Local Retailers Advocate for Community Shopping Ahead of Black Friday

Independent businesses in the Telford and Wrekin area are appealing to consumers to remember smaller merchants as major online retailers prepare for Black Friday sales. Wellington, for example, boasts a vibrant network of independent local enterprises, with over 50 new businesses established there since 2019. However, with larger online platforms enticing customers with pre-Christmas deals this week, local business proprietors are striving to secure their share of trade. Some emphasize the importance of in-person visits when digital transactions are increasingly prevalent, while others note that adapting beyond traditional physical stores has benefited their operations. Jon Drew of the Boardroom Gaming Cafe stated that, despite experiencing growth, his business faced challenges competing with prominent online vendors. He observed, “The footfall has increased in the area, of course,” but added, “but at the same time we’re finding that shopping is not as prominent as it once was, mainly because of just the ease of online shopping, and the ability to now hold your phone up and scan an item.” Drew further emphasized, “That’s why its so important to shop local, purely on the basis of getting people out on the high streets and into the buildings themselves.” Elisa Thomason, who owns Little Betty’s Gift Company, explained that she needed to acquire new competencies to succeed in the digital retail environment. She began her venture on Etsy five years prior and noted that maintaining both an online and a physical high street presence had boosted her business. Thomason remarked, “Google seems to be doing its job, and we get lots of phone calls and collections,” and added, “Facebook seems to be doing its thing as well.” Kelly King established her business, the Zero Waste Little Green Pantry, initially from a market stall before transitioning to a physical shop, aided by a Telford and Wrekin Council grant. She indicated that online sales now constitute a significant component of her business. King stated, “That really allows people to connect with us before they even step through the door.” She continued, “It’s really a permanent shop front that’s open all hours – people can go [online] and find out a bit more about us before actually coming in and shopping with us for the first time.” King concluded, “I think the fact that I’m a local person and I employ local people is really key to our community.” Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.