#AmazingAccrington

REASONS to shop local

A message to you from Sara and Miles

Customer service and shopping experience

Create local jobs

Helping to grow the number of jobs locally makes for a better place to live and work which then creates a financially healthy local economy. The more that local shops can grow and expand, the more staff they can take on to serve you better.

Local shops will always have time to serve you and find out what you like. If they don’t quite have what you want, they’ll often try their best to order it in for you. They can advise you and are experts in what they sell. If the worst happens and something goes wrong, you’ve got a real person to speak to to put things right.

Personality and a sense of community Independent businesses are run by local people, who are not only investing in the local area, they’re proud to be there. As you shop there, you’ll get to know each other and become friends. You’ll receive a warm and heartfelt welcome. They care about you!

Healthier for the environment

Sara Britcliffe MP.

Miles Parkinson OBE Leader of the Council.

Ordering everything online and having it delivered is having a long lasting detrimental effect on the environment. It has to be kinder to the planet to walk to a local shop to get what you need.

Throughout covid-19, we’ve been determined to work together wherever we can and that’s been the same right across the Hyndburn community. Under the Hyndburn Hub umbrella, we’ve seen a whole range of groups combine their local knowledge and resources to provide amazing support to anyone that needs it, on top of many unseen acts of individual kindness. The true message of the Christmas season is about peace and goodwill and this is what will get us through, despite the restrictions in place and difficulties we face. We wish everyone a very happy Christmas and hope you all stay safe. Sara and Miles

Helping them achieve their dreams

The local economy

In order to keep Hyndburn strong and sustainable it’s really important to support our local shops. Research shows that £10 spent with a local independent shop means up to an additional £50 goes back into the local economy. This is because the shop owners live locally and buy local themselves. The money you spend will be used to buy from local suppliers, and to put food on their tables and run their lives, meaning more and more money is spent locally, giving a strong foundation for the local community and its future.

Local businesses are owned by people who have invested in their dream and work hard to bring you great customer service and unique products and services. According to a study by Visa, almost half of small business owners say that if everyone in their community spent just £5 per week with local businesses it would help to keep them open in the long term, which preserves jobs and means you have variety on your local high street.

Case Study – Brie Mine

Tradition

Lots of our Hyndburn businesses are family businesses, many being passed down from generation to generation. It’s a tradition and something that we wouldn’t want to lose, but they need our support to keep going.

Lauren from Brie Mine was formerly a swimming teacher, and lockdown sadly made that no longer possible. She had a side line making cheese wedding cakes, and on lockdown while home schooling she started making graze boxes. These were so successful she was able to open her own shop, Brie Mine, on Great Harwood’s booming high street, just this August. She’s now able to employ two members of staff and is going from strength to strength.

A safe way to shop

Identity and individuality

The smaller shop size of independents, who are following Government guidance on safety measures, means you can have peace of mind that you’re safe while you shop.

Independent shops bring better choice to an area, with many stocking unique items or providing a specialist service. When a high street is thriving it encourages others to open too, and with a beating heart of the community people will travel in from outside the area to spend their money, bringing further financial security to Hyndburn.

Guidance correct at the time of going to print.

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