THE owner of a key business in Pickering has welcomed the Gazette & Herald’s Love Local Business Campaign.

Matthew Wilkinson, who runs Television House in Pickering, with his brother Nick, said it was vital people supported their local shops as Ryedale began to emerge from lockdown.

“This week was a bit like a journey into the unknown, but it has gone really well,” he said.

“We have always had great support from local people, but it has been really touching to hear from customers who have had broken electrical items from the beginning of lockdown but have waiting until we reopen so they could buy from us.”

Matthew said although they had been offering online sales and repairs customers still liked to come into the shop.

“The majority of our customers like to look before they buy,” he said.

“This is particularly true here in Ryedale where customers like the personal touch.”

Matthew said the shop had followed the current safety guidelines and set up a one-way system, two-metre distancing, installed hand sanitisers and put up counter screens.

“We also allow only three customers in at anyone time which seems to have worked,” he said.

“For some of our customers this is the first time they have been in a shop since the lockdown started.”

Television House, in Market Place, is an independent, family-run electrical retailer and has been established for more than 60 years, being passed down from generation to generation.

“It was set up by our grandad, Bob, then run by our dad Robin and now Nick and I run it with the help of our sister, Gemma,” Matthew said.

“We offer a wide range of products from televisions to washing machines, and vacuum cleaners to kettles, toasters, batteries and bulbs.”

He added: “With such a long history we know our customers and they know they can trust us.

“At this time it is more important then ever that people shop local and support their local businesses.”