Published: 13/07/2020
COPELAND residents are being urged to ‘Shop Local’ to support the borough’s retail and business sector.
Copeland Council and Elected Mayor Mike Starkie have today launched the ‘Shop Local: Keep it in Copeland’ campaign to highlight and promote the wealth of excellent local businesses our towns and villages have to offer.
As part of the campaign, the council has:
- Accessed funding for an extensive media campaign that will run until February 2021 to promote Copeland’s independent businesses to a wide audience
- Introduced a dedicated Business Development Officer role to work with businesses directly on their offer, including support for their marketing and website/social media
- Produced a ‘Shop Local: Keep it in Copeland’ sticker that will be distributed to retailers for display in their window or door; and is available digitally for use on businesses’ websites and social media
- Published an online directory of the borough’s retailers, including contact details and website/social media pages
Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “We have a fantastic array of local, independent shops here in Copeland, many of which have been here for generations, that complement our national chain stores.
“As we continue with our recovery from Covid-19, it is vitally important – now more than ever – that we support our local businesses.
“Whatever you’re looking to purchase, before going online, please ask yourself if you could buy it from your local shop first.
“Throughout the Covid crisis, our local retailers and businesses have gone above and beyond to support our residents and communities in their time of need. Now it’s our turn to reciprocate that support.
“And it’s not just about retail. We are using the campaign to support and promote all Copeland’s businesses – pubs and eateries; salons and barbers; estate agents; travel agents; garages; tradespeople; we’re here for everyone.
“I’m encouraging businesses to use the campaign to actively promote themselves, and customers to support our businesses by sharing details of the great service they’ve had locally. We’ll be more than happy to share your positive stories with the media and on our social media pages.”
For more information on the campaign and to access the directory, visit www.copeland.gov.uk/shop-local-campaign. To contact the council’s Business Development Officer to access her support and to take part in the campaign and the media coverage, visit www.copeland.gov.uk/shop-local-campaign
Follow and join the campaign on Copeland Council’s and the Elected Mayor’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages, using the hashtag #shoplocalcopeland.
The project is receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF.
Established by the European Union, ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
