Leigh-on-Sea joins High Street Campaign to support local businesses

January 27, 2020 by Leigh-on-sea.com

Independent Businesses of Leigh-on-Sea are taking part in TOTALLY LOCALLY National Fiver Fest, from February 15^th – 29^th along with over 60 other towns throughout the UK, aimed at encouraging shoppers back into their local town centres and high streets.

Shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs and businesses alongside independent online businesses are putting on special £5 offers for the duration of the Fiver Fest campaign.  Just look out for the posters in windows and online promoting the offers.

This is the second Fiver Fest the town has taken part in, following a successful event in October where local businesses met new customers, welcomed old customers back and saw an increase in sales.

David Elcock from the Totally Locally Leigh-on-Sea volunteer team, said, “We’re joining in with the National Fiver Fest to showcase our town and the great independent shops and businesses we have here. We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many family run businesses.  Whether it’s physical shops around Leigh-on-Sea or the people working from their kitchen tables, this is an opportunity to come together, celebrate and support each other”  

“If every adult in Leigh-on-Sea spent just £5 a week with their local independent shops and businesses instead of big online shops and chain stores it would mean an £4.4 million going directly into our local economy”. 

“Many of us wouldn’t think twice about spending £5 in a coffee shop, so we’re encouraging people to think about where they spend that £5 in February. Try a local independent you haven't tried before, go back to one you haven’t been in a while. Tiny actions like this can make a huge impact when lots of people vote with their feet!“

Fiver Fest is part of the award winning Totally Locally town kit – a completely free marketing campaign for towns to use, which has been hugely successful in helping towns to buck the trend of declining high streets.

Chris Sands, founder of Totally Locally said “Independent businesses are the lifeblood of our High Streets and Town Centre’s, run by incredibly passionate and knowledgeable people, often pouring their life savings into their businesses. Everyone is aware of the challenges our High Streets are facing and, so far, there has been a lot of talk but no real actions.  We decided to coordinate a National Fiver Fest to celebrate our independent businesses and high streets, spreading the word about our £5 message and get people back into our town centre’s and supporting their high street. 

“Since I created Totally Locally Two Kit & campaign,  towns  involved have gone on to win the High Street of The Year competition and other awards for turning their towns around, the number of empty shops in their town reduced, created brand new markets and events and most of all the businesses in the towns have started to work together to promote their town and each other.

Collaborating, sharing ideas and marketing each other’s businesses sounds simple but it is quite an alien concept to a lot of retailers. Once towns start to work this way it has a massive benefit to residents, businesses and the surrounding supply chain, making the towns a better place to live and work, with better facilities and employment.

For any independent business wishing to participate in Fiver Fest Leigh on Sea, or to find out about the local independents already taking part visit http://totallylocallyleighonsea.co.uk/