Plymouth shop owner named Retail Hero for pandemic community support

Giga Wakefield, a 53 year-old from Plymouth, who runs Giga’s Everyday Essentials in Stoke Village, Plymouth, has been recognised as a Retail Hero for the support she provided her local community in lockdown.

Giga has delivered and even donated food to vulnerable members of her community and expanded her store opening hours to seven days a week to meet increased demand during the pandemic.

The accolade comes amid increasing appreciation for convenience stores. Research by PayPoint shows that the local convenience store is now in the nation’s top three most highly valued neighbourhood amenities – ahead of the pub and the bank.

The nation has grown fonder of the corner shop over the past 12 months – two in three Brits said their local convenience store has become more important to them and 22% relied on their local convenience store to supply essentials unavailable elsewhere (e.g. supermarkets) during lockdown.

Giga Wakefield is one of 12 PayPoint retailer partners to be named Retail Hero of the month for going above and beyond the call of duty during the past year.

Giga commented, “The past year has proved difficult without exception. Everyone has struggled through together. I just wanted to help in any small way I could. By staying open seven days a week and offering deliveries I thought I would be able to serve the greatest number of my local customers. I am thankful for everyone’s support and it’s nice to be recognised for the additional measures we’ve taken to help the community.”

Ben Ford, PayPoint Retail Services Director, commented: “PayPoint is a people business and retailers like Giga are wonderful ambassadors. We’re proud of everything our network has achieved over the past year. Stories of everyday kindness like these are fantastic to hear. In recognition of her service, we are happy to have made a donation to the St Luke’s Hospice, Plymouth, Giga’s charity of choice, in her name.”