Indies across the UK are getting in the seasonal spirit with the Celebrate an Independent Christmas campaign, helping to boost consumer awareness of the fantastic shopping available on their local high street as well as offering some festive fun.
The campaign’s Christmas Shopping Challenge invites consumers to ‘decorate a Christmas tree’ by collecting bauble stickers from various participating indies in order to win a Christmas treat or even be entered into a prize draw.
Designed to run throughout the Christmas period, the campaign coincides with other initiatives such as Small Business Saturday, helping raise the profile of independent businesses in the lucrative Christmas shopping window.
“As footfall on the UK’s high street continues to drop, independent retailers need to do everything they can to keep shoppers coming into town,” said Clare Rayner, founder of the Support for Independent Retail campaign.
“Celebrate an Independent Christmas is all about collaboration between businesses. By working together, independent retailers can remind their local communities that it’s no secret how unique, friendly and fun the high street can be at Christmas time!”
Despite a competitive market and the number of consumers on the high street continuing to decline, Springboard’s Christmas forecast suggested that footfall will lift by eight per cent across the UK during the festive shopping season, so it’s imperative that indies act to capitalise on the increased opportunity this presents.
Rayner continued: “Celebrate an Independent Christmas is about educating consumers on where their money goes and how their community could benefit if they choose to support their local indies.”
Areas getting into the Independent Christmas spirit this year include Buxton Spa, Hertford, Huntingdon, Didsbury and Sidmouth.