A wholesaler-backed campaign to encourage shopkeepers to connect with their local community is to hold its fourth National Independents’ Week in June.

The My Shop is Your Shop initiative, supported by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, aims to reinforce the message that independent retailers and their local community can have a mutually beneficial relationship.

The campaign was set up in 2004 to fill the gap for a generic consumer and trade marketing programme, to promote the value of independent retailers.

There are some 45,000 independent shops in the UK alone, so the potential for this initiative is wide-ranging.

This year’s National Independents’ Week has attracted support from more suppliers, wholesalers and independents than ever, and will kick off on June 2.

Yellow t-shirts with the slogan - Local and Proud - are available free for participating stores.

Money-off coupons from major brands will be printed in the Daily Mirror and the Daily Record ahead of the start of the promotional week, on May 30.

Independent retailers are also being encouraged to invite shoppers to have tea and biscuits in stores on June 3, as part of the first National Cuppa Day, so that they can get to know the locals.

Trevor Dixon, director of the Rural Shops Alliance, told FPJ: “The National Independents’ Week is to encourage the community to recognise the local shop, and vice versa. The closer they work together, the better their relationship will be, so it is essential that independent retailers and local shoppers start to communicate with each other.”

Topics