One of the biggest opportunities to shop ‘til you drop and support your local businesses is happening right here in Spalding.
Today is national Independents’ Day – and local shops across the town have come on board to show consumers that anything the big chain stores can do they can do as well, if not better.
Even though this is the first year Spalding has taken part in the annual event, run by the National Skills Academy for Retail, the interest has been so great it has been extended to run until Saturday.
Event co-ordinator Nikki Austin, who owns an interiors business in The Crescent, said she has been overwhelmed with the response to the first event in Spalding, run by the National Skills Academy for Retail.
More than 50 shops and businesses are taking part – a figure that has been increasing daily.
Nikki 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 about 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 for them to be supported by some excellent independent coffee shops and restaurants, so new visitors can expect to have an excellent day’s shopping.
“Our local business owners are ready to make them welcome and ensure that new visitors to the town will want to come back.”
Theo Paphitis, star of BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den, is backing the national campaign.
He said: “I am supporting this year’s Independents’ Day campaign as I believe that independent businesses have a vital role to play in our economy.
“Through the campaign support is available to these small businesses to help them be the best they can be.”
Shoppers can locate the businesses featured on this page and their offers by using a town centre map available from the South Holland District Council offices in Priory Road. Posters will also be placed in the windows of the businesses taking part.
In addition, shoppers can follow the event on The Crescent Traders Facebook page.