An Eastern European shop is helping to turn a independent retailers’ promotion in Spalding into a truly cosmopolitan event – and one of the biggest in the country.
Spalding Market in Westlode Street will join a growing number of shops taking part in national Independents’ Day today.
With more than 50 Spalding businesses taking park - a number that is growing daily – organisers have already extended the event to run over three days, instead of just the national today, which coincides with American Independence Day.
The decision to invite Eastern European shops to take part was made because they serve a large section of the Spalding community.
Gavin Allmand, director of Hills department store, said they are delighted Spalding Market has come on board.
He said: “People travel to continental markets and we have them on our doorstep, but a lot of British people haven’t been in to explore what they have to offer.
“Independents’ Day is the perfect opportunity and we hope this is something we can expand on in the future.”
Alexandra Wojcieszek, of Spalding Market – which already has a poster up in the window to help promote the event – said she hoped new customers would take the opportunity to sample some of the Eastern European delicacies on sale in the store.
She said: “Everyone is very welcome and we hope to have samples available for people to taste.”
Event co-ordinator Nikki Austin, who owns an interiors business in The Crescent, said she was overwhelmed with the general response to the first event in Spalding, run annually nationwide by the National Skills Academy for Retail.
She said: “The number of local businesses taking part is growing daily and totally unexpected.
“When you go on the official website and see what other towns are doing, Spalding seems to have one of the biggest events.
“But then we are lucky to have a large number of independent shops.
“The Crescent Traders Facebook page is buzzing with offers that will be available to customers over the three days. There will be something for everyone – shops are thinking outside the box on how they can promote themselves and services such as dentists and opticians will also have special promotions running.
“As well as promoting the event in the Free Press and Spalding Guardian, it is also being promoted nationally by the National Skills Academy, so it is really helping to put the town on the map.
“There will be posters in the windows of all the shops taking part and we hope the public will support the event by coming along to see what they have to offer.
“Spalding is lucky to have these shops and to be supported by some excellent independent coffee shops and restaurants and so new visitors can expect to have an excellent day’s shopping.
“Now it’s up to the local business owners to make them welcome and ensure that new visitors to the town want to come back.”
A map of where the shops and businesses taking part are will be featured in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian, with details of some of the offers available.
There are also daily updates on The Crescent Traders Facebook page.