Independent businesses, whether they be shops, restaurants, salons or gyms, are the lifeblood of any town centre.
Statistics show that for every £1 spent at an independent retailer, between 50p and 70p goes back into the local economy.
On July 4, independents in Spalding and across South Holland will be inviting customers to support them for this year’s Independents’ Day – a national event which aims to highlight the benefits of having smaller businesses in every town and village.
In Spalding, 72 per cent of the shops are independents – and the vacancy rate in the town centre is just 7.4 per cent, compared to a national average of 13 per cent.
And latest figures suggest the number of independent shops has grown year on year for the past five years.
A spokesman for Independents’ Day said: “Buying locally supports local traders, their suppliers and the people they depend on to run their businesses.
“Buying locally boosts the local economy, rebuilding confidence in the community, enabling local businesses to prosper and grow.
“Shopping online or out-of-town may save a little time or a little money, but for every £1 spent only 5p trickles back into the local economy.
“Buying from local, independent businesses be they shops, cafes, salons, restaurants, market traders or whatever means we each are doing ‘our bit’ to keep our high street, town or village centre ‘open for business’.
“It is genuinely a case of ‘use it or lose it’.
“But this campaign isn’t a bleeding heart story – we want consumers to realise that ensuring a proportion of their spending is with independent businesses means they get more unique products, better service and an all-round more positive experience.”
It’s a message supported by local traders with Gavin Allmand, of Hills Department Store, adding: “The big supermarkets might provide some jobs but the profits of that business go to head office somewhere and paying shareholders.
“Local businesses spend their profits locally in goods services and the local economy.”
