THE impact of covid-19 on trade can be overcome by working together, Wrexham traders have said.

Although many businesses across the region closed their doors when coronavirus restrictions were put in place, some have continued through it or resumed operations over recent weeks.

The Leader spoke with traders in Wrexham to find out how they have been coping and what predictions they have for their future.

Emma Wilson, whose business Emzcakes Creative Café will have been running six years next month, said she is optimistic.

The 31-year-old said: "In the beginning when the lockdown started, it was really hard to know what to do for the best.

The Leader:

Emma said she is to offer brownie and blondie boxes by post

"My main concern was for the safety of my four staff and my customers. It was a very difficult few weeks.

"Wrexham Council was amazing and helped me to get grants. I have had to furlough my staff at the moment and we closed completely for a bit. Then I thought I needed to do something."

Miss Wilson decided to come back to her business and is now offering a click and collect service, with plans for a delivery service from next month.

She is currently doing 100 per cent of the baking herself, as well as the majority of the deliveries, and said she has been amazed at the level of demand.

Within 30 minutes of reopening alone, she said she had completely sold her first week's worth of orders.

Miss Wilson continued: "It's been really good but obviously we don't know how long this situation is going to go on for.

"I have been looking long term and will be changing the way we work.

"I am hoping to start bringing my staff back from June onwards - with social distancing - and slowly start building up again. "The business will now be more of a click and collect service than a cafe.

"From June we're going to turn back on our Zoom Food and Uber Eats deliveries, and we're launching a brownie and blondie box which can be posted out anywhere in the UK - the first batch we're going to do will be available from 8pm on Sunday via our website."

Speaking of the support she has received throughout the pandemic, she added: "We lost about a quarter of a year's trade with weddings being postponed, but people have just been amazing.

"Our customer support is everything and we have had so many nice messages from people checking in that we're ok - I'd like to say a big thanks to everyone.

"I think Wrexham traders have always had a close connection as well, but especially now. "Everyone is struggling, but if we pull together we're going to get through this."

Lesley Wills who works at the Brockley Bean Cafe, owned by her daughter Jessica Daniels, told the Leader: "We have two sides to our business - a meal prep kitchen and a cafe. We have had to close the cafe but we are still doing the meals and delivering them to people.

"We have had a great, loyal, customer base since before the coronavirus.

"We have seen some of them dropping away because they're at home and perhaps don't have the finances, but we've also seen orders from a lot of people who are working from home and don't have time to go out and queue up and get their food shop.

"Before this me and Jessica were both working six days a week, but now we've cut it back to three or four. "This situation has given us time to reflect and make sure we have a better work-life balance."

Speaking of how the business community in the town centre in general has reacted to the situation, she added: "A lot of people in Wrexham are furloughed and things are definitely going to change after this. "But we're all just trying to support each other through it. "If we can work together as a group, we will survive this and get to the other side.

"I think some of the smaller independent shops might even do better than the big chains.

"If they're resilient and can change, I think the future could be very good for independent shops in Wrexham."