At this time when local independent shops and businesses could do with all the help they can to make a strong recovery from the recession, The Best Of Newbury is pleased to be sponsoring a local awareness campaign that is all about "Buy Local"

As we are all about “local to local”, we are keen to encourage and support local businesses attract a good share of the local spend. This is increasingly important in the face of some recently quoted known statistics by The Federation of Small Businesses, for example:

• 2000 local shops are closing each year
• Supermarkets take £7 out of every £10 spent on the high street
• approximately 27 pubs a week are closing

 “The Best of Newbury” is therefore keen to help raise awareness as to the importance of keeping business local.

As part of this campaign we are:

• providing "Buy Local" stickers for businesses to proudly display in their premises or business vehicle windows
• providing a means for local people to recommend local businesses they have had a good experience of so we can use this feedback to help further promote awareness
• giving local people an opportunity to participate in our on line survey designed to capture the views and thoughts of the local people on their town centre and "high street" facilities  - and theres a chance to win £500 to spend with one of our Best Of Newbury Businesses

The research will examine how local stores and retailers are faring, what is good about our local high streets, what the problems are and what needs to be done to make them more successful.  The findings will be drawn up into a report, to support thebestof’s Buy Local campaign, which aims to get more people supporting independent shops and stores.

Most people instinctively want to do more shopping locally, but when push comes to shove many of us still head elsewhere for our shopping.  Why is this?  What’s missing or lacking about our local high streets? If we don’t have these answers how can we possibly tell the planners, local authorities or our politicians what we need them to do?  That’s why I urge everyone in Newbury to take part in the survey and tell us what they think.

Let's harness the positive power of local “word of mouth” !

So, if you are the owner or proprietor of a local business, help us help you, by proudly displaying one of our "But Local" stickers in a prominent position in your premises or vehicle window and attract the attention and support of the local people of Newbury and the surrounding areas.

Please visit our "Buy Local" page on this site for more information and to complete our survey and keep an eye on our Blog for further updates.

To obtain your "Buy Local" sticker/s please email us on newbury@thebestof.co.uk

And, why not have your say - post your comments on our Blog!