Independents’ Day asks consumers to Pledge a Pound

By Liz Wells in Industry News 3rd June 2020

Independents’ Day UK, the campaign that supports and promotes independent retail businesses across the UK, has launched its 2020 initiative.

The campaign is calling on shoppers to ‘Pledge a Pound’ to an independent retailer on Independents’ Day, on Saturday 4 July. Retailers can download an Independents’ Day logo to display in their shop windows direct from the campaign’s website.

Howard Robinson, a spokesperson for the campaign, said: “Hundreds of thousands of small retailers will re-open their doors just in time for this year’s Independents’ Day and we’re calling on shoppers to pledge at least one pound’s worth of shopping to an indie on 4 July.

“Whether it’s a morning paper or a pint of milk – if all of us go out of our way to support our local shops, we can make a huge difference to a sector that has been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown. Independents bring colour, choice and character to our high streets, they provide jobs and invaluable services to communities – and now more than ever, it really is a case of use them, or lose them. We’re at a critical time.”

This is a view echoed by two supporting trade associations – Independent Retailers’ Confederation and the NFRN.

Greg Deacon, chief operating 0fficer oat the NFRN, added: “Independent retailers around the country have shown remarkable levels of innovation over the past few months to keep their businesses going and in many cases to keep serving their customers in new and different ways. Whilst we can all applaud that, Independents’ Day gives us an ideal chance to celebrate small retailers and support them as they bring their bricks and mortar shops back to the heart of their communities.”

The campaign team estimates that last year, more than 6,000 small shops across the UK engaged with the campaign, and is hoping that figure will reach at least 20,000 this year.

Robinson said: “Retailers can visit our website for suggestions on how they can attract shoppers to their stores on the day – whether that’s through exclusive one-off promotions or by collaborating with other shops in their community – use the day to celebrate what you bring to your high street and online customers.”

For more information about Independents’ Day UK click here.