Shoppers in Hampshire and here on the Isle of Wight are being urged to buy from, and celebrate, their local and independent businesses in a pre-Christmas campaign led by Britain’s biggest business representation group.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says that the unprecedented pressure on small businesses throughout 2020 means they desperately need a boost from their local communities in the run-up to Christmas.
As a result, they have called on everyone including shoppers and retailers themselves to rally around and provide some much-needed Christmas cheer for Britain’s independent businesses.
The ‘Love Your Small Independent Business’ campaign is asking local people to not only actively support their local independent businesses in Hampshire and Isle of Wight by using the hashtag #ilovesmallbusiness online but also to share images of their actual buys by using the hashtag #shopherethisChristmas.
And, it also calls on people to place reviews of their favourite businesses online as well to persuade others to ‘shop small’ in line with the current high-profile Google ‘Dear Local’ advertising push.
Welcoming the campaign, FSB Development Manager for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Nicola Bailey said we all have a part to play to ensure our independent retail businesses have a fighting chance of rescuing their curtailed Christmas sales so they can continue to be part of the local community in 2021.
“This has been an unbelievably testing time for our brilliant small, independent retail businesses.
“Many have worked tirelessly to try and stay open and provide invaluable support and service to the community in a safe and secure way, and we know being part of a vibrant community with independent businesses is important to local people.. We therefore hope local people support this campaign and reward the loyalty their local independents have shown to communities They are the very heartbeat of local life.
Article continues below this advertisement “Many of our local business have innovated over the last few months by launching online with ‘click and collect services so they need help too – don’t forget if it is on your Christmas list think small retailers who can provide it with a personal service!”
The FSB campaign is also inviting retailers themselves to ensure they are part of this campaign by posting images of themselves and their shops online to entice shoppers sing the hashtag #shopherethisChristmas.
There will not be much left of local business with this Government in charge, I fear it is too little too late.