I can t put it more simply than that. This has been an really difficult year for a lot of businesses and I think we might lose some more independents in the coming months. This year I ve had months where I ve paid my staff instead of myself. For the first time in ten years I m having to question whether I can afford to pay my staff a Christmas bonus. Such a small change in habit can have a massive difference. Even if it s just buying a bag of coffee beans or a gift card for an independent restaurant over a chain - it makes a massive difference.