Justyna Rostek launches initiative to support local businesses at Christmas

Shop owners in Earlsfield, Wandsworth, London are using the community spirit built during the heights of the Covid-19 pandemic to keep the high street busy in these times of the cost-of-living crisis. 

With the crisis hitting independent shops and small businesses, the business owners of Garrett Lane are pulling together to turn things around this Christmas.

The project titled "Earlsfield Village" will see high-street shops sharing their floors with small home-grown businesses.

Justyna Rostek, who has owned a Guinot Salon on the high street for seven years decided to lead the pop-up initiative following a brainstorming session with other shop owners adamant that it would not just be “another networking evening.”

“There’s just something special in Earlsfield,” Rostek said. “Everyone wanted to get involved straight away.” 

Seventeen high street shops are involved with the pop-ups and will host small businesses free of charge, allowing them to sell everything from homemade jewellery and sustainable clothing to fresh juices and pastries.

Rostek hopes that the collaboration between high-street shops and home-based businesses will benefit everyone in the area by encouraging people to spend money locally, develop Earlsfield Village, stop store closures and bring extra attention to independent vendors.

“The pandemic forced all to speak more to each other [and] look out for each other, because you’re always asking everyone, ‘how is business?’ I don’t think we did before.”

This newfound sense of community and the threat of the cost-of-living crisis - which is causing consumers to cut back while the 'costs of doing business' is rising - is driving Rostek to keep up the neighbourly momentum with the aim of the pop-up events returning after this year.

The pop-up events will be held at various Garrett Lane locations on November 18, November 25, and December 2 from 3.30-7pm.

Is there anything going on in your local area to boost small businesses and stop high street closures? Let us know in the comments.