Sell Local, Buy Local: Norfolk’s Coronavirus Trading Websites For Small Business

The past few weeks have seen radical changes in the way Norfolk’s businesses operate. While Coronavirus has disrupted trading, it has also nurtured community spirit, creative thinking and plenty of mutual aid. As a result, there’s been a surge in online platforms that help you sell, advertise services and network.

Here are those websites, all in one place, for you to refer to. Set aside an afternoon and join as many of these directories as you can. When you’re done, shout from the rafters about the lot. If these ventures succeed, so might yours!

If you’re a business owner then sign up to these websites to maximise your exposure. Many of them are free, while the paid ones offer great perks such as promotion, networking and business support.

If you’re a customer then browse these directories and support your favourite local businesses. If you don’t have a favourite yet, make a new one! There’s plenty to enjoy.

Deliver Norfolk

What it offers	Online directory
Cost	Free
Specialty	Businesses that deliver

As the name suggests, delivernorfolk.co.uk focuses on local businesses that deliver. It’s split by food deliveries and ‘other’ (books, plants, sundries etc) letting you browse all entries via one screen. Deliver Norfolk is crowd-sourced so if you know of a business that isn’t listed, submit!

Support Norfolk

What it offers	Online directory
Cost	Free
Speciality	All business types

Taking the rainbow to its heart, supportnorfolk.com focuses on ways local businesses have changed and adapted to COVID-19. Each business provides an update on how they’re doing things differently. Submissions are free, and there’s a feature to let customers donate their ‘commute’ to a local charity.

The Goodery

What it offers	Branded store, goods delivery
Listing cost	Unknown
Speciality	Food boxes & essentials

This is a neat idea. The Goodery’s service connects grocer to customer via a fleet of zero-emissions vehicles. Not only that, but they offer suppliers the opportunity to create a mini shop within their website. Described as an ‘online Norwich market’, goodery.co.uk is the much-needed middleman for a locked down economy.

Community Grocery Delivery

What it offers	Branded store, online directory
Listing cost	Free
Speciality	Food producers, food banks, charities

Besides offering a comprehensive directory of local businesses, communitygrocerydelivery.co.uk provides a free online store to eligible suppliers. Sellers are left with detailed instructions on how to manage their shop. Meanwhile payment is arranged privately between the store owner and customer.

My Local Produce

What it offers	Branded store
Listing cost	Free signup + 5% commission
Speciality	Farm shops, butchers, bakers, cafés etc

Another “farm to fork” enterprise, mylocalproduce.co.uk provide sellers with their own WooCommerce microstore. Their focus is farm shops, grocers, butchers and the like. If you’re in the fresh food business and need a place to sell, sign up here.

Buy Local Norfolk

What it offers	Directory listing, networking, online promotion, discount exhibitions, online shop
Listing cost	£120 per annum
Speciality	Norfolk businesses

Buy Local Norfolk is long-established in the region. Countless local businesses proudly sport the Buy Local Norfolk logo on their websites and marketing, and for good reason. It’s a badge of community spirit, mutual support and pride in this fine county. By joining buylocalnorfolk.co.uk, you’ll become a part of that, with access to networking events, social media promotion and a high-traffic directory listing.

In 2020, Buy Local Norfolk introduced an online shop to their website. This allows members to showcase their products and sell online, using BLN as an in-between. This means members of the public can support multiple local businesses, all from the same portal.

Norfolk Chamber

What it offers	Networking, promotion, support, training, lobbying, directory listing, B2B newsletter
Listing cost	£265+ per annum
Speciality	Norfolk businesses

A stalwart of the business community, norfolkchamber.co.uk is an active and widely recognised directory of local organisations. Norfolk Chamber has a broad range of members: from small stores and food producers to regional water suppliers and of course, Aviva. While pricier to join, this is a solid long-term investment, especially if you want to get on the networking scene.

Norfolk Online

What it offers	Online directory listing
Listing cost	£50 per annum
Speciality	Norfolk businesses

Advertised as “Norfolk’s Noticeboard”, norfolkonline.co.uk is a smart and user-friendly hub of small businesses from every industry. Although there’s a joining fee, these guys have been around for longer so may attract more visitors. Besides your own profile page, Norfolk Online offer you the chance to guest blog and shout that you’re open for business.

Last month I wrote about how to set up a popup shop and deliver remote services. That’s a first step, but these websites will help diversify your income stream and be seen by Norfolk’s willing audience. If you run or know about any other initiatives that should be featured then please let me know.