas. Side roads remain blocked across much of Hampshire and this situation has – ironically – been made worse by the snow ploughs. Whilst there has been excellent work clearing main roads, in some cases the snow ploughs have pushed large quantities of snow and ice to the side of the road and thereby completely blocking the side roads.

The FSB has received a complaint from an elderly persons’ residence in North Hampshire where the pile of snow has completely blocked their entrance, preventing access by carers and medical services.

FSB’s Hampshire County Chairman, Tim Colman, said: “I am one of those badly affected by the blockage of side roads. With some difficulty I dug my way out of my driveway at home but was then faced by a huge pile of snow at the end of my road where I needed to join the main road. Several of use dug a route through that snow bank. However after a 12-mile drive to my office, I was faced with another pile of snow blocking the lane that leads to my office. I had to give up, but I will return with a bigger shovel and will somehow get through that snow.”

The widespread closure of schools also has a major effect on small businesses as key workers stay at home to look after their children. In this case larger businesses tend to be more resilient but for micro-businesses with only four or five staff, the loss of two or three due to child care duties can be disastrous.

The FSB believes that at least 10% of the total working population failed to get to work today. This costs the country around £600 million each day in lost business and this situation is expected to continue for several more days