A lot of Penarth residents have been talking about 'a new normal', as we come out of lockdown. After a time of stress, sadness and loss for many, we all hope for something better coming out of it.

But what does 'better' look like?

Gwyrddio Penarth Greening has paired up with Nub News to share stories and ideas about how things may look, from the point of view of local people: individuals and organisations, businesses and schools.

This time we spoke to John from Not Socks Again about his experience during the coronavirus lockdown and how the business is planning for the future as we adjust to a new normal.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected your business?

As we are a gift and cards shop we were designated 'non-essential' and so had to close in March. This meant, of course, no takings and so it's been a matter of survival since.

What have you been up to during the lockdown period?

We were aware that people wanted some of our items and that although they were not perhaps essential, milestone cards particularly were important to people. We updated our webshop and also developed a facility whereby people could send and pay securely for items by text. We concentrated on cards and small gifts that we could send out using standard postage to avoid going to the post office.

Within the last few weeks, we started collaborating with Foxy's Deli by offering a selection of quirky and cool cards through them - perfect for customers who need a card and maybe would like a treat at the same time.

We've been really heartened by the response and hope we can keep this going.

What positive things have come out of this unprecedented time? Is there anything you will continue to do post coronavirus?

We hope that by going online people will think of us as a real alternative to using the online giants or grabbing a supermarket card.

We can offer personalised cards too, through our collaboration with Penarth's Flo & Dorothy, and we hope to help smaller makers by maybe showcasing their works on the website. When we reopen we hope it'll be safe for everyone and also that customers will know that behind the mask we'll still be smiling and wanting to help them get the right item.

We'll keep the online/text facilities on and concentrate on smaller items for now. We can't be sure there won't be another spike or lockdown, so we won't perhaps be investing so much in seasonal stock this year, we'll see.

What do you have on offer as a business at this moment in time?

We are still running our online shop as well as being open to customers once again face to face with lots of the gifts we haven't been able to sell online.

How has the community of Penarth supported you through these difficult times?

People have been very expressive of support and we have been genuinely and very pleasantly encouraged by the support for online sales. It's for us now to keep the range fresh and quirky so that people want to come back. And obviously the collaboration with Foxy's has been really cheering.

What are your hopes and plans as we move forward and out of these tight restrictions?

That everyone is safe and that the virus is dealt with (or a cure found). We hope that people will be tolerant of social distancing, masks etc and might not mind queuing sometimes, it's for everyone's safety - above all though we hope people won't be afraid to ring/message/mail is about items they see in the windows or online. We're a shop, and a tiny local business and well truly be pleased to help.

Environmental awareness and progress have been an integral part of discussion revolving around the 'new normal'. What steps will you be taking with your business regarding the environment?

We've already been part of Plastic Free Penarth, and we work with other businesses to recycle card and packing materials for eg. We were developing a zero-waste gifts range and will grow that, but I fear that some of the virus measures won't be good for the environment in themselves.

We will have washable masks/visors but, like everyone else, we'll also have to use disposable gloves and Perspex screens for the foreseeable.

'Shopping Local' is obviously an integral part of the Penarth High Street scene. What are you hopes coming out of the pandemic in this respect?

I hope that people will want to keep the town's independent shops on the high street and will support us. I think a lot of people have found browsing and ordering online easy to do and so hope that they will think to shop local online too. A sale means the world to us, and our suppliers.

Name one thing from the lockdown experience do you think we should all keep hold of, as we move on to the next stage?

Having time to think, stop, look, decide what truly matters and learning how important health and family and friends all are.

Growing out of the collaboration with Foxy's is a sense that local independents need to work together more, we are all inter-connected and the town needs a vibrant selection of us to stay interesting. It's starting with cards from us, and items from other well know names (Rowleys, Gifts at No 9) and may well develop further!

The shop is now open Tuesday - Saturday from 11 am - 3 pm (10 am start on Saturday).