Independent high street businesses in Bridgwater are gearing up for the town’s first Love your High Street week, taking place from the 16 July 2018.

Love your High Street week is a campaign which encourages local people to shop on their local high streets and helps spread the message about why spending locally is so important.

The campaign is being delivered by TDA Business as a part of the ERDF Growth Support Project.

Alan Smith, Business Advisor heading up the project, said: “Love your High Street week is a new incentive all about shopping at small businesses. We want to encourage shoppers to spend their money locally and educate them on the impact spending at small businesses has. For example, shopping at a small business in your local high street can reduce carbon emissions, boosts the economy and reduces unemployment. We also want to help equip high street business owners with the right tools and knowledge to continue to not just survive, but thrive on the high street.”

Marketing packs will be available to help small businesses get involved in Love your High Street week. These are free of charge and can be delivered to you once you have registered.

Marketing packs will include resources to help high street businesses in areas such as social media marketing, and promotional materials to help each business celebrate the campaign.

Sharron Wensley, owner of Pumpkins Craft & Puzzle Shop Bridgwater said: “This kind of initiative is a fantastic idea for the independent businesses of Bridgwater High Streets. It’s simple to do and really captures the spirit of why people should shop locally. There are some fantastic independent businesses in Bridgwater and I hope they all get involved.”

The Love your High Street week is taking place from 16 – 20 July across Bridgwater and is free of charge to all independent retailers wishing to get involved.

If you’re an independent high street business in Bridgwater and you would like a marketing pack or more information go to www.somerset-enterprise-centres.co.uk/lyhs/

For further information on the ERDF Growth Support project go to:

www.somerset-enterprise-centres.co.uk/business-support/business-growth-support-programme/