- Deal-based business, Deal Delivers, is calling for support as it reaches the final with a chance to be voted national winner of O2 Everyday Heroes Awards
- Calypso Rose, founder of Deal Delivers, is one of five regional business owners with the opportunity to win the £5,000 cash prize
- Chosen by judges as a regional winner for her instrumental role in keeping Deal’s independent businesses running during the pandemic
- Voting is now open over at @o2businessuk on Twitter until the 21st September for the public to vote Calypso as their winner
10th September 2021 – Deal Delivers, a small business based in Kent is calling for support as it reaches the final stage of O2’s Everyday Heroes Awards.
Calypso Rose, 40, founder of Deal Delivers, has been crowned one of the regional winners of this year’s awards – celebrating the independent and small businesses, and the individuals behind them, who have adapted and flexed their business to go above and beyond to support their communities, or have remained resilient and resourceful in the face of adversity.
Having moved with her family from a canal boat in Hackney to Deal a year before the start of the pandemic, Calypso very quickly grew to love her high street, which was filled with quirky, independent businesses. Just as the first lockdown was announced back in March 2020, Calypso made it her mission to contact all local businesses in Deal, arranging for everything from groceries and cocktails, to pet collars and stick insects, to be delivered to Deal residents.
Ready meals were a major hit with afternoon teas, fish and chips and roast dinners finding their way to doorsteps all over Deal. Members of the public wished to acknowledge Calypso Rose’s incredible efforts in supporting over 120 independent, Deal-based businesses to survive, and even thrive, during the pandemic.
Calypso had previously started two small businesses, and so had experience creating websites, and getting a company set up on social. Her current business, an experience gifts company called The Institute, almost completely stopped as lockdown hit with no one going out and everyone opting for product-centric gifts instead. This meant she was able to give Deal Delivers all her energy, quickly setting up the website and Facebook page, which reached 1,000 followers within the first three days, and now has over 7,000.
When asked what being named a regional winner meant to her, Calypso said: “It was a complete surprise to be nominated, but I felt so touched to be recognised. I’ve always been good at bringing people together and getting involved in community initiatives. I lost 90% of my business overnight when the pandemic hit, and starting Deal Delivers really gave me a sense of purpose. It would mean so much to be commended by the panel and crowned the national winner.
“The response from the community was overwhelming with businesses incredibly grateful for the platform Deal Delivers gave them, and residents so happy to be receiving delicious deliveries, while knowing they were contributing to keeping their high street alive.”
Connectivity was essential in the creation and maintenance of Deal Delivers as the Facebook Group was instrumental in bringing everyone together, and many even went on to use it to promote side-hustles and local services. Highlighting a moment of pride, Calypso explains how the Facebook group was used to help lorry drivers stuck in Calais at Christmas as local businesses rallied together to drop off food and Christmas Dinners. The website template was given to five towns across the UK, including Ashford and run by other volunteers.
Calypso is one of five regional winners battling it out to be crowned this year’s Everyday Hero who will receive the £5000 cash prize. Public votes will account for 50 per cent of the final outcome, while the other 50 per cent will be determined by the O2 panel who will be joined by internationally renowned interior designer and entrepreneur, Kelly Hoppen, CBE.
Members of the public have until Tuesday 21st September to head to @o2businessuk on Twitter to like and retweet to vote for their winner.
Jo Bertram, Managing Director, Business & Wholesale at Virgin Media O2 said: “Calypso is an incredible representation of the huge effort that people have made across the UK in bringing communities together during the pandemic. We saw our high streets begin to reopen their shops during mid-April of this year and for many areas it was a bittersweet sight, with local favourites not having survived the pandemic. Deal Delivers used connectivity to help ensure that local businesses have not only stayed afloat during the last 18 months but have even thrived. Calypso couldn’t be more deserving of her place as a regional winner of O2’s Everyday Heroes award.”
Other regional winners include @loveyourdoorstep from London, @jackalopejoecoffeeco from Lincolnshire, @yasin_hq from Leicester and @boo_hq from Bolton. To find out more about their stories, visit https://www.o2.co.uk/business/everyday-heroes.
Calypso added: “Our biggest achievement is making it easier and more accessible to shop locally. Since we launched, I’ve really noticed a growing resistance to go to the big supermarkets, with so many members of the community now making an effort to shop locally. It’s about making it just as quick and simple to use independent supplies as it is to use the big online shopping services.”
The tools available through O2 Business can help firms continue to adapt and grow their business as the UK continues to head out of lockdown. As flexibility continues to be more important than ever, customers can choose the ultimate flexible package with tariffs that give them the control and confidence to suit their evolving company needs.
The market-leading suite of flexible solutions includes automatic data rollover and flexible tariffs so customers can flex their data allowance up and down each billing cycle. As well as flexible add-on business apps such as Microsoft Office 365 so customers can stay productive no matter where they need to work, plus a range of business contract lengths, from a rolling 30-day plan, through to three years.
O2 Business packages also offer greater network security, with experts on hand to help with any technical issues.To learn more about O2 Business, visit ttps://www.o2.co.uk/business/why-o2/flex-your-business
Terms and conditions apply see https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/o2-everyday-heroes-terms-conditions
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Notes to Editors
The regional winners were chosen from a selection of the best entries by a panel including independent judge Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder of the charity Hubbub, and judges from O2: Jo Bertram, Managing Director, Business & Wholesale at Virgin Media O2; Allie Lawson, Head of SMB Brand & Marcomms; and Sandeep Raithatha, head of 5G, New Product Innovation and Wayra Engagement at O2.
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