Be kind to Ballarat businesses
CONSIDERATE: When visiting your favourite cafe or restaurant be mindful of staff. Your kindness can make all the difference as businesses cope with restrictions.
As more and more Ballarat businesses begin to reopen or extend trading, it's a great time to reflect on what we can do to be kind and support the people who provide the goods and services we've all been missing.
With government restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic gradually easing, we encourage you to be kind, stay safe, maintain physical distancing and use common sense.
Multiple factors impact on a business's decision to reopen or extend current trading arrangements. From the safety and wellbeing of employees through to financial considerations, businesses carefully weighed up concerns and decided what is right for them within the current restrictions.
Be mindful that businesses need to comply with government restrictions. This means you may need to be patient while you wait to enter a store, respect limits on time spent in-store, be understanding if a business is unable to accept new clients and give others space so they can give you yours.
There are plenty of ways to support small businesses for free.
- Write a positive review
- Tell your friends and family about your experience
- Engage with social media posts - like, comment, or share
- If you can't make your booking or appointment, let them know
- Smile and greet the person serving you
- Say "thank you" - it makes a lot of difference
BE SUPPORTIVE: Our businesses need your help. Where you can buy local, support local and shop local - even if it is just your daily tea or coffee.
Be kind
Staff who work in service roles are often on the receiving end of other people's bad days.
While it can be easy to let our emotions get the best of us, take a moment to stop and be mindful of this before entering a store.
Be understanding
It can be tempting when we go to the hairdresser or meet our personal trainer to share our problems. After all, they are an attentive ear and offer advice, right?
While for some this may not be a problem, for others it can be overwhelming. At a time when people might be emotionally stretched with problems and worries of their own, it's worth pausing and considering what we share. If you do need to talk to someone about a personal issue, consider speaking with a trusted friend or contacting a counselling service, such as Ballarat Community Health.
Be supportive
Coming together as a community to remember we are all doing our best in unprecedented times is the Be Kind Ballarat way. If you would like to give thanks to a business or employee that is going above and beyond, give them a shout out on social media using #BeKindBallarat.
