A small business owner is asking New Zealanders to support the Shop It Forward concept to help small businesses cope during the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Adam Blackwell, who said he wants to spread this message as far and wide as possible, said this is a unique Kiwi solution to keep businesses in business during the lockdown period.

“People often forget that 97 per cent of businesses in New Zealand employ 20 or fewer people,” Blackwell said. “That means small businesses are the backbone of the economy.”

“So while online businesses can’t use couriers right now to get products to you, we are asking Kiwis with the means to spend to support small businesses and Shop It Forward,” he said.

The concept behind Shop It Forward is to encourage New Zealanders to support local businesses by continuing to make purchases online. Those companies will arrange delivery of the customer’s goods as soon as it’s legal and safe, and in the meantime, those purchases will mean small New Zealand businesses can keep working.

A website has been set up at www.shopitforward.co.nz where small businesses can sign up for free and be discovered by online shoppers that want to help.

According to Blackwell, Shop It Forward is a volunteer non-profit concept from Stun, a Kiwi agency of creative people who help businesses tell their story, sell items and succeed.

“We’ve just put this together to do our bit to help,” he added.