A NEWSAGENTS that has gone above and beyond throughout lockdown has been named as our Trader of the Week.
Walney’s Early News shop is owned and operated by Caroline Benson, 41, and husband Stuart, 60. Along with their staff, the couple have kept the community going through their caring approach to business and ensuring that every one of their customers received everything they need as lockdown came in.
Caroline said: “We’ve ran the shop together for the past six years. We were both brought and raised in Barrow. We live and work in the shop. We are just doing our best.
“Before this we were both Steward and Stewardess of the Green Gate club.
“As well as us there is our team. Theresa Jefferies, Susan Qayle and Lina Capstick. We also have our delivery boys who deserve a huge shout out for all they do for us.
“Right now, we are doing a lot of food deliveries, and just making sure that everyone around us gets their papers on time. Especially for people trapped at home it’s important that they are kept in the loop of what’s going on in the world.
“Since the first lockdown we tried to keep in touch with all our clients, just to make them aware that there were people out there who were thinking of them.
“It’s been ok for us from a day to day perspective. We have been going out every day doing deliveries, and that’s were the boys really do some great work.
“When people come in, we like to have a little chat with them, because for some it’s the only time they see other people. Even if its over the phone for two minutes, we just keep them company as best we can.
“Unfortunately, some of our customers we haven’t seen for a long time because of their age, but we’ll see them soon, I hope.
“When it started it was mostly about the delivery service, we provide but not a lot of people were aware of it. Since there was such a need for it word got out quickly enough.”
Early News have ensured their customers were cared for to the best of their abilities throughout lockdown and have been able to strive through the difficulties and uncertainty caused by lockdown.
Caroline and Stuart have three children, one of whom is currently at college.
The nominator wished to remain anonymous.
“Whoever it was we appreciate the fact they appreciate us like this. We do our best and we will continue to make them proud of us.”
Early News is located on Liverpool Street in Walney, at LA14 3BA.
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