Explore NI’s shops and services from home

Explore NI is being rolled out across Northern Ireland this week, offering a lifeline to shoppers and companies.

Based in 5A Long Commons, Coleraine, the site already has a number of listings from Council areas including Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Mid East and Antrim Borough Council and is set to grow with more companies subscribing in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Mid Ulster District Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council over the coming days.

A spokesperson for Explore NI, said; “Covid-19 has been heartbreaking for small businesses and, while many have been forced to close, others have found a way to adapt and offer new services that help people in their hour of need.

“Explore NI is a celebration of that resilience and a call to the public to make the best of the amazing businesses on their doorsteps and to help them survive. Lockdown is an awful thing to endure, but the army of independent shops and restaurants offering to deliver hot meals, wine, fresh fish, cheese, meat, vegetables and pastries to your door will certainly make it more bearable. Not forgetting freelance services such as accountants, legal services, web developers, and taxi drivers etc who are also still working.”

Concluding they added: “We constantly see images in the news of people queuing for big supermarkets, which can only increase infection rates.

“Small businesses are well stocked and they’re moving heaven and earth to bring supplies to you so you can stay home!”

Listing a business is free and in the first instance should follow online documentation at https://business.exploreni.com to get started.

Businesses are pretty resilient - but they need help now more than ever. Shoppers can visit: www.exploreni.com

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